| (a) A landowner may apply for alligator nest stamps
by submitting a completed application for nest stamp issuance to the
department on a form supplied or approved by the department. The application
must contain the GPS coordinates of each known alligator nest and
a map showing the location and dimensions of the property where the
nests are located.
(b) The department may make a conditional partial issuance
of nest stamps to egg collectors on properties that have historically
received nest stamps, based on biological factors and compliance history;
however, no further issuance of nest stamps shall take place until
the egg collector who has received partial issuance has submitted
complete nest location data for the property, including nests disturbed
under the partial issuance.
(c) The department may, at its discretion, verify reported
nest locations to confirm the accuracy of application materials.
(d) It is unlawful for a landowner to utilize a nest
stamp for a tract of land or water other than the tract for which
the stamp was originally issued.
(e) An alligator egg collector shall conduct egg collection
activities only on the tracts of land or water designated for the
stamps in their possession.
(f) Alligator eggs shall be collected from the wild
only by hand.
(g) No person may possess alligator eggs without possessing
an egg collection permit or a valid alligator farmer permit.
(h) No person may engage in egg collection activities
between sunset and one half-hour before sunrise.
(i) When engaged in egg collection activities, an alligator
egg collector must possess on his or her person one or more current
nest stamps and an Alligator Nest Stamp Authorization on a form supplied
or approved by the department. At least one person in possession of
a current nest stamp and nest stamp authorization must be present
during all collection activities.
(j) No person may collect alligator eggs without possessing
a valid hunting license.
(k) Immediately upon collection and throughout transportation
and incubation each clutch of eggs must be accompanied by a completed
nest stamp.
(l) No person to whom the department has issued a nest
stamp may engage in egg collection without having completed and submitted
to the department's Law Enforcement Communication Center by fax or
email an egg collection activity notification on a form supplied or
approved by the department. The notification required by this subsection
shall be submitted not less than 24 hours nor more than 48 hours prior
to beginning egg collection activities. If for any reason egg collection
activities cannot take place after the department has been notified
under this subsection, the department's Law Enforcement Communications
Center shall be contacted by fax or email to cancel the notification.
The cancellation notice must be received by the department prior to
the initiation time indicated on the egg collection activity notification.
(m) An alligator egg collector may sell alligator eggs
only to a farmer designated by permit.
|
| Source Note: The provisions of this §65.358 adopted to be effective August 26, 1997, 22 TexReg 7898; amended to be effective September 1, 2006, 31 TexReg 5362; amended to be effective August 24, 2020, 45 Texeg 5923 |
