In 2006 I heard the Newport phase CA kingsnaks could be found in Orange Co. I had been talking to Paul Lynum at the time and asked him where he suggested I set a boardline up. I then checked out the area on google earth and found a
few areas that looked really good. When I got there I saw that only one of those areas was open to the public. This is where I decided to lay a boardline. I took about 30 pieces of ¾" plywood cut in 2' X 4' sections. I then walked them in and laid them out in 3 strait rows so I could find them easily if they became lost in the high vegetation once spring arrived.
few areas that looked really good. When I got there I saw that only one of those areas was open to the public. This is where I decided to lay a boardline. I took about 30 pieces of ¾" plywood cut in 2' X 4' sections. I then walked them in and laid them out in 3 strait rows so I could find them easily if they became lost in the high vegetation once spring arrived.
I screwed about 5 pieces together and made handles out of ropes and carried
them in a distance from the street. I left the pile here about a week before I set
them up.
them in a distance from the street. I left the pile here about a week before I set
them up.
That Spring I checked the boards several times but all I ever found was the same
little Gopher snake. I was starting to think this area was just no good for kingsnakes
even though it looked perfect. I put in a lot of work there by my self but I lost
interest in it and didn't return for several years until I heard aged boards produce
much better than newly laid boards. I was then anxious about putting that theory
to the test.
little Gopher snake. I was starting to think this area was just no good for kingsnakes
even though it looked perfect. I put in a lot of work there by my self but I lost
interest in it and didn't return for several years until I heard aged boards produce
much better than newly laid boards. I was then anxious about putting that theory
to the test.
I returned in 2010 in hopes of the aging of the boards would produce better
results this time and it did. On my first trip I found my first Cal king there. It was
just a normal Cal king but to me it was an amazing find considering the history
of that boardline. The boards were well hidden with high green grass all around
them and I'm pretty sure no one had found them in those 4 years.
results this time and it did. On my first trip I found my first Cal king there. It was
just a normal Cal king but to me it was an amazing find considering the history
of that boardline. The boards were well hidden with high green grass all around
them and I'm pretty sure no one had found them in those 4 years.
Here is the first Cal king I found that day on February 21st. I went on to find one more Cal king and 3 small SD Gopher snakes. I was very pleased with how well I did there.
Here is one of the kings I found on a return visit. This one is normal for this area.
Thin yellow bands on a brown ground color.
Thin yellow bands on a brown ground color.
One day in March I did very well here. I found 6 Cal kings and 1 SD Gopher. One
of the Cal kings was a Newport, including one board with 2 kings under it, and
another board with 2 kings and a Gopher snake under it. It was an amazing
experience for me that day. Here is the first pair of kings I found under one board
that day.
of the Cal kings was a Newport, including one board with 2 kings under it, and
another board with 2 kings and a Gopher snake under it. It was an amazing
experience for me that day. Here is the first pair of kings I found under one board
that day.
My whole purpose for setting up this boardline was to find a Newport morph and
that's exactly what I found under this board.
that's exactly what I found under this board.
It was an amazing feeling lifting that board and finding this Newport laying there. All that hard work payed off with this snake.
This pose was perfect and was some kind of defensive posturing. I've seen Rosy
boas do this as well when first caught. It sure made for a cool picture.
boas do this as well when first caught. It sure made for a cool picture.
This king was real wild, so this is about a good a shot I could take with the limited
time I wanted to spend on this guy.
time I wanted to spend on this guy.
And to finish off this visit in March, here are the 2 kings and Gopher snake I
found under 1 board.
found under 1 board.
You see the tail of the second king sticking out. This was by far my most
productive day at this site and by far my favorite. There's nothing like setting up
a site by your self and having it all to your self, until someone else stumbles on to
it of course. lol This will always be a day to remember.
productive day at this site and by far my favorite. There's nothing like setting up
a site by your self and having it all to your self, until someone else stumbles on to
it of course. lol This will always be a day to remember.
A typical juvenile I found at a different O.C. locale. This king will get more yellow
in its light bands and a lighter shade of brown in its dark bands as it matures.
in its light bands and a lighter shade of brown in its dark bands as it matures.