please brush me up on Rattlesnake safety.

[BeyGon]

Like someone else said, a Rattlesnake can only strike about a third of it's body, just stay back. Something like a Cobra can not strike farther than it's height, that is what you see when they are coiled, they can only strike down, not out. But you won't run into one where you are going.

[Rikao4]

looking for a serving of Vash..




should you be the winner..

[vash]

what is making me brave the snakes? check it out!!

[cashflyer]

They blend in pretty good.
Image taken 8-JUL-2010 on my way off the firing range.



I don't know what variety you have there, but this one is what we call a "timber rattler"
We just give them room and let them go on about their business.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crotalus_horridus

[aigel]

Vash,

You need to get some snake gators. Have them overnighted from one of the outdoor catalogs if you can't source them locally. You will be bow hunting. This means that you will be SNEAKING AROUND, not making much noise or ground movement. I have come across many rattlers that would just sit there and look at me from a foot away. No rattle, no trying to escape. If I would have stepped on them, I would have gotten bit. I would not go bow hunting without snake protection. It is cheap. $50 or less.

You don't need snake boots, a regular set of hunting boots will be snake proof. Just get the gators.

Most the time they strike in the boot when you step on them, but I err on the side of caution and put on gators that go up to the bottom of the knee joint.

Small / baby rattlers often can't rattle yet and they are the worst in terms of venom. They do not control the amount of venom well and will inject you with a full load. (A grown snake in defensive mode tends not to inject as much).

If you don't die from the snake bite (most likely), you wish you did. From what I gather these are very painful and will put you in the hospital for a while depending on the amount of venom.

It is wednesday - if you order now, you can have the gators tomorrow or Friday at the latest. Be safe out there and post back with your snake and deer pics!

George

[1979 930]

Take someone with you that you do not like that much and have them walk in front of you !!! works all the time

[Taz's Master]

They like to lie on logs and wait for rodents to run up the log. (You've noticed while hunting that squirrels and chipmunks like to run on logs because they are quiet.) Many bites are on the back of the calf from stepping over a log/snake and getting bitten. Be careful. And seriously, don't get bit.

[ODDJOB UNO]

oh i like this post already!


us loin cloth wearing natives have some advice>>>>>>>>>>>>>>



1st cabelas sells snake boots. anti snake boots. if you have been warned they are thick i would buy them or dont go.

last cost of a snakebite was $10K just for JUST the anti-venom. obviously you will have other costs associated with your extended care stay. i would make sure my premiums are current.


cheese and rice buy some freeking snake shot. CCI makes it. .22, 9mm, .38/.357, .44mag, .45. pick one or bring a shotgun with #numba 6 shot


a .177 RWS pellet pistol works well at 760fps if yer damn good at headshots. I AM DAMN GOOD AT HEADSHOTS SINCE I PRACTICE A HELL OF ALOT after loosing count of how many snakes i have killed over the years where i live and where i work and where i play.


they are fast. wayyyy faster than YOU or ME!


there is a DIRECT SCIENTIFIC CORRELATION btwn THE NUMBER OF BUDWEISERS CONSUMED X THE NUMBER OF TATTOOS that = THE NUMBER OF TIMES BIT by the snake. IQ factor can be considered also.


if its a mtn area, i would not even go, cuz ya have to place yer hands above yer head to climb. trails..........well its them or you, fight or flight.


i wouldnt sleep on the ground.


i wouldnt walk around at night w/out a flashlight


and since its 116 degrees here they only come out at night now. they have infra-red............you DONT!



and the best part..............if bitten on the leg and you survive, it will look like a GIANT ICE CREAM SCOOP hole in yer leg after it heals, that is IF it heals and doesnt go gangrenous and they whack yer leg off.



have a nice trip. take some pics.


cant wait for the "rest of the story."

[vash]

..ok..snake gaiters..check!

[Head416]

I just have this image of wearing snake boots, then crouching down to stalk an animal and getting bit on the junk. I think I'd want a medieval suit of armor. Might be a bit noisy though.

I don't like snakes.

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by Rikao4

sucking the poison does NOT work..
do read up on the bite protocol..
it changes / has changed..

Rika

Reminds me of the old joke where guy out hunting gets bit on his penis by rattlesnake.

Punchline from his hunting buddy: "Doctor says you're gonna die."

[Jagshund]

I'm not too sure where everyone's pulling the 1/3 information but it might be an average for all snakes; I have personally witnessed a 3' water moccasin launching itself over 3' off a log and 6' rattlesnakes lunging a heck of a lot farther than 2'. I've also had a moccasin attack from about 10' up in a tree, but I guess we can't count that as a strike. He was moving like a freakin' ninja.

Just stay vigilant and you'll be fine.

[Dueller]

Or take a Honey Badger with you...

[Dueller]

or this kid with you....

[ODDJOB UNO]

i'll be DAMNED! thats what the hell happened to r2d2esq as a child..........yesterday.



do ya think CPS(child protective services) should have been called?

[sailchef]

something like this might work. A little bulky, but I bet it would work.

Snake protection

Be safe.

[ODDJOB UNO]

get the air conditioned model trust me.

[Zeke]

Why not just take along a 55 gal barrel? Snake protection and a blind all in one.

[Head416]

What the hell is that?!?!?!?!?!?!? I assume it was de-fanged? Still, who does that with their kid? On the other hand, the kid is such a thug it's hard to say there was any harm. I almost cried like a little girl just watching that!

[elwood-914]

Bring a not so good friend and make sure he walks point.