The discussion in another thread about what kind of boots to wear in "snake country" got me thinking ( a rarity, I admit).
Personally, I want to be very mobile when hunting, so I wear light-weight foot gear wherever I hunt,...usually low-top hiking boots. I never hunt with a concern for snake bites,...at least partly because I am always careful and watching where I am walking,...but also because in nearly sixty years of hunting, I have never once had a snake strike at me even though I have had dozens of close-range encounters with them.
Where I live, we regularly have encounters with rattlesnakes and me and my hunting buddies have all been within sure striking range of them numerous times,...and none of us has ever been bitten or even struck at. (granted, we don't have cottonmouths or copperheads around here,...just rattlers)
So my question to everybody is this,...How many of you have either been bitten by a snake or have had one strike at you while out hunting? (the question only applies to instances where you did not intentionally aggravate the snake)
Never been bitten but have had a couple of close encounters. The last one was probably the closest chance of being bitten. I was hunting in a rocky area and had been on alert all day for snakes. As I was walking out on a road only about a hundred yards from my truck, I got careless and was hurrying because it was hot, took a step and heard the buzz of a rattler. I looked back and I had stepped over a snake coiled in the grass, the snake was facing in an opposite direction and I think that was the reason I was not hit but that is pure speculation. In late season I do changeover to snake boots as I usually hunt alone and do not want to have to walk out after being bitten.
I've been hit twice by cottonmouths. Thankfully both times I was wearing my snake boots. Oddly enough, they were on the same night, on the same walk back to the truck. I was blindly working my way to the truck after losing my compass, and having my flashlight die. These days I have a compass, and a couple of compass apps on my phone, and I carry a spare flashlight. Nothing like walking through a swamp in the dark and getting hit in the calf by a big snake to motivate you to be more prepared!! ;) Needless to say, I always wear my snake boots, unless it's very cold.
I've never been bit but I've had numerous water moccasins strike at me. Most times I didn't see them and saw the movement or there open mouth. I've encountered rattlesnakes in other states and found them more tolerant than a moccasin. Copper heads have to be nearly stepped on before they bite. Water Moccasins need no provocation if you get close enough they will usually take a strike at you unless it's really cold and they are sluggish.
As for as snake boots every pair I've seen are hot and heavy I bought a pair of Turtle skin snake leggings and they are super light, not hot and you'll forget your wearing them. I wear leather 9" high boots so the foot is protected by leather and the Turtle skins protect up to knee. Everyone I've known that was bit was on the hand/ arm or from the knee down.
I also make a point to kill every moccasin copperhead or rattle snake I come across.
Had a copperhead strike me on the calf on an October SC bow hunt some years ago. Had gotten down out of a stand about 10AM and walked a short distance looking for sign on my way out of the woods. Stopped in a patch of sweetgum trees, fresh tan/yellow leaves all over ground, and felt something hit my knee high lacrosse rubber boots. Looked down to see a small dead bush shaking. I shrugged and stepped away from it trying to understand why it had moved after I had already stopped. Then I noticed the 30-32" long copperhead underneath it. I killed the snake with a stick then inspected the boot to find two small oily spots on the calf with the slightest rough looking spots in the center of each. We see a few copperheads here in spring and fall when they are prone to be moving in daylight during the cooler temps. Have walked up on alert rattlesnakes in the mountains here but thankfully never in a position to be bitten. Also, two springs ago I called for my father one evening at a known roost area on a hardwood ridge. We sat in gobbler loungers for a couple hours till it was past roost time. I'd laid box and pot calls down beside my seat during the whole time. When we got ready to leave I gathered my calls up and heard something rustle the leaves in the same location. Found a 20" or so copperhead lying within 12" of where I had been placing my hands all evening.
I've been struck 3 times, twice by moccasins and once by a copperhead. Fortunately my snake boots saved me each time. When I lived and hunted in Florida it was common for me to be miles from the truck with no cell service and nobody knowing where I was hunting. I consider some kind of snake protection cheap insurance.
