Walking up on a snake.

[kyturkeyhunter4]

This has probably been covered, but is it true that most snakes will get away from you before you even see it?

This is normally true, but in early spring when temps can be low, they may be a little sluggish and let you walk up on them.  Keeping an eye out after you setup might be more important.

I Killed A Copper Head Tuesday Out Turkey scounting

[MACHINIST]

I sat down while scouting one morning and had a copperhead come right to me. I just sat still until he moseyed on by.  I looked around for something large enough to bash him with, but I could not find a limb bigger than 12" (I was in a chop). No gun of course since I was scouting.  For a copperhead, he was HUGE.

Im always packing a gun when I head into the woods,More for the 2 legged predators than the 4 legged ones....or scaly ones

[bammerslammer 50]

 

I've been struck at many times by poisonous snakes..mostly cottonmouths. Every time I can remember I was walking fast and would have stepped on the snake or walked right over it.

I can tell you from experience it's a very hard physical maneuver to jump back and twist your body all the way around at the same time when your front foot is off the ground coming down with almost all your weight going forward...but it can be done.

The last time I did it was due to a cottonmouth almost as big as the one in picture..which was about 4" dia. (one in pic. and biggest cottonmouth I've ever seen). It didn't strike and I almost stepped on it before it more less floundered off and then got into a coil. I first thought it was a baby gator it was so big around. I didn't kill it..or the big one that struck..I was running late getting to where I wanted to hunt or I would have since it struck at me. It was laying on some maidencane and  struck high up towards my chest with that big white mouth wide open...I even made some kinda screech type noise as I twisted around.

[Cut N Run]

It definitely depends on how warm it is and how much you p1$$ 'em off if a snake will come at you or not.  Those moccasins are the meanest ones out there.  They know they're bad @$$e$ and they're likely to back down, or be scared to attack. I walked up on a Pygmy Rattlesnake near the coast about 25 years ago and I wasn't sure it was a rattlesnake I was hearing.  It buzzed like crazy and I backed off.  Its a good thing they stay small, because they have a mean streak too.

In the early 1970s I was fishing with a buddy of mine, his brother, and father down East by Pamlico Sound.  We came across a WV beetle turned kind of crossways in the lane ahead of us.  We thought they were broke down, but the driver cautioned us to be careful because a snake was challenging his car (!?!).  Sure enough, a BIG moccasin was in the road bowed up at that car.  We got a paddle out of the boat and my friend's father had the VW drive over the snake as he whacked it in the head with the boat paddle.  That snake was 5' 2" long and as big around as a motorcycle tire, which is long for a moccasin.  It also had 2 inch fangs.

We get plenty of Copperheads around here, but their bite make you sick more than anything. I've been hit in the boot by copperheads and they strike so fast that it startles you.  I always wear snake boots when I'm in the turkey woods.

Jim

[deerbasshunter3]

So, unless I just reach down and try to grab one, snake boots will more than likely save my butt if one does strike? I have always wondered if they were high enough. I think they are about 15" high?

[Cut N Run]

So, unless I just reach down and try to grab one, snake boots will more than likely save my butt if one does strike? I have always wondered if they were high enough. I think they are about 15" high?

No, you can't make generalized statements like that.  Snake boots work most of the time because a person is more likely to get bit low on the leg, because snakes live on the ground.  Wearing snake boots lessens your chances of getting snake bit, but it doesn't eliminate the possibility.

Jim

[birdman561]

I grew up as a kid hunting hogs in the swamps of south florida. I usually never wore boots due to the high water saw a lot of cottonmouths came close a few times but never had one try to strike at me except a small pygmy. Just watch where you step and note the type of habitat that you saw them in.

[gergg]

So, unless I just reach down and try to grab one, snake boots will more than likely save my butt if one does strike? I have always wondered if they were high enough. I think they are about 15" high?

I wear snake boots all of the time hunting, just to be careful...But, when I was growing up in a snake infested part of the country, my dad taught me how to walk in the woods, LOOK where you put your feet, go slowly, you will not only be quieter while moving around and see more game, but you will most likely never need to try out your snake boots. I have never been struck, and feel like I never will, but wearing snake boots is really smart insurance. FYI...we have had water moccasins come after us, I remember my dad shooting one as we were wading through a swamp deer hunting, that thing was aggressive. I also have had lots of them strike the side of my aluminum jon boat while pulling into reeds bass fishing as a youngster.....we had a ton of them around where I lived.

[2eagles]

or are stupid enough to be trying to pick them up/play with them?

Hey! I played with him and didn't get bit...... OK, you're right. That was kinda stupid.

[Gooserbat]

The only ones that give me problems are cottonmouths,  like was said mean and nasty.  The rest I just go on my way and leave them be.