Living and hunting out west, Rattlesnakes are not at all uncommon, but I've never been concerned enough to wear snake boots.
It sounds like some of you in other places encounter them (snakes) on a regular basis, how often? and how many have you seen in a season?
I wanna hear some stories, not just horror stories, but tell me some experiences you've had.
Hunting here in Florida I don't go in the woods without Snake boots. I encounter several each year. The rattle snakes don't bother me to bad but I hunt mostly swamp land and it is full of cotton mouths. Those bother me, they are aggressive and give no warning.
Ive only bumped into a few rattlesnakes in the field but the cottonmouths are thick down here in Florida. Rarely do I spend a day in the woods without seeing at least 1, I've only had 2 close calls with them though
Here in west TN in the river bottoms we have lots of cotton mouths. I do not wear snake boots, but do wear knee high rubber boots. We also have plenty of copper heads as well.
Also from West TN, I always wear snake boots. Hunt woods and bottoms. Have seen a few cottonmouths in the bottoms and copperheads in the woods but fortunately no real close encounters. At least that I know about.
I seem to run into more two legged snakes than no legged. Personally, I'd rather deal with the ones with no legs.
Here in the Sip I run across an average of 6 per year that I see. No telling how many I dont. Some poisonous and some not. Been bit several years ago by a stumptail moccasin. No fun. I dont wear snakeboots. They would not have helped anyway as I was bit on my thigh.
I live in South Carolina and don't go in the woods without snake boots. We have cottonmouths, copperheads as well as both eastern, timber and diamondback rattle snakes. I usually see one or two each year and have had one close call with a cottonmouth - they tend to be aggressive sometimes.
Very seldom do I run into poisonous snakes. The copperhead have been the most aggressive out of what we have here. I like wearing snake boots just because a lot of times I am alone in some remote areas with little cell service.
Southwest Alabama and I see quite a few every year. Timbers, cottonmouths, and copperheads. I don't mind them much but do wear snake boots when it's warm enough to worry with them. Don't want one ending my season early and the rattlesnakes can be a life altering experience. Stepped center mast on a large copperhead a few years back and he never even coiled up. He acted as if nothing happened, I went and changed my drawers.
A few every year. I hit the trifecta a year ago. Rattlesnake, cottonmouth and copperhead. My Danner snake boots are the most comfortable boots I own. It gives me piece of mind having them on. One less thing to think about when chasing a gobbler.
Typically encounter several rattlesnakes each turkey season in the woods. More if you were to count the one seen laying on the dirt mountain roads. I always wear snake boots, have had close calls were I stepped very close to a rattlesnake.
Living out west, the only snakes we have that we really need to be concerned with are the various rattlesnakes. Having hunted amongst them for six decades now, we have developed a mutual understanding that if we cross paths, we leave each other alone other than the occasional warning rattle (from them) and the startled girly-scream (from me). The really big ones will rear up on their hind legs once in a while and give out a blood-curdling hiss...which will most definitely get your attention real quick. I have been close enough to have been bitten many times without a single strike and have come to the conclusion (hopefully not falsely) that they as reluctant to bite me as I am to be bitten.
Since I typically hunt turkeys at elevations above 8,000 ft. here, I have rarely had run-ins with rattlers. They just don't like living that high up for the most part. At lower elevations and during the warmer months, I will have "friendly encounters" with rattlers and a variety of other desert-dwelling snakes pretty often. They come with the territory and don't much worry me none. I have never worn any kind of special leg protection,...and at this point in time, don't plan to. Now, if I lived in other parts of the country where some of the fellows on here live, I might have developed a different attitude by now.... :)
Here in nw Florida. We have plenty of rattlesnakes and cotton mouths. See a few every year.
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Cold weather NJ, and NY, very few snakes during turkey season. I only came across one Copperhead, and a few black snakes in all my years hunting here. I did encounter lots of rattlesnakes in Texas hunting with my brother years ago. They are common there.....
All your stories make me incredibly grateful for where I get to hunt!
Ticks are what is concerns me the most now, I've lost track of how many I've had burrowed into me, and only until last year started spraying my stuff down with Sawyers.
I wear snake boots every time I turkey hunt. We mostly have copperheads in the central part of North Carolina. I have run into moccasins and rattlesnakes down east. Been hit in the boot by a copperhead, though his fangs didn't get through the boot. He didn't live to brag about it to his buddies.
On a turkey hunt in Chatham County, I ran into three copperheads at an old home place I was hunting that had several rock piles, a pair of stone chimneys, and a big downed oak. It seemed like everyplace I looked was another one. I was high stepping my way out of there.
Jim
I don't wear snake boots in western NC. I typically see one or two a year, some poisonous some not...either way I'm killing or steering clear.
Esse quam videri
I run into snakes all year long. Ran across a very large rattlesnake in November chasing rabbits. Run into moccasins deer hunting swamps. Runs on into turkey hunting.
A black snake here or there.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220224/e0ae3d5319f0c674591c9b707beebedf.jpg)
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Several..
(https://i.imgur.com/ubrLwNV.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1W5avQ6.jpg)
If I only had copperheads and coral snakes I wouldn't bother with any snake boots. Both are rather small and my regular 8" high boots would likely stop a bite. But most copperhead bites often aren't to the leg, they are to the hand or arm as they tend to hide and hold their ground when approached, often biting a hand when someone clears leaves away or picks something up.
Cottonmouths will protect their territory, we have some of those. Rattlers blend in so well and can get big enough to put a big hurting on your calf. We have all four here but I just bought some snake proof gaiters just for FL. Lots of water and low spots and my gut said to get some snake protection this trip. I'll be hoping I don't have an encounter.
So do you fellows with rattlesnakes have them buzzing at you often? Round here they don't tend to announce themselves much and don't rattle till you are either about to step on them or start messing with them. Had one that needed relocated a few years ago and it didn't start buzzing till his back end was halfway off the ground. Most times they just let me walk by and don't draw attention to themselves
I live in N Fl. See rattlers, moccasin and copperhead regularly, but not anywhere near every trip. Saw a coral here with my nephew one time. A big one. He was looking at it closely and I said "Red on yella, kill a fella". He had never seen one. They were common in central Fl where I grew up.
I was out pre-season scouting a now closed WMA right next to my house. I sat down in a clear cut to listen pre dawn. I was sitting there and thought I heard one way off and was listening close to figure out what head he was roosted in. I heard a noise right behind me and turned my head to see the largest copperhead I had ever seen, before or since, headed right for my leg. I had no gun. I looked around for a branch to murder him with if needed, but they had really chopped this place. So I just sat still, eased my legs up real tight and we both went on our way.
That was probably my closest encounter since I was a kid.
In all my years, I've only run into a couple rattlers........that I know of. I wear snake boots. I wear them, partly, so I don't have to pay attention to anything but turkeys. But, I wear them MOSTLY because I love the ankle support in rough terrain.
Quote from: Happy on February 24, 2022, 07:14:13 PM
So do you fellows with rattlesnakes have them buzzing at you often? Round here they don't tend to announce themselves much and don't rattle till you are either about to step on them or start messing with them. Had one that needed relocated a few years ago and it didn't start buzzing till his back end was halfway off the ground. Most times they just let me walk by and don't draw attention to themselves
My experience as well.
Usually a rattler or 2 in middle GA, a cottonmouth here or there in Middle GA, copperheads are more common where I live and where my primary lease is located.
I wear snake boots, but figure if I am ever bit, it will be in the hand when I go to sit down or stand up. I once lowered my backpack from a treestand at dark, climbed down and grabbed my pack and I had lowered it on a copperhead. A buddy of mine was hunting on the ground and had a copperhead slide over his boot.
I am not afraid of them, but I do have enough sense to wear snake boots, I actually stepped on a rattler's back one deer season in tall grass, luckily it was cool and he didn't seem to mind too bad.
Cottonmouths are what I do not care for, I have had a few of them over the years take offense to me and coil and be ready to strike.
AS I've gotten older, I've learned that most rattlers are very calm and docile and most do not even rattle unless provoked. Copperheads have Little Man Syndrome and Cottonmouths are just belligerent and mean acting.