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I had a cane break rattler crawl up between my feet while turkey hunting a few years back. He was between the heel of my boot and my family jewels when I saw him. I screamed like a third grade girl and began kicking at it. I butt jumped about 25 feet. It was very dry and the black toe cap of my boot had a pair of small wet spots where I saw it strike at me
We both claimed self defense for our actions and each of us survived with a tale for our buddies. :happy0167:
I just never take the chance and wear snake boots , that why they make them for snakes .....
I'll second the turtle skins. I bought a pair for this last turkey season and they worked great. I like having a little extra peace of mind if I'm walking a long ways from the truck. I don't like snake boots. I can wear these with whatever boots I want to wear or I can let my wife wear them if she tags along. More comfortable and more versatile.
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Interestingly I just sat down with the kids to watch Brave Wilderness and they had just posted a new video of Coyote Peterson looking at a huge Water Moccasin on a road in Florida one night. Check it out for some cool footage of a monster size cottonmouth!
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Was struck by a smallish rattler one night in October after bowhunting. Walking out on a logging road without a light and stepped on it. Evidently he didn't appreciate it and struck. I was wearing lacrosse burly rubber boots and it didn't penetrate, but left two smears that I can only assume was venom. I usually wear snakeboots turkey hunting, but honestly I've had way more snake encounters while bowhunting in early fall.
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I have way more encounters with venomous snakes in the fall, but have still came across plenty during the spring. Have stepped within a couple feet of displaying cottonmouths numerous times, but luckily have never had one strike. Rattlesnakes I've encountered have been more docile than the cottonmouths. I wear snake boots sometimes for peace of mind, but the potential for a snake is never gonna hinder my turkey hunting.
Never been hit ( knock on wood ) but just too many copperheads and rattlesnakes here in eastern Georgia for me not to wear snake proofs for peace of mind. Always wear them for turkey and dove.
I have never been bit by a rattlesnake. But I have seen the results of a rattlesnake bite on 3 different people. If you would see a snake bite victim , you would immediately get yourself a pair of snakeboots or turtle skin chaps before you head out into snake country.
I was struck at once, by a cottonmouth, while approaching a pond on a 4-wheeler to go fishing. This was in April in the afternoon, after a morning turkey hunt.
Never struck, but I always wear my gaiters when in snake country.
I had a ~30 inch moccasin strike at me duck hunting during teal season in the early 80s. He was sunning on some bent over reeds. He struck at me when I got close, but missed. He kept coming on, like he was going to go at me again. I laid him out with a canoe paddle.
I stepped past a pygmy rattlesnake deer hunting one sunny Fall day down east. The buzz sounded like an odd sounding cicada and that's what I thought I'd see when I looked down. I high stepped on by and it had slipped off into high grass when we went looking for it.
Got hit in the rubber boot by a 2' copperhead turkey hunting in 1998 on my way out of the woods. The bite didn't penetrate all the way through the boot. My ankle was near the back of the boot and he struck the front. I was walking through a creek bottom and never saw the snake until it bounced off the front of my boot. I freaked out & jumped back about 5 feet. Then I cut him half in two with a load of copper plated #6s. I'm still on edge and look for snakes every time I cross that creek bottom. Also bought snake boots the next day. Haven't been bit since.
Jim
Quote from: aclawrence on August 21, 2018, 09:07:40 PM
Interestingly I just sat down with the kids to watch Brave Wilderness and they had just posted a new video of Coyote Peterson looking at a huge Water Moccasin on a road in Florida one night. Check it out for some cool footage of a monster size cottonmouth!
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Just watched the video. That's a stud cottonmouth!! :o I've seen many of them in the wild, but never one that big.
Thankfully I haven't either!
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Living in middle Ga, I don't take a chance. But with the amount of ground a turkey hunter covers, comfort is a factor. My advice is to buy the highest quality snake boots you can afford. $100 or less seemed to only last a season or two at best for me. Bought a nice pair 3 years ago and the comfort is much better with the durability to match...
Quote from: GSUTURK98 on August 30, 2018, 10:04:43 PM
Living in middle Ga, I don't take a chance. But with the amount of ground a turkey hunter covers, comfort is a factor. My advice is to buy the highest quality snake boots you can afford. $100 or less seemed to only last a season or two at best for me. Bought a nice pair 3 years ago and the comfort is much better with the durability to match...
