Author Topic: snake shooting (Read 2954 times)

jamaldog87 · « **on:** September 18, 2009, 11:48:09 AM »

well i was told that all snakes are bad and should be killed on sight. when i was younger i used to hunt and kill snakes all the time. I stop at the age of 15 cuase i leaned snakes are good animals. What do you think of the kill on sight rule many people still go by?

30-30man · « **Reply #1 on:** September 18, 2009, 05:16:18 PM »

Anything poisonous, is going to die on my place if I'm able. I let the corn snakes and the like pass on by though. The thing is that if you have a problem with rattlesnakes, copperheads, or moccasins; you almost always also have a mice problem as well. The only exception is with mocassins as they eat mainly frogs, but won't hang around long if there are no mice. We use to have canebrake rattlesnakes, copperheads, a few moccaisns around the ponds, and an occasional diamond back spotted every year, but that was when we were planting wheat and oats and leaving them in the field. That was when the price was too low to harvest and I would write the whole venture off on my books. My old dog was even bitten on the head by a 4ft canebrake several years ago. His face was so swollen he could not eat. The only thing the vet did for him was give him Benadryl. He quickly recovered after a week, so i don't think the canebrake is that venomous. His hair fell out but it quickly grew back. The poor thing would bark for hours over a garden hose or anything that looked like a snake after that. The Eastern diamondback is another story as if it were one of those, the dog would have probably died. I'm not afraid of them, I just value my family more than the right of the snake to live. Another thing with snakes is that they do not like a lot of noise or ground vibrations as they don't have ears. If you are riding atvs/tractors and such, most snakes will stay out of your way and will seldom be seen.

Wynn · « **Reply #2 on:** September 19, 2009, 04:18:20 PM »

I agree with 30-30 on this one. The Eastern Racers, Rat Snakes and occasional Coach whip get a pass on my property. My Bloodhound pup was bitten 2 years ago by a Pygmy Rattler and was treated by the Vet with steroids and fully recovered. Coming up my dirt drive 4 days ago, I spotted a Eastern Diamond back at the edge of my yard. 2 loads from a 12 gauge prevented further intrusion. That was the first Diamond Back Rattler I have seen on my property in 10 years and it measured 5'10" and my gut tells me it was female. I am keeping hyper vigilant for any others.

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #3 on:** September 20, 2009, 09:08:33 AM »

I seldom kill a snake, EXCEPT rattlers. I kill everyone that I cross paths with. I don't hate them, I just want to clear the path for myself and my goldens. Far more are killed on the highway each spring and fall by passing cars that I could ever shoot.

zacharoo · « **Reply #4 on:** October 15, 2009, 02:31:44 PM »

Here in Louisiana the problem is cotton mouths. Nasty buggers. My daughters Lab has been bitten twice in the last year and a half. There is a pond in there yard and cane field on two sides now. When it rains man do they come out. Fish that pond with my grand daughter. Lots of bream. I carry a pistol when fishing. The 357 is good with shot but have to be at least 6 Feet away. They laugh after that. Am trying 45 LC shot capsules now. I have #12 #8 and #9 will see which is best!!!

Zacharoo

Savage .250 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 16, 2009, 01:46:03 AM »

I`ve seen a lot of "bad" snakes while I`ve been out and about (central Fl) and never felt compelled to kill any of them.........Course that`s just me.

Graybeard · « **Reply #6 on:** October 16, 2009, 01:53:58 AM »

I suspect it's illegal to shoot snakes of any sort almost all over the place tho Texas is likely an exception to that general rule. Here in Bama it is illegal to kill any variety of snake. My policy is poisonous snakes die on sight. Non poisonous generally get a pass as they are harmless and can be beneficial in controling more harmful pests.

Our blueberry customers seem to be deathly afraid of snakes and that is the most common question asked is do we have snakes. I think I've seen perhaps a half dozen since we bought the place here in '94 and none were poisonous one was a garter snake the rest black snakes. My wife saw an additional one I didn't so I'm not certain what it was. I'd likely take out any snake over a foot long if seen in the orchard but we keep it neatly mowed so that's unlikely to ever happen.

PA-Joe · « **Reply #7 on:** October 16, 2009, 02:53:39 AM »

In PA you need a fishing license and permit for rattlers and you are only allowed one per year. The other are considered a protected species.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #8 on:** October 16, 2009, 02:59:50 AM »

In Va copperheads can be delt with if close to a house , i took care of one on the walk next to the house the other one in the hall bathroom . guess i was ok .
still don't have a clue how it got in the barhroom .

