A friend of mine sent pics of 2 different copperheads on his property in NC. My daughter lives 10 miles from him but has never seen one. But I think chaps are appropriate if I go. Why take chances.
I live in Ms and was bit by a stumptail water moccasin when I was 15 and turkey hunting. I wear gator skins. I had Mrs. Glenda cover them with original bottomland and put Velcro in place of the zippers. Light weight , flexible and on/off in seconds. Haven't been tested by snakes yet but gives me piece of mind. If you have never been bit , trust me , you don't want to go through that. Some say they never have had a snake issue but if you ever get bit , it will change your mind.
I have never been bit, but its way cheaper to buy the proper snake proof boots/gaiters than to pay for the antivenom/hospital bills, not to mention having to endure that pain
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I agree, don't take chances... wear the proper Boots / Gaiters .... IMO...
It's that time! As the temps rise they will be out for sure. We had 85 degree temps here in Eastern NC today with a duplicate tomorrow. Back in the 50's through the weekend though. Be careful everyone. By the way, as we get warmer weather, Please spray your clothing with Permethrin. You will KICK yourself, if you get Lyme or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Neurological diseases that can last for years.
I wear snake boots for the simple reason if you get bit on the foot those fangs can get through typical hunting hikers. I hate copperheads them suckers will strike low.
Quote from: Spitten and drummen on April 05, 2023, 05:47:34 PM
Some say they never have had a snake issue but if you ever get bit , it will change your mind.
I have almost been bitten more than once, and was struck hard by a big boy in the snake boot another time. If it's warm enough for snakes to be on the prowl, I'm wearing snake boots.
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Someone gave me a pair of Rocky snake boots years ago, they're still sitting in the closest. I may regret saying it but, I've never had an issue. I see them, they see me and we don't bother with each other.
We have plenty of copperheads where I hunt so I put my Muck snake boots on when I get out of the truck. They are a little heavy but very comfortable.
We have copperheads here in North Florida where I live. Actually pretty common. Surprised me when I moved here 30+ years ago. Have only seen one coral snake and they were fairly common in central Florida where I came from.
I wear gaiters when I'm in the woods. I rarely see copperheads but they're around. I've got some expensive ink on my calf I'd hate to mess up due to a snake bite.
I wear snake boots everytime I'm in the woods. Plenty of rattlesnakes and moccasins
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If I'm turkey hunting, I'm wearing snake boots. I always look out for snakes, but it's the ones you don't see that can give you problems. I've been hit by one copperhead about 1" below the top of the boot. The bite didn't puncture the boot, but it definitely left some poison behind. Made a believer out of me for sure. Every stick I saw after that looked like a dern snake for about 3 days.
I know a woman who was walking her dog in the front yard at dusk and got hit in the ankle by a copperhead. She was in the hospital for over 2 weeks and couldn't walk right for 5 months. They aren't the most dangerous snake out there, but they're dangerous enough.
Jim
Quote from: roberthyman14 on April 05, 2023, 09:36:23 PM
I wear snake boots everytime I'm in the woods. Plenty of rattlesnakes and moccasins
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With you 100% on this. I'm in Ms delta where everything is poisonous, even the mosquitos bite so hard you think they are. I never go in the woods without rocky snake boots on. When I have them on my mind is at ease, the rare time I wear regular rubber boots except for the dead of winter I'm worried to death about a snake, mostly cottonmouths.
I love Michigan. Just reading this is freaking me out. Even Pa. has snakes. Enjoy!
The worst part is not seeing where you are stepping moving in the dark
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plenty of copperheads on high ground and plenty mocassins in low grounds where our farms are roanoke and meherin rivers in north east N.C.
both are common and best be paying attention when entering swamps in those areas.
Just the thread I needed to read before heading south after work today..
Good luck this weekend and be safe everyone.
The problem is almost nobody is ever bitten by the snake they see. In the US, we have about 5000 VENOMOUS snake bites reported every year. Most bites are to the lower extremity. Your odds are pretty good of never being bitten if you divide that by the number of hunters, hikers, etc. that go out into nature every day by the total number of bites. However, having taken care of a few snake bites, I will never go into the woods without my snake boots. If you are extremely lucky, you will be among the 25% with dry bites (bitten but no venom). If you are not, the limb will usually develop horrible, painful swelling and hemorrhagic blisters. With severe envenomations, the toxin can then spread into your system and potentially cause nausea, vomiting, heart racing, low blood pressure, dizziness, muscle spasms, bleeding and altered mental status. Fortunately, snake bites are much less frequent than ticks but they can sure ruin a good time and put an end to your turkey season. In the long run, you are going to be wearing boots anyway. Snake boots are good insurance and not that uncomfortable. Just my thoughts.
Quote from: RiverRoost on April 06, 2023, 12:18:13 AM
Quote from: roberthyman14 on April 05, 2023, 09:36:23 PM
I wear snake boots everytime I'm in the woods. Plenty of rattlesnakes and moccasins
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With you 100% on this. I'm in Ms delta where everything is poisonous, even the mosquitos bite so hard you think they are. I never go in the woods without rocky snake boots on. When I have them on my mind is at ease, the rare time I wear regular rubber boots except for the dead of winter I'm worried to death about a snake, mostly cottonmouths.
I got lacrosse rubber snake boots. Definitely eases the mind. I stepped right over a coach whip the other day. Wasn't even looking at the ground.
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I wear gaiters so I'm not to worried about stepping on a snake now but I do worry sometimes about sitting down against the tree in the dark and getting bit on the hands. I usually try to shine my red light around.
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I have always worn snake boots anytime I go in the woods and I always will. We have many types of venomous snakes in South Carolina where I hunt and I worry about sitting down on or near one. Always look before you sit down and keep an eye out around you while your sitting there. Like has been said before, it's the ones you don't see that bite you.
Snake boots are good to have when walking but how many of you check where you set down especially when it's dark first thing in the morning? Makes you STOP and think doesn't it?
Quote from: aclawrence on April 06, 2023, 02:46:48 PM
I wear gaiters so I'm not to worried about stepping on a snake now but I do worry sometimes about sitting down against the tree in the dark and getting bit on the hands. I usually try to shine my red light around.
I have rattlesnakes here in California... Unless it is a real warm spring, it is probably too cold pre-sunrise for snakes to be moving around much. But I do use a stick (or somthing) to move the grass around where I will be sitting to make sure I do not sit on a sleeping snake.
I feel I am far more likely to get bit running & gunning... Pre-occupied with a gobbling bird, and trying to sit down fast...
Missed a cottonmouth by about 6" this a.m. hunt in Mississippi but I trust my Russell's. Lol
Still scared the hell out of me lol
There are no toothy snakes where I live and do 99% of all my in-state hunting. But in the PA mountains and other staes where I've hunted ..... different story.
I wear my VaprTrek snake boots even on my home turf because I love the ankle support.
I've never been hit. But I know a couple who've been hit by copperheads and I know I don't wanna be. Few years back.....a guy got hit by a PA rattler and didn't make it. I'll take every reasonable precaution to make that not be me.
Quote from: Marc on April 06, 2023, 04:41:25 PM
Quote from: aclawrence on April 06, 2023, 02:46:48 PM
I wear gaiters so I'm not to worried about stepping on a snake now but I do worry sometimes about sitting down against the tree in the dark and getting bit on the hands. I usually try to shine my red light around.
I have rattlesnakes here in California... Unless it is a real warm spring, it is probably too cold pre-sunrise for snakes to be moving around much. But I do use a stick (or somthing) to move the grass around where I will be sitting to make sure I do not sit on a sleeping snake.
I feel I am far more likely to get bit running & gunning... Pre-occupied with a gobbling bird, and trying to sit down fast...
I've stepped over or almost stepped over two timber rattlers. Thankfully it was cold both times and they never even moved. If it had been warmer maybe they would have given me a warning. It gives your heart a good jump!
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There are copperhead snakes in New York in the Capital district in the Adirondacks and one other region I don't recall.
We also have rattlesnakes but they are far and few between. I remember when I was a teenager in the 80s we found a baby diamondback rattlesnake in the neighbor's garage and that was a pretty big deal there. DEC agent came and got it and looked for a nest/the parents but never did find it. I know of a few errors of rattlesnake around here too now. I've heard tell of cottonmouth, but never heard of any real evidence of it.
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