The last 4 i have seen none rattled, i threw sticks mud balls at the first one i had in pic and nothing, the last one i almost stepped on never made a sound until after i shot him and started to cut off the rattles and he started to rattle with no head..
Quote from: Sixes on February 24, 2022, 07:33:21 PM
AS I've gotten older, I've learned that most rattlers are very calm and docile and most do not even rattle unless provoked. Copperheads have Little Man Syndrome and Cottonmouths are just belligerent and mean acting.
So you are saying Rattlers are men, Copperheads are teenage boys and Cottonmouths are women? :drool:
Quote from: g8rvet on February 24, 2022, 07:41:47 PM
Quote from: Sixes on February 24, 2022, 07:33:21 PM
AS I've gotten older, I've learned that most rattlers are very calm and docile and most do not even rattle unless provoked. Copperheads have Little Man Syndrome and Cottonmouths are just belligerent and mean acting.
So you are saying Rattlers are men, Copperheads are teenage boys and Cottonmouths are women? :drool:
Never thought of it that way, but there are a lot similarities!
Quote from: GobbleNut on February 24, 2022, 05:16:11 PM
I have been close enough to have been bitten many times without a single strike and have come to the conclusion (hopefully not falsely) that they as reluctant to bite me as I am to be bitten.
Makes sense to me. From what I understand it takes quite a bit of energy and time for a snake to replace venom. I can see where they wouldn't throw it around willey nilley. Some snakes types must be better at judging prey size than others. It's the only thing I can up with to explain the aggressive nature some.
Think I've seen one venomous snake in my lifetime. Late season Mo. Just starting trip back home to Mn I passed over what believe was a rattler with the truck. He was a short, fat sucker. I could see the diamond markings on his back just before he went under the truck.
Most of the snakes are still pretty lethargic when I'm hunting down south so I don't bother with snake boots.
Lots of non poisonous snakes. Some copperheads and the occasional timber rattler. I wear gaiters even though I only know 1 guy who's actually been bit and he wasn't hunting when it happened
Just a part of life here in the Ms / Lou . If I had to put a average # ? Probly 20 to 30 encounters yearly .
I don't like killing them unless there close to my house .
I've heard several old timers say rattlesnakes won't climb trees. Well I can tell that ain't right! Not sure if you can see real well in this picture. This ole boy was about 5 feet in a tree. I heard him buzz at me and started looking on ground for him. Couldn't find him. Finally picked him out up in a small tree. This one shook me up pretty bad as I was extremely close to him. It took a couple hours for me to settle down from this encounter and being in the timber business I see them regularly. I normally leave them alone out in the woods and away from the house but I took this on out. Had my snake chaps on. Needed a neck chap for this timber rattler.
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Over my 26 seasons of turkey hunting I have had so many close encounters. I had a rattlesnake between my legs at daylight before. Sat down beside a 6 ft monster rattler one time. If he would have bit me I wouldn't be here today. I have stepped on many cottonmouths. Been struck by copperheads. I do not leave home without snake boots.
Quote from: Master Gobbie on February 24, 2022, 01:33:19 PM
Living and hunting out west, Rattlesnakes are not at all uncommon, but I've never been concerned enough to wear snake boots.
It sounds like some of you in other places encounter them (snakes) on a regular basis, how often? and how many have you seen in a season?
I wanna hear some stories, not just horror stories, but tell me some experiences you've had.
Honestly ....very few. I look foward to my annual encounter with a chicken snake "rat snake" layed out sunning on a dirt road. I see one almost every year. As far as venomous snakes....as common as they are where i live, I dont actually encounter them very often while turkey hunting. Maybe once a season at most. Just my luck i guess. However early season is quiet often still pretty cool weather. I dont wear snake boots. I do however see many snakes throughout the year....they just arent super out and about in the places i hunt during turkey season. I leave most snakes alone. the only snake ill go out of my way to kill is a cottonmouth.
I see a few venomous snakes every season. I had never seen a rattlesnake until I started hunting a new area and now I have seen several. I've almost stepped on two, both when it was colder outside. They didn't move or rattle and I had my turtle skin gaiters on but it still gets your heart to beating. The area I hunt mostly is a good hour from a hospital and sometimes I'm two miles from the truck. I'm more comfortable with gaiters. With a serious rattlesnake bite I might not even be able to get back to the truck and if I do I'm still a long way from help. Throw in no cell service and it's a bad situation. I also try to be careful when sitting down against a tree or crawling through the woods. Those copperheads disappear in the leaves. I've seen timber's, a Pygmy, copperheads, and cottonmouths.
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I'm up north so don't see a lot of snakes. I'm thankful as they are the one creature that flat out gives me the willies, regardless of whether they are poisonous or not. We do have rattle snakes in the bluff lands, which is where I hunt. 2 snake related experiences that come to mind:
1) I had permissions to hunt a piece of property for probably 7 years. I always check in and remind the farmer that I am in town and will be hunting. One visit after small talk I turned to leave and the wife stated "and remember, be careful of the snakes." It turns out they previously forgot to mention to me that their bluffs were the site of studies as they had the highest quantity of rattle snake dens in Minnesota. I'm a runner and gunner and thought about all the times I dropped into rocky ravines, took a break sitting on rocks, snuck around without looking down, etc. I believe it's still too cold in the spring for them to be active but I now stick to the woods and prairies when I hunt their property.
2) I was sneak hunting in Wisconsin when all of a sudden a snake pops up about 2 feet away. It was a Hognose and pulled the cobra mimic trick - head up in the air, neck and head flattened, hissing like mad. It scared the hell out of me and I had to tell my self that I wasn't in Africa and it is not a cobra!
Quote from: Hwd silvestris on February 24, 2022, 09:41:32 PM
I've heard several old timers say rattlesnakes won't climb trees. Well I can tell that ain't right! Not sure if you can see real well in this picture. This ole boy was about 5 feet in a tree. I heard him buzz at me and started looking on ground for him. Couldn't find him. Finally picked him out up in a small tree.
That is a big NOPE! I'd find another hobby!
Quote from: Paulmyr on February 24, 2022, 07:48:07 PM
Quote from: GobbleNut on February 24, 2022, 05:16:11 PM
I have been close enough to have been bitten many times without a single strike and have come to the conclusion (hopefully not falsely) that they as reluctant to bite me as I am to be bitten.
Makes sense to me. From what I understand it takes quite a bit of energy and time for a snake to replace venom. I can see where they wouldn't throw it around willey nilley. Some snakes types must be better at judging prey size than others. It's the only thing I can up with to explain the aggressive nature some.
Think I've seen one venomous snake in my lifetime. Late season Mo. Just starting trip back home to Mn I passed over what believe was a rattler with the truck. He was a short, fat sucker. I could see the diamond markings on his back just before he went under the truck.
Most of the snakes are still pretty lethargic when I'm hunting down south so I don't bother with snake boots.
Check that! I just bought a pair of snake boots. Thanks to ssramage for posting the Danner boot sale. Didn't buy em
for snakes and such, bought em for walking through swamps and climbing ridges. Rubber boots hurt the arch in my right foot. The price was good enough it talked me into buying a pair to try out.
Part of my reasoning, too, was.......... I'm gonna have to wear boots to turkey hunt ANYWAYS, so...........
My snake boots (Irish Setter VaprTreks) are light, comfortable, waterproof AND snakeproof and cost me the same or less than what I've paid for other "regular" boots.
I know a couple people that got hit by copperheads. I don't want NOOOOOOO parts of it.
Hunting down here in Florida, I don't see many. I used to hunt a place that had a bunch, but the couple place I hunt now just don't have many rattlers or cottonmouths. I think its because both places are out of control with hogs, and they put a hurtin on the snakes. I'll see one or two venomous snakes a year, certainly not enough to make me wear hot snake boots.
I've mainly hunted SC and FLA. Both have rattlers, cottonmouths, and coral snakes. SC also has copperheads. I never go into the woods without snake boots. I be been struck twice while walking in the dark. Fortunately I was wearing snake boots.
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I most often hunt in the EP of WV and nearby Clarke County, VA. I have seen maybe 3-4 rattlers in 50 years of hunting here. Enough that I always wear snake boots or snake chaps. I fear all snake, just me I guess. I bowhunted bear in Southern WV for several and snakes were a daily occurrence and always big yellow rattlers. Usually saw them in the old gas line roads. I was always very cautious esp. leaving the tree in the dark.
I love threads like these because of the inevitable aggressive cottonmouth stories! It gives me another chance to share my favorite video on the subject (https://youtu.be/314N7xIeRR8) and I get to point out that the professional hunters in Africa and Australia, where they have snakes that make ours seem about as dangerous as earthworms, only wear short leather boots with shorts. I do the same with pants, and I have not seen a venomous snake while hunting. Please wear the snake boots and chaps if it makes you feel good, not discouraging it, but you almost have a higher chance of being shot by another hunter than bitten by a snake.
For every snake you see, ten see you.
See very few, although I don't look for them. Always heard if ya look for snakes you will find them. Snakes are the last thing on my mind in the spring turkey woods.
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Quote from: Hwd silvestris on February 24, 2022, 09:41:32 PM
I've heard several old timers say rattlesnakes won't climb trees. Well I can tell that ain't right! Not sure if you can see real well in this picture. This ole boy was about 5 feet in a tree. I heard him buzz at me and started looking on ground for him. Couldn't find him. Finally picked him out up in a small tree. This one shook me up pretty bad as I was extremely close to him. It took a couple hours for me to settle down from this encounter and being in the timber business I see them regularly. I normally leave them alone out in the woods and away from the house but I took this on out. Had my snake chaps on. Needed a neck chap for this timber rattler.
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They all climb trees, I watched a cottonmouth go up a tree very fast with no issues. I used to hunt river sloughs off the Oconee river in middle Georgia and it was loaded with snakes. It was common to see cottonmouths on about every hunt and they were routinely off the ground waist to head high in palmettos and bushes.
While hunting with a best friend in South Carolina we found this 63 incher walking out of the woods... We ate it over rice w fresh turkey breast and local shrimp. He's got the tanned skin on a piece of driftwood.
When ya'll say cottonmouth are aggressive, what exactly does that mean? they instinctively strike? or sort of pursue you?
Quote from: Master Gobbie on February 25, 2022, 07:06:39 PM
When ya'll say cottonmouth are aggressive, what exactly does that mean? they instinctively strike? or sort of pursue you?
I've seen them stand their ground... They don't slither away in the Everglades WMA. They stay motionless and cocked back waiting for you to walk closer.
Only time I ever see them is in creek bottoms around the water here in SC
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Two snakes i like to see in the season...
(https://i.imgur.com/mTg59OB.jpg)
Here's a full grown SC Canebrake I came across on a cool morning. Very docile in this situation and I gave it plenty of space. I was more nervous on the way out when it was gone.
I usually see 5-6 venomous snakes each season and at least that many non-venomous. I wear snake boots.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220226/5413ea45a18b46fbd410f2fd7066252d.jpg)
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In the past three season I have seen three.
2 years ago in Florida I seen a black snake and a Floridian water snake. I had pictures of the water snake, thought it was a moccasin.
This past spring end of season, I was sent in on a bad turkey and the set up I had was perfect. I was was stretched out prone across a hump of dirt. While there working the turkey a garden snake came through the leaves to check me out. He was a total of a foot away from my eyeball.
Don't wear snake boots, don't see many snakes, ain't scared of them, I have a gun.
I've encountered one rattlesnake while turkey hunting. I was set up against a tree and looked down to see his head between my heel and my family jewels. I don't know where she was, but some 9 year old girl screamed ;), I butt jumped about 20 yards after kicking at the snake a couple times. I thought I saw him strike at my snake booted foot. When my heart dropped below 200 beats per minute I noticed two small wet spots on the hard cap toe of my boot. Yep, he struck at me.
Had I remained still, he probably would have slithered past, or bit me in the twig and berries...I wasn't about to see which!
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220226/ae2143c041f95e3d25f0cce40062e8b4.jpg)
Somehow I spotted this timber rattler right before I walked past him. It was cool that morning thank goodness.
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Was about two steps from getting a strike from him a couple years ago while traveling up a creek.. Never even knew he was there till I looked down.. I'll second that notion that cottonmouths do not give you any warnings usually
Not many, but when I do I enjoy seeing them (preferably from a distance). Here was a pretty timber rattler holding to an old logging road last year trying to stay warm. Them early spring nighttime temps where I live turn them buggers into noodles. [mention]antnye [/mention]had a crazy video last year of a monster rattler sliding by him and a buddy's feet. Now that one was a little too close for comfort.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220226/2f2f453b529138ad0bb49a03ec33f185.jpg)
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The "snakes in a tree" comment reminded me of an incident I had just a couple of years ago.
I was prospecting for gobblers in some of the lower country they inhabit here in New Mexico. I was driving along a forest road and suddenly, "the urge" hit me. At my age, when "the urge" hits you, you best be prepared to get the business done as quickly as possible, so I hurriedly pulled off the road and ran for the nearest cover. That happened to be a scrubby juniper tree about thirty yards off the road, and I sort of duck-walked around the back side of the tree, tucked myself in as best I could amongst the limbs, and dropped the drawers.
I got the job done, somewhat relieved that I had done so without "complications", and as I was pulling up my pants, I happened to notice an out-of-place object on one of the juniper branches very close to my "deposit" and well within "puncturing" distance of parts of my anatomy that, just moments before, had been in a very compromised position.
Looking more closely, the out-ot-place object turned out to be a modest-sized rattler that seemed very content to just lay on that limb and observe the goings-on without a fuss. We parted way amicably, but he will never know how close he came to taking a "load" had I backed just slightly further into that juniper in the moment of crisis. :D ;D :angel9:
...My apologies to all who might be thinking...hmmm, T.M.I.! :toothy9:
Quote from: GobbleNut on February 26, 2022, 07:58:46 AM
The "snakes in a tree" comment reminded me of an incident I had just a couple of years ago.
I was prospecting for gobblers in some of the lower country they inhabit here in New Mexico. I was driving along a forest road and suddenly, "the urge" hit me. At my age, when "the urge" hits you, you best be prepared to get the business done as quickly as possible, so I hurriedly pulled off the road and ran for the nearest cover. That happened to be a scrubby juniper tree about thirty yards off the road, and I sort of duck-walked around the back side of the tree, tucked myself in as best I could amongst the limbs, and dropped the drawers.
I got the job done, somewhat relieved that I had done so without "complications", and as I was pulling up my pants, I happened to notice an out-of-place object on one of the juniper branches very close to my "deposit" and well within "puncturing" distance of parts of my anatomy that, just moments before, had been in a very compromised position.
Looking more closely, the out-ot-place object turned out to be a modest-sized rattler that seemed very content to just lay on that limb and observe the goings-on without a fuss. We parted way amicably, but he will never know how close he came to taking a "load" had I backed just slightly further into that juniper in the moment of crisis. :D ;D :angel9:
...My apologies to all who might be thinking...hmmm, T.M.I.! :toothy9:
Prima facia evidence of how easily, sometimes, life can just reach out and bite ya in the.......... You know......... ::)
Quote from: Yoder409 on February 24, 2022, 07:18:33 PM
In all my years, I've only run into a couple rattlers........that I know of. I wear snake boots. I wear them, partly, so I don't have to pay attention to anything but turkeys. But, I wear them MOSTLY because I love the ankle support in rough terrain.
Only snake I've ran across while hunting was a cotton mouth in Ga. The ankle support is the biggest reason I wear them also. I wear them when my buddies and I go riding the atvs. Best boot to have on when riding through a patch of briers. The wife laughs at me when I'm outside weed eating. Shorts and my old snake boots. Don't worry about any sticks or rocks my weed eater kicks up hitting my legs.
Quote from: dayna105 on February 27, 2022, 10:02:33 AMBest boot to have on when riding through a patch of briers.
Good point.
But I did learn one thing about snake boots when I'm hunting Texas........... They DO NOT stop pear thorns !!! :angry9:
here in mississippi, I don't go anywhere without my snake boots, been struck before by cootonmouth and copperhead, see some most every year
Quote from: Master Gobbie on February 25, 2022, 07:06:39 PM
they instinctively strike? or sort of pursue you?
Yes to both!!! The majority of my turkey hunting has been in FLA and SC, which means I've done a lot of swamp hunting. Cottonmouths are mean and ornery, will strike in a heartbeat, and yes, they will pursue you aggressively.
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Don't recall seeing any while out turkey hunting, as it is usually cool here in spring in the mornings. But i still try and be careful in certain areas "cause you never say never.
I watched a documentary about a park ranger/officer that lived on a WMA of some sort in what I believe was Florida? Anyway, he found some turkey eggs from a hen that was verified as dead, so he took the eggs and raised the turkeys. Maybe one of y'all have seen it and can correct me if I'm wrong, but what I remember standing out in that documentary was how many rattlesnakes those poults found as he took them on daily walks around the woods, after for decades previous hardly seeing any at all. So even though you don't know they are there, they definitely know YOU are there.
Quote from: Pluffmud on February 27, 2022, 12:05:13 PM
I watched a documentary about a park ranger/officer that lived on a WMA of some sort in what I believe was Florida? Anyway, he found some turkey eggs from a hen that was verified as dead, so he took the eggs and raised the turkeys. Maybe one of y'all have seen it and can correct me if I'm wrong, but what I remember standing out in that documentary was how many rattlesnakes those poults found as he took them on daily walks around the woods, after for decades previous hardly seeing any at all. So even though you don't know they are there, they definitely know YOU are there.
I havent seen it. But was talking to a guy the other day and he got to talking about that documentary.
Prostaff member for Old Crow Custom Calls
I have seen plenty in my 40 odd years of hunting. Rattlesnakes, Cottonmouths, Copperheads. Never was threatened by one. But a few made me pucker up a bit. I just bought my first pair of snake boots last season. I'm getting old, slow and hard of hearing so I figured I needed them.
If I only see one a season it is one too many. They bother me bad enough when it is light, I'd certainly hate to step on one in the dark without snake boots. I don't enjoy wearing snake boots, but I reckon it beats the alternative
Quote from: GobbleNut on February 26, 2022, 07:58:46 AM
The "snakes in a tree" comment reminded me of an incident I had just a couple of years ago.
I was prospecting for gobblers in some of the lower country they inhabit here in New Mexico. I was driving along a forest road and suddenly, "the urge" hit me. At my age, when "the urge" hits you, you best be prepared to get the business done as quickly as possible, so I hurriedly pulled off the road and ran for the nearest cover. That happened to be a scrubby juniper tree about thirty yards off the road, and I sort of duck-walked around the back side of the tree, tucked myself in as best I could amongst the limbs, and dropped the drawers.
I got the job done, somewhat relieved that I had done so without "complications", and as I was pulling up my pants, I happened to notice an out-of-place object on one of the juniper branches very close to my "deposit" and well within "puncturing" distance of parts of my anatomy that, just moments before, had been in a very compromised position.
Looking more closely, the out-ot-place object turned out to be a modest-sized rattler that seemed very content to just lay on that limb and observe the goings-on without a fuss. We parted way amicably, but he will never know how close he came to taking a "load" had I backed just slightly further into that juniper in the moment of crisis. :D ;D :angel9:
...My apologies to all who might be thinking...hmmm, T.M.I.! :toothy9:
Reminds me of the joke about the 2 guys out hunting and one gets bit in a similar location as you describe. The bitten tells his buddy to call the doctor. He calls the town doctor who advises to suck out the poison. He returns to the bitten who asks what the doctor said. He replies, "He said you are gonna die".
Quote from: fmf on March 04, 2022, 02:10:18 PM
If I only see one a season it is one too many. They bother me bad enough when it is light, I'd certainly hate to step on one in the dark without snake boots. I don't enjoy wearing snake boots, but I reckon it beats the alternative
I think back about some of the times I've crawled through the woods in the predawn darkness getting in on a turkey. I'm not sure that I'll do that anymore. Those gobblers can make you do some dumb stuff though.
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