What kind did you buy? I bought Lacrosse boots last year, and they leaked at the end of the season. Interested in what has worked for other folks.
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Danner Pronghorns, have been wearing the same pair for 5 - 6 years. They are comfortable and 100% waterproof.
Quote from: bobk on August 31, 2018, 07:35:43 AM
Danner Pronghorns, have been wearing the same pair for 5 - 6 years. They are comfortable and 100% waterproof.
Thanks! I'll give them a try. Snake boots are definitely needed in southwest Georgia.
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They must have upped their game. I think the pronghorns are a notorious leaky boot.
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I've owned two pair of different generation Proghorns and both have leaked before making it through one of my turkey seasons.
Quote from: deerhunt1988 on September 02, 2018, 06:31:53 AM
I've owned two pair of different generation Proghorns and both have leaked before making it through one of my turkey seasons.
Good info to know, I was thinking on a pair of them for when I go to OK
Quote from: Sir-diealot on September 02, 2018, 09:30:06 PM
Quote from: deerhunt1988 on September 02, 2018, 06:31:53 AM
I've owned two pair of different generation Proghorns and both have leaked before making it through one of my turkey seasons.
Good info to know, I was thinking on a pair of them for when I go to OK
Every snake boot I've ever owned leaked. A couple leaked on the very first time I wore them, so I returned them. Most last one season and start leaking the next. Had a couple last 2 years. I've tried a bunch of brands. Chippewa, Danner, Rocky, Guide Gear and Redhead. The Redheads are lightweight, comfortable, retain their waterproofing longer than the others, and are affordable, so that when they do start leaking it's no big deal to buy another pair. I wear my good pair in the morning dew or walking through water. I wear my older, leaking pair in the afternoons in dry terrain.
Quote from: jshark14 on August 30, 2018, 10:10:46 PM
Quote from: GSUTURK98 on August 30, 2018, 10:04:43 PM
Living in middle Ga, I don't take a chance. But with the amount of ground a turkey hunter covers, comfort is a factor. My advice is to buy the highest quality snake boots you can afford. $100 or less seemed to only last a season or two at best for me. Bought a nice pair 3 years ago and the comfort is much better with the durability to match...
What kind did you buy? I bought Lacrosse boots last year, and they leaked at the end of the season. Interested in what has worked for other folks.
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So far, so good with my Lacrosse Alpha snake boots. For $150 they better not leak! In the second season with them . In and around the piney woods in Georgia, I`d be nervous without them.
Quote from: Turkeytider on September 04, 2018, 03:37:09 PMFor $150 they better not leak!
The Danners I had cost over $200 and leaked the very first time I wore them. >:(
I've had 3 sets of Rockys that cost me anywhere from $150-200. 2 of them leaked right away, 1 of them made it a few months before leaking. ::)
That's why I go with the Redhead Snake Boots. Lightweight, comfortable, pretty rugged and most of all
affordable. That's why I just cycle through my snake boots. Good non-leaking pair, good leaking pair, and relegated to working in the woods pair. Affordable enough that I don't mind when they eventually start leaking.
If anyone finds a pair that don't leak, please let me know!! They gotta be lightweight and breathable though, because I do most of my hunting in Dixie and it's hot!!
I have gone through so many brands of snake boots it's not even funny. All of them leak at some point like stated above. I got a pair of the lacrosse rubber snake boots 2 years ago. About half way through the first season with them a small stick jabbed a hole in them just above the ankle. If a stick can poke a hole in them I'm sure a snake fangs can get through them. That's an uneasy feeling. Before last season I picked up a pair of Danners on sale for less than a hundred dollars. They are very comfortable. I can cross creeks in them and my feet will stay dry,but walk across a field in the morning and my feet are drenched. My take on leaky boots is this. My feet are going to be wet, either by leaky boots or my feet sweating simply due to the nature of "water proof " boots.
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This is why I went with the good quality hiking boot and snake gaiters. My boots are comfortable, they don't leak, and I can wear them with or without the gaiters. All I've ever heard about snake boots is they suck lol.
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Quote from: aclawrence on September 04, 2018, 09:15:56 PM
This is why I went with the good quality hiking boot and snake gaiters. My boots are comfortable, they don't leak, and I can wear them with or without the gaiters. All I've ever heard about snake boots is they suck lol.
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Yep 150$ on gaiters that will last a lifetime or thousand dollars worth of leaking, heavy ,hot snake boots over a turkey hunting career.
Are the gaiters waterproof? What happens when you cross a creek with ankle boots and gaiters that go to your knee. Do you stay dry or will you get wet with any water thats higher than the boot under your gaiter?
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Quote from: aclawrence on September 04, 2018, 09:15:56 PMThis is why I went with the good quality hiking boot and snake gaiters. My boots are comfortable, they don't leak, and I can wear them with or without the gaiters. All I've ever heard about snake boots is they suck lol.
Every pair of gaiters I've seen were hot, heavy and noisy. That isn't what I'm looking for in snake protection.
Quote from: Brad_Colvin on September 04, 2018, 09:02:39 PMI can cross creeks in them and my feet will stay dry,but walk across a field in the morning and my feet are drenched. My take on leaky boots is this. My feet are going to be wet, either by leaky boots or my feet sweating simply due to the nature of "water proof " boots.
Yep!!! :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:
I Guarantee you that my gaiters are not as hot as your snake boots. As far as crossing creeks usually a good pair of hiking gaiters will keep water out of your boots. I haven't really gotten to test mine in any deep water yet but I didn't have any issues crossing any creeks last season. You can't stand around in water that comes up over your boots but if your moving across quickly your usually good to go. They are a touch noisy if your walking through some brush or briars but then again they are also protecting your pants so I don't mind the trade off.
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Not looking to argue, but down here in Dixie, I often cross water that is calf deep, or deeper. Short boots and gaiters wouldn't work. As I said, every pair of gaiters I've ever tried were hot, heavy and noisy. Perhaps yours aren't. That's good!! Different strokes for different folks. Best of luck to you this fall and spring.
Quote from: Phillipshunt on September 05, 2018, 04:51:34 AM
Quote from: aclawrence on September 04, 2018, 09:15:56 PM
This is why I went with the good quality hiking boot and snake gaiters. My boots are comfortable, they don't leak, and I can wear them with or without the gaiters. All I've ever heard about snake boots is they suck lol.
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Yep 150$ on gaiters that will last a lifetime or thousand dollars worth of leaking, heavy ,hot snake boots over a turkey hunting career.
Recently bought a pair of Turtle Skins myself. Nothing heavy or particularly hot about them. A little noisy maybe but not as clunky as some of my many pairs of snake boots. My only concern is how well the zipper will hold up.
The turtle skins are as water proof as your boots you wear 9" high boots with gaiters and cross a 10" deep creek well U do the math. As far as noisy I wore mine under my pants for a while then had a friend sew green leaf camo material over them.... silent. Hot glue also worked to hold the material on I had her stitch thru the original stitching on the edges so it would look original to the gaiters.
There's several ways around the snake delima like everything else. I guess you could stay in the truck also A/C will take care of the heat, snakes can't open doors and the wheels and motor save you from having to carry the truck.
Well done PH! I hadn't considered wearing them inside my pants legs. Not a bad option if coupled with knee socks.
What's your experience with the zippers in mud and sand?
Sorry I didn't mean to sound like I was arguing. The turtle skins are a lot different than your typical style gaiter. That's why I was saying they would be cooler than your boots. They are very lightweight.
The zipper on one side of my pair has been a little finicky. It was that way when I took them out of the package. So that has been a little frustrating but the other gaiter works fine.
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Like I said, different strokes for different folks. I'm good with my snake boots. Down in Dixie, late morning & afternoon temps are often in the 80's & 90's. A lot of times I wear underwear and no T-shirt with a Bug Tamer pants & jacket over them.
Best of luck to all of y'all with whatever snake deterrent you choose. :icon_thumright: