I just watched a hunting program that was filmed about 15 miles from my house.  The program's host caught a cotton mouth moccasin, gave a brief talk about how deadly they are, then released it!  Down here, that's considered down right ignorant! 

I've noticed that many times on hunting programs the hunters will come into contact with some deadly snakes, but they always turn them loose.  I just wonder if that's for the benefit of the camera and the viewers, or if they really do kill these dangerous snakes, but just don't record it.

What do y'all think?????????????

I'm sure it was released for the camera so they don't come across as blood thirsty killers to the viewing audience. If the snake had been killed, that portion of the show would have been edited out.

Why kill it? Snakes wether venomous or not fill a niche in the environment. And we all know what happens when the environment becomes unbalanced. Try watching Duck Dynasty those fools are blasting snakes all the time.

gut, I just don't want Travis or myself to become one of the snakebite statistics. Down here, snake bites aren't a rarity, and if a person gets bit by a moccasin they probably won't live to make it to the hospital. Many of the hunting clubs actually offer bounties to their members for rattlers, moccasins, and copperheads, as well as those damn pesky beaver!!!!!

BTW, Travis had an encounter with a rattler Sunday, while riding his 4-wheeler, less than 75 yards from the house. Unfortunately, he didn't have his pistol loaded with snake shot with him at the time!!!!! I always have a pistol loaded with snake shot every time I go anywhere around our place, whether I'm on the 4-wheeler, the tractor, and even the lawn tractor.

I'm with you Ron, when I see a poisons snake I do my best to save people and their dogs by killing the snake. Non venomous on the other hand I will go as far as stop in the road and help one across, since they help rather than endanger us. As far as on the show, I'd bet it depends on who the host is to wether or not the snake lived to endanger more people and pets once the camera was off.

Most dogs don't have to worry about snakebites, they tend to recover very well, even from some of the more venomous species. Large rattlesnakes will do a number on a dog though. I'm biased for snakes, so I will not give my opinion. However, if the snake is in it's habitat, away from the majority of people, houses, etc, leave it be and let it do it's job. But if the snake is close to a house, especially if children are present, then take appropriate action.

Personally, if I find a rattlesnake in the yard I remove it to the back of the property and release it. Nonvenomous snakes are always welcome (except in the chicken coop).

I've lost more than one dog to snake bites, and a few more to 'gators. I kill every venomous snake and every 'gator I can!!!!!!  BTW, even the "non" venomous snakes, such as water snakes do inject a certain type of venom that can cause severe illness and even death.

Being a herpetologist, I will have to disagree with you on that. Nonvenomous snakes are just that, nonvenomous. They do not contain any venom component in their saliva. However, water snakes do have nasty mouths because they eat fish and frogs, so their bites can become septic. It is due to bacteria, not venom. I would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have pertaining to venomous v. nonvenomous if you like.

rdbutler@okherp.com

I thought you were a herpetologist. You should know about the septic vs. venom, so I'll defer to your knowledge on that one. I can then assume that people who have actually died from water snake bites, actually died from sepsis, then. Thanks for clearing up the misconception, I'll be sure to tell other people the true reason.

On the other hand, I also eat snakes and frogs so I guess my bite could be poisonous, too!

rt your keyboard is venomous. In that while I may at times disagree with you I believe you write from the heart and experience. That is why I call you "friend". Snake proof boots and chaps will protect you from bites but your best bet is awareness of your immediate surroundings. Next time you kill a rattler make me a belt 42 inches will do.

okherp is dead on snakes and all animals including humans have bacteria in their mouths its necissary for survival but when in a wound(bite) can cause BEAUCOUP problems. Any wound even a simple scratch from a thorn can and do kill under the right circumstances. Always carry a small first aid kit in the woods as an ounce of prevention is....................................................... OK If my wife would let me I'd collect a few snake. Ball python, banded king (the one resembling a coral snake{ red and black friend of Jack...........} hognose, and a couple of others) I'm a Veterinary Technician licensed of course. I've had a lifelong passion for reptiles and used to breed a lot of mice when I was younger as feed. I always trained my little buddies to eat dead mice slightly warmed in a microwave. Microwaving dead mice always gave Mom the shivers.

Gut that's why I wear the Dan's snake proof waders that are built around the Muck Brand boot, when I'm in the swamp, and Redhead snake boots on dry land. It's hard to pay attention in the swamp when concentrating on watching for deer that the hounds might push to me, and also watch the water that's almost topping the hip boots at the same time.

I have an arsenal of snakes at home, including rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouth, water snakes, rat snakes, kings, and a western hognose. Be respectful of the animals, and always be aware of what they are capable of. No room for complacency!

 And people call me crazy!

I actually watched a hunt last night where a water moccasin was arrowed by one of the hunters. I don't remember the name of the program (I had just gotten out of my tree stand when I watched it), but the show's host is from Alabama, and they were hog hunting in N. Florida close to Panama City.

Ron, now thats a tough shot, heck I occasionally have a hard time with my pistol. Then again the backdrop is usually rocks/gravel and I get nervous of ricochet to the shin, or worse. Thats why I asked you about your success with the "snake shot" pistol rounds.

And to think, I just caught a female cottonmouth last Saturday, and I could tell she was gravid. Sunday morning, I had 3 babies in her cage. The largest, the only male, just ate a pinky mouse. The 2 smaller females are still deciding if their mice are edible.

well I agree the letting og of something that will kill children and folks without reason should be disposed of but alot of the hunting and shooting shows don't want to kill something on live or film to have all the anti-hunters will rag on them and boycott them and raise cain with them and the public does not know what these snakes can do to them because they are not educated on this subject.

But a snake does not "kill children and folks without reason". Snakes only bite for one of 2 reasons: food and defense. We are obviously too large to be considered food, so a snake, even venomous, will only strike when it feels threatened. Learning to avoid snakebite is the best prevention. I teach people that all the time.

I killed a damn big azz moccasin this morning, while deer hunting in the swamp. The damn thing kept coming at me, so it was me or him, and the Springfield XD.45 made sure it wasn't me!!!!!!!!!!! Man, I gotta love that laser!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Moccasins can get quite territorial at times. I have noticed though, that when they act this way, you can usually, but NOT ALWAYS, smell the musk before you see the snake. The mush is a definate warning to look closely. On Guts earlier post about the Duck guys killing them all the time, I gotta stick up for them on that one, We are flat over run with them down here. They even get in the houses at times. Duckbklinds are no place to try and wrangle them. Just not the room.

When I'm out and about here in Wyoming I always carry the first 2 rounds in my pistol with snake shot just in case. However when I have had occasion to come across rattlers they have not been in position to harm me or those with me so we just walk around giving them a wide bearth and let them be. They are not all that common out here and they are too small to eat, so why bother them? However if they were as common as they apparently are by you RT I would have no gualms about putting them down and frying them up.

KILL or NOT to KILL,
Last summer, my Granddaughter and I were floating in a canoe on a popular Ozark river, when we came around a bend in the river we noticed a small boy and girl, b/t 6&8 yrs. old (playing?) on the gravel bar. When we got closer, we noticed what they were playing with was alive and moving. The adults (their parents) were encouraging their kids to catch it. The closest hospital was 30 miles from us. The Copperhead