Ladobe · « **Reply #9 on:** October 17, 2009, 04:56:43 AM »

What do I think... the kill on sight folks are just killing for the sake of killing. No better than poaching.

Snakes are very beneficial, including the poisonious species. Now days even rattlers are protected in most of the western states, including all of those states that I've lived in. Only if they are an immediate threat to you, your family or livestock can you kill them legally.

Maybe my passive attitude towards them comes from having lived in rattlesnake infested areas most of my life (the last 18 years with the most toxic and aggressive species in North America - the type "A" Mojave Greens). I was nailed by a Western Diamondback on a deer hunt in my late teens - was my fault, as is usually the cause. Fast forward... at my last two houses that bordered the desert "visitiors" (4 species of rattlesnakes) were a very common occurance on my property, including the MG's. They got "ushered" back out onto the desert unharmed if they were in the way of an activity, or left to find their way back on their own if not. I just had to be aware when I went outside, especially at night. I doubt I've killed a dozen rattlers total in my lifetime, and non poinsionious species always get a free pass.

So far at my new place its only been ants and scorpions in the house and tarantulas outside. Have not seen any snakes yet, but even though I'm more in the middle of the city, this is the old horse property area of the city where houses have lots of property (ie Wayne Newton's ranch is a short block away with 52 acres). So I'm sure snakes are around, including rattlers.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #10 on:** October 17, 2009, 05:32:16 AM »

poaching , that's fantastic .

30-30man · « **Reply #11 on:** October 19, 2009, 12:46:57 PM »

It's not illegal to kill any snake on private land in SC. Let the tree huggers live somewhere else. I'll kill any poisonous snake if I can. I don't go out hunting them, but I'll sure kill them if given a chance. Old Steve Irwin once thought as you do Ladobe....It didn't work out to well for him. I say kill them.

charles p · « **Reply #12 on:** October 20, 2009, 05:33:20 AM »

Shoot all hoop snakes that come out after dark and guard your backside if walking down hill.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #13 on:** October 20, 2009, 05:57:13 AM »

snow snakes also !

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #14 on:** October 20, 2009, 06:18:24 AM »

A good way to tell if a snake is poisonous or not is to point your 22 rifle at it. Use one hand and lean it to him
If the snake leaves- most likely not poisnonous.
If the snake lines up on the gun. Just pull the trigger. the snake aims for you.
Most poisnous snakes will line up on a threat and get a little above it ready to strike.
As they are ready to strike just pull the trigger and you will get a hit.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #15 on:** October 20, 2009, 06:26:06 AM »

Good advice unless your 22 has a 3 inch bbl

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #16 on:** October 20, 2009, 06:27:34 AM »

I said Rifle.
Not short rifle.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #17 on:** October 20, 2009, 06:30:58 AM »

I knowbut i carry a handgun most of the time !

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #18 on:** October 20, 2009, 07:37:03 AM »

OK go to the toy store and get one of the plastic hands that you can control and use it.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #19 on:** October 20, 2009, 08:42:17 AM »

Now that's an idea !

Ladobe · « **Reply #20 on:** October 21, 2009, 05:51:47 AM »

Quote from: 30-30man on October 19, 2009, 12:46:57 PM

It's not illegal to kill any snake on private land in SC. Let the tree huggers live somewhere else. I'll kill any poisonous snake if I can. I don't go out hunting them, but I'll sure kill them if given a chance. Old Steve Irwin once thought as you do Ladobe....It didn't work out to well for him. I say kill them.

I'm far from a tree hugger lad. But I do think that killing anything just for the sake of killing it is as bad or worse as poaching.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #21 on:** October 21, 2009, 07:24:01 AM »

Then you must never crow hunt ! Shoot bats , shoot ground hogs , song dogs etc.

Hunter Fishman · « **Reply #22 on:** December 03, 2009, 02:48:03 PM »

Quote from: Ladobe on October 17, 2009, 04:56:43 AM

What do I think... the kill on sight folks are just killing for the sake of killing. No better than poaching.

just remember that when your wife asks you to kill the next spider!......POACHER! LOL! ; )

how does that saying go... Ignorance is bliss.

Tonk · « **Reply #23 on:** December 07, 2009, 06:49:30 AM »

This late spring and early summer, I had 5 different German Shorthair Pointers, get bit by copperhead snakes. Now this usually is not fatal for the dog, unless he swells up and chokes to death from his collar around his neck. However, I almost lost my #1 male, who evidently interrupted the matting session of a pair of copperheads, who ventured into the our dog compound. It has native grasses, plus that fecue grass and the grass is around a foot to 2 foot high cut into 6 ft wide checker board sections, so the dogs can run and find planted birds.

The sun was starting to go down and I had not yet put him up for the night. I finished supper and went outside, as it was now dark. I called and look all over that 2 acre area taking about 20 minutes or so to look over the various brush piles. I even thought he may have dug out of the compound! As I started back for the house, I saw something different in the grass 25 yards in front of me to the left. He was on his side with his front leg lifted off the ground.

The dog made no sound and did not move when I called him. I got him back to the house and saw the swelling already starting around his face and neck area. His head got as big as a watermellon! We gave him Beneydryl and 2 Bufferin and continued for the next 2 days. He pulled through that ordeal and I went snake hunting the next morning. I don't put up with poisonous snakes of any kind around my dogs.

Tonk · « **Reply #24 on:** December 07, 2009, 07:03:14 AM »

Ladobe........I am NOT loosing a good pointing dog because anyone thinks all snakes should be left alone! I have far to much time and money in my dogs to believe that if I leave those snakes alone, all will be just "hunky dory" for my dogs. If a snake comes around the kennel, it is history in a jackrabbit minute. If that snake is in the front yard, it will be sent to the happy hunting ground. I give them the woods behind the kennel and they best stay there if they know what the future has in store for them.

I like poisonous snakes far less than coyotes and you won't see any song dogs around my place for long let me tell yeah up front. All these snake happy people should rent an island and take all those poisonous snakes with them for the weekend.

We recently had the conservation commission place 1200 rattlesnakes some 70 miles from me in the deer hunting area. Now tell me folks, what NUT CASE would even dream up such a stupid act for hunters to have to deal with in that area. If you have never seen what a person has to go through, to heal up from a rattle snake bit.........You should get on the internet and explore the true facts! Not to mention the great amount of pain that goes with such a bite. Also possible chances are you will lose a limb or two from such a bite.

Mikey · « **Reply #25 on:** December 08, 2009, 02:18:35 AM »

Here in the further north (further than those warmer areas where snakes like to frequent) we have only 3 recognized rattlesnake dens: two on Snake Mountain in the Lake George (NY) area and a Pygmy Rattler den in the Syracuse area. We will have, on occasion, a drop off from a southern travelling freight train (travelling north that is) but not too often. I once had a Emergency Tower maintenance guy tell me he just saw a rattlesnake and that I had to get a gun and shoot it. I went back with him and shor'nuff, there was this big ol Diamondback sunning himself on the concrete pad in front of the maintenance shed and the guy said I just had to kill it or it would get one of us. I just walked over to a Willow tree and cut a 6-7' whip branch and used that to move off the snake - the guy couldn't believe it was that easy. I told him if it happens again not to use a firm stick as the snake could climb right back at him but snakes don't like things that whip at them as they can't really fight or bite it and they move off. Works with Cobras, too.

Silvertp · « **Reply #26 on:** December 08, 2009, 05:02:29 AM »

Jama...Interesting post you started. As you have probably deducted, the "Kill on sight rule" is not the way to go! I suspect that most folks who practice that philosophy will eventually outgrow it as you have done.

When I was a tyke I used to catch and keep snakes in my house. You should'a heard my mom yell when she was vacuuming in the living room and ran into one of my escaped buddies. Non-poisonous snakes have nothing to fear from me.

The poison snakes (rattlers in my area) are another matter. I used to be a "see em' - shoot em'" guy. Not any more. Now I consider each encounter and make my decision based on the circumstances of the situation.

If a poisonous snake is around my house I'll collect its rattles. If it is a direct threat to my dogs the same goes. Some of my dogs have learned their lessons the hard way and you couldn't get them near a snake. One of my dogs is an "air head" and would be as likely to try and retrieve a live rattler as a stick...until I can teach her otherwise I tend to be a little protective.

Generally any poison snake I encounter in the backcountry is exactly where it ought to be and I leave it that way.

Silvertp

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #27 on:** December 08, 2009, 01:10:57 PM »

Well, be'in an Ol'Coot and a bit set in my ways, and very thankful not to be dealing with tree/snake huggers in this state - wolves are bad enough - I kind of go with the thought that snakes are like cats.

There are two kinds, good ones and live ones.

No need to get your dander up, cause I've heard it all before.

Keep em coming!

CDOC

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #28 on:** December 09, 2009, 03:07:21 AM »

KOS rule not good why ?

Swampman · « **Reply #29 on:** December 09, 2009, 03:47:08 AM »

I see no reason to kill snakes that are native to this country.