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Snakes are moving
Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2023 8:33 am
by graywolf
Already saw a king snake, rat snake and 2 black runners behind the house. That means the rattlesnakes are out and about to. Shot a few rounds with .22 pistol, to see if I was snake head accurate.
Re: Snakes are moving
Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2023 8:40 am
by cooperhawk
One nice thing about Minnesnowda is the poisonous snakes don't live this far north.
In the extreme southwest and southeast we have some, but not where we live.
I hate snakes!!! I got bit by a Copperhead when I lived in Virginia. Not fun.
Re: Snakes are moving
Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2023 8:58 am
by markiver54
Careful out there greywolf. I've got the Garden Gun at the ready.
Re: Snakes are moving
Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2023 10:49 am
by clovishound
In our neck of the woods you can see them most anytime of year. Yes, in the winter they are far less active, but give them a warm day and they are out and about. I had a cottonmouth moccasin come up me while SCUBA diving in the middle of Dec. Water temp was in the 50s, air temp was upper 60s or lower 70s. I was doing some archeological volunteer work at a local historic plantation. There was a rice gate that they wanted measurements and a drawing. Wife was on the bank, I went down and drew a sketch of it, but couldn't manage a measuring tape and a writing slate at the same time. I surfaced and handed the sketch to my wife and I was going to go back down and get measurements and then surface to get her to write them on the slate for me. She said, "Uh, Doug, there's a really big snake behind you!". I asked asked what kind and she said, "I don't know, but he's very dark.". I told her it was likely a moccasin, and decided not to look around, as this might be interpreted as an aggressive move, plus, I didn't want to panic being face to face, inches from a poisonous snake, nor risk getting bitten in the face. I grabbed a tree root and pulled myself quickly and smoothly out of the water. At least that is how I remember it. As soon as I got out, one of the biggest cottonmouths I've ever seen got out of the water and disappeared into the brush.
Re: Snakes are moving
Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2023 10:59 am
by BigAl52
We have quite a few Garter snakes that live in our yard. They are colorful and kinda cool. Saw one out the other day. They leave us alone and we let them live there life.
Re: Snakes are moving
Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2023 11:06 am
by markiver54
clovishound wrote: âThu Apr 20, 2023 10:49 am
In our neck of the woods you can see them most anytime of year. Yes, in the winter they are far less active, but give them a warm day and they are out and about. I had a cottonmouth moccasin come up me while SCUBA diving in the middle of Dec. Water temp was in the 50s, air temp was upper 60s or lower 70s. I was doing some archeological volunteer work at a local historic plantation. There was a rice gate that they wanted measurements and a drawing. Wife was on the bank, I went down and drew a sketch of it, but couldn't manage a measuring tape and a writing slate at the same time. I surfaced and handed the sketch to my wife and I was going to go back down and get measurements and then surface to get her to write them on the slate for me. She said, "Uh, Doug, there's a really big snake behind you!". I asked asked what kind and she said, "I don't know, but he's very dark.". I told her it was likely a moccasin, and decided not to look around, as this might be interpreted as an aggressive move, plus, I didn't want to panic being face to face, inches from a poisonous snake, nor risk getting bitten in the face. I grabbed a tree root and pulled myself quickly and smoothly out of the water. At least that is how I remember it. As soon as I got out, one of the biggest cottonmouths I've ever seen got out of the water and disappeared into the brush.
Close call...ick!
We have seen some VERY large Black Rat snakes up at the cabin, but I leave them alone.
Re: Snakes are moving
Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2023 3:48 pm
by fortyshooter
Haven't seen any snakes yet for 2023 but do know they are out and about around here. Down at the range when I open my steel target shed I look around before grabbing anything.
Re: Snakes are moving
Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2023 6:21 pm
by cooperhawk
fortyshooter wrote: âThu Apr 20, 2023 3:48 pm
Haven't seen any snakes yet for 2023 but do know they are out and about around here. Down at the range when I open my steel target shed I look around before grabbing anything.
I was just picking tomatoes and it was in the patch. I reached in to get one in the bush and it got me in the arm.
I had killed one with a shovel the day before. Someone told me that travel in pairs. Not so sure about that.
Re: Snakes are moving
Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2023 10:02 pm
by graywolf
I hear you on the garden gun. I carry a little leather pouch in my pocket that holds 5 .22 rounds. 2 of them are shot shells. I don't have a problem getting close enough to use the shot shells on small rattlesnakes. But them 4-5 ft. cane rattlers, it's harder for me to get that close to them. Most times I have my 410 in gun rack on UTV, or in the shop. Like it for them big ones.
Re: Snakes are moving
Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2023 10:02 am
by Hatchdog
My pity to you all who have to deal with all those poisonous snakes nearby. Only concern for this area is the Western Rattler and around where I live they are vey rare. West and south of Spokane they are more plentiful. Iâve only seen one twice, both times while hunting Chukars. Once south on the Snake River breaks and once in central Washington. That âbuzzzzzzâ sure gets your attention.
As Jim Stafford once sang, â I donât like Spiders and Snakesâ.
Re: Snakes are moving
Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2023 12:00 pm
by clovishound
Well, on the scale of dying from something, critters are pretty low on my radar. Yes, we have poisonous snakes, hogs with tusks, alligators and poisonous spiders a good bit of the year around here. If something is going to take me out before my time, the odds are it will be something with wheels.
Re: Snakes are moving
Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2023 12:42 pm
by daytime dave
So far no snakes here ........... yet. I carry a 2" model 63 or a 4" model 63 filled with .22 shotshells whenever I can. I have the Henry GG at the ready sometimes too. Mostly when I have the garden in. That's not for snakes though.
Re: Snakes are moving
Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2023 2:37 pm
by Oldbrass
870 youth 20 gauge #8 shot, Just a few rattler sheds on the wood line, the previous owner had lots of brush piled up, FT Polk,Louisiana was the biggest snake pit I've seen in my travels
Re: Snakes are moving
Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2023 3:08 pm
by clovishound
I may have told this one here before, but not in the last day or two. Years ago I was getting ready to go diving, and everyone else in the house was asleep. All of a sudden I noticed the cat acting strangely, even for a cat. Anyway he was hissing, and his tail was straight up in the air and he was looking intently at the small trash can in the corner. I went over and picked up the can. There was a small rat snake under the can. I quietly disposed of the intruder and heaped great praise upon Jake. I never told my wife and daughter. I really didn't want to have to move. Found out how it likely got in about a month later.
Re: Snakes are moving
Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2023 10:37 pm
by graywolf
There's a big cane patch in the bottom behind my house. Been some big ol cane rattlers in my yard thru the years. The .22 shot shells do good from my handguns at no further than about 8'. 5-6' is better. But gosh, that 5' rattlesnake looks even bigger when I get that close.
