Copper headed water rattlers.

[dukkillr]

When someone tells me they've killed a copperhead I assume they've killed a Northern Water Snake until I've seen it personally, especially if the story involves water.  When someone tells me they've seen a "water mocasin" or "Cotton mouth" around here I assume they know very little about snakes.

[Oldshooter]

Was in the woods last night shootin pigs, Had a lil copperhead cross trail right in front of me, did't say or do nothing cause my buddy wudda fainted and i wudda had to pack him out!  

When someone tells me they've killed a copperhead I assume they've killed a Northern Water Snake until I've seen it personally, especially if the story involves water.  When someone tells me they've seen a "water mocasin" or "Cotton mouth" around here I assume they know very little about snakes.

Good points Duk!

[rugerfan.64]

I know what snakes are what. Lets see,,,the ones with rattles on their tails  are rattle snakes. And then theres the rest of them. As you see I dont discriminate. They are all snakes.

 Gen 3:14. And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life. 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Thats about all the reason I need,well except for I just dont like snakes.

[Oldshooter]

I know what snakes are what. Lets see,,,the ones with rattles on their tails  are rattle snakes. And then theres the rest of them. As you see I dont discriminate. They are all snakes.

 Gen 3:14. And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life. 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Thats about all the reason I need,well except for I just dont like snakes.

 

Now that just aint live and let live philosophy pardner!    It does remind me of the BC comic strip of old though! 

[Dixie Dude]

We have a lot of "Cotton Mouth Water Mocasins" in the deep south.  If they are around, near, or in the water, have a dark coloration and a wide head, it is more than likely one of these.  When they open their mouth it is white inside with fangs.  I don't think they live too far north of Dixie due to the water freezing. 

[qajaq59]

There's plenty of cotton mouths in the glades, so if your fishing lure gets stuck on some weeds don't go sticking your hand in for it.

[AtlLaw]

If they are around, near, or in the water, have a dark coloration and a wide head, it is more than likely one of these.

Anybody ever see what was called a black water snake?  I've heard about 'em.  Not poisonous I was told.  Looked like cottonmouths.  Acted like cottonmouths... 

Every snake I ever killed that looked and acted like a cottonmouth WAS a cottonmouth!  But I've been with friends and seen a black snake slither into or drop into the water from an overhanging branch when we approached and been told "that's just a black water snake."  Looked like cottonmouths to me... 

[Dee]

Got lots of black water snake out here AtlLaw. They've got a pointed tail, and not a blunt one like a cottonmouth.

[Dixie Dude]

Yep, those black water snakes in the south do sure look like a Cottonmouth to me too.  Can't tell much unless you are up close.  Never saw a copper color water snake down here.  Copperheads look like leaves, and don't bite until you step on them or get real close.  They must think their camoflague hides them.  At least rattlers give you a warning. 

[Land_Owner]

...he didn't think there had been enough time to call in an airstrike.

I blew lunch on the PC and am having trouble catching my breath from laughing so deeply...now that's good right there.

[AtlLaw]

At least rattlers give you a warning. 

Yup!  Sounds like a dinner bell!   

[Dixie Dude]

Dukkillr, I see you live in Kansas.  Copperheads coloration look like leaves in the fall, brownish and orangish looking (copper color) varied in diamonds on their back like a rattler.  They just lie still if one is walking or working around them thinking they are camoflaged.  If you get too close or step on them, they snap back and bite you.  They are a pit viper so they have an arrowhead shaped head copper colored.  They are not usually found around water but in leaves, trash, and woodpiles.  Very easy to step on one going down some wooded trail.  Their size is smaller than a rattlesnake but can get up to 3-4' long.  50% of all poisonus snakebites east of the Mississippi are Copperheads, with the rest split between rattlers and Cottonmouths.  Best to wear good boots and snake chaps from early spring to late fall down south or keep your eyes on the trail. 

[dukkillr]

Dukkillr, I see you live in Kansas.  Copperheads coloration look like leaves in the fall, brownish and orangish looking (copper color) varied in diamonds on their back like a rattler.  They just lie still if one is walking or working around them thinking they are camoflaged.  If you get too close or step on them, they snap back and bite you.  They are a pit viper so they have an arrowhead shaped head copper colored.  They are not usually found around water but in leaves, trash, and woodpiles.  Very easy to step on one going down some wooded trail.  Their size is smaller than a rattlesnake but can get up to 3-4' long.  50% of all poisonus snakebites east of the Mississippi are Copperheads, with the rest split between rattlers and Cottonmouths.  Best to wear good boots and snake chaps from early spring to late fall down south or keep your eyes on the trail. 

Oh rest assured I know what a copperhead is.  I grew up in a house on the south side of a wooded broken rocky draw.  They were common in the rocks and wood piles, particularly in the warmer days of spring and the warmer days of late fall when they would sun themselves.  But I also bowfish a great deal, particularly in swampy, marshy areas and small ditches and creeks.  I see dozens of Northern Water Snakes every year.  They look a lot like a copperhead in color and pattern, but only slightly duller and with a rounder head.

The point of my post was that most of the time when I hear a guy with a big puffed out chest talking about his mano-a-mano with a "copperhead" or a "water mocasin" they are generally wrong about what they saw.  I simply choose to be skeptical until I've seen the snake myself.

[Dixie Dude]

Me too.  I let a non-poisonus snake slide.  I do however kill poisonus especially around the house, usually not in the woods.  I did see a black runner or coachwhip snake come by my house one time, fastest snake I've ever seen.

[SHOOTALL]

dukkillr, trust me when i say copper head , not much water near my house . Also we have cotton mouths in the swamps here . Not many water snakes here big as a mans fore arm. Guess we are well educated here as we can compare them almost side by side on most fishing trips .

[Default_Required]

I'll back up the south having no shortage of moccasins around the water ways. Years ago , I had a spot that was doing good on the crappy fishing and fairly remote. Bad part about this spot was that the edge of the water line was always pretty nasty . And sinking in the mud was common , So i got into the pratice of standing on these stumpy kinda plants that had heavy mass above ground and would hold my weight .. Like any other trip there i would step on this plant mounds to get right on the water edge and found my self with my feet spread apart by about 2 maybe 2 1/2 feet between the two mounds i found . Was reeling in my third cast when I heard and noise and found out fast I wasnt the only one enjoyin that spot , 4 1/2 to 5' Moccasin started uncoiling and slipping back into the water from in between my legs.

 If that isnt close enough to identify its genous then pulling up a stringer of brim and having a 6" mocassin come up with them onto the bank with one of my brim half way in its throat was deffiantley close enough

 Since those days I have aquired the ugliest 22lr revolver i have even seen made by a company RG dont know where they are from , perhaps europe some where , but its the perfect tackle box gun,  Ugly and effective and cost me $20 bucks.

 But I'm one of those that unless it is placing itself in me and mines living/comfort space then they dont have to worry about me..

[Dee]

I'm 60 years old, and I don't think I have ever seen a Cotton Mouth Water Moccasin much over 3 to 3 1/2 feet long. I don't know where some of you guys live, but ya'll seem to have the Texas moccasins beat on the size dept. by quite a bit.

[AtlLaw]

I have aquired the ugliest 22lr revolver i have even seen made by a company RG

The RahG was the quintisential example of, or was maybe even the basis of the term "Saturday Night Special" back in the day.  At least back when I was on the street.  RahG's were the street thugs weapon of choice before they decided to get better armed then the police.   

Moccasin started uncoiling and slipping back into the water from in between my legs.

He musta been real tired to let you get that close!     Them nasty things don't play nice at all!  Gang Banger snakes with attitude!  An they don't need no stinkin RahG!   

[Dee]

I worked two accidental death shootings involving R.G. Rhome revolvers. Both Were dropped on the hammers, and both were heart shots. Great little pistols those R.G.s. And safe too.

[mechanic]

I worked two accidental death shootings involving R.G. Rhome revolvers. Both Were dropped on the hammers, and both were heart shots. Great little pistols those R.G.s. And safe too.

They are a little better than they used to be.  I've got a 38 I picked up for a song a while back that has a transfer bar.  I feel so safe with it, I leave the cyl. empty under the hammer.......

[Default_Required]

Yeah that little RG aint much more then a throw away gun to a bad intentioned soul , For my purposes though , It stays in the safe in its little clip on leather holster till its time to go fishing then it spends most of its time in the tackle box if I'm cat fishing , And on my hip if I'm fishing for game fish that have me moving up and down the bank. lite and small and not quite lethal to a grown man with rat shot should it or I slip..

 Yeah AtLaw , Is was a sure fire pucker moment .. I couldnt have been more pleased with that big ol suckers choice to grant me a free pass that day. Though He was sunning himself and snakes like to do that after a meal , so he might have just been in no mood to mess with me on a full belly.

 Dee ,

 I dont usually see them that big , These are the two largest specimens I have seen in my many years fishing the river valleys large lake and river systems in Arkansas . Most are just neophytes or teenager range animals .. Like the Gar we have no shortage of here , Most of the time a 3' and under is about the norm .  But on occassion I have yanked them up that rival my height in length , I'm 6'1" .. Those are few and far between though.


 

[Lloyd Smale]

i love it!

Years ago in the Humor and Uniform section of readers digest a guy wrote that he was on patrol in Nam and the point man on that day. They were in some pretty hot territory so trying to keep quiet. A snake crossed in front of him and he just reacted by emptying his M-16 on it. While his LT. was chewing on him for breaking silence the Lt. asked him if there was some better way of dealing with the snake. The guy replied by saying he didn't think there had been enough time to call in an airstrike.
GuzziJohn

[Lloyd Smale]

theres some in lower mich but none up here. thanks God!!!

Rarely do I kill snakes, I have been bitten by both a copperhead, and a water moccossin, while swimming. Both times were under the water.
 I have been known to stop while driving and move them across the road. They have and serve a good purpose.
 I also like to eat the big rattlesnakes in Texas. Lloyd, I thought the U.P. of MI. had rattlesnakes throughout? When I was a kid in detroit, one of our neighbors was bitten by a big ole rattler up there. or maybe it was just northern MI.?
 John
 

[Lloyd Smale]

you guys would have laughed at me last summer. Even my wife got a chuckle out of me chasing a garder snake around the yard with a 12 guage pump. I dont want ANY snake within 10 miles of me and the only reason i grabbed a 12 guage is i dont have a 10 guage anymore or any hand granades!!

[Dee]

I don't see anything to laugh about there Lloyd. That's SOP-at my house, and my wife is chasing me with extra ammo. Your wife needs counselling.

[AtlLaw]

my wife is chasing me with extra ammo. Your wife needs counselling.

   You guys are cracking me up!     What a great way to start a Saturday!   

[Oldshooter]

I don't see anything to laugh about there Lloyd. That's SOP-at my house, and my wife is chasing me with extra ammo. Your wife needs counselling.

Now that's funny right there! 

[Tn Jim]

I have some pictures of what is supposed to be the largest Diamondback ever found, but I have no idea how to post them from an e-mail. This thing is a monster!!
 
  
 

[AtlLaw]

Don't make no nevermind there Jimbo.     If that's the one I'm thinking of that makes it's rounds every once in a while it was debunked long ago.   

cool picture though...

[Tn Jim]

I know if I ever saw one even half the size of this thing, it wouldn't have to bite me. I believe my heart would stop just out of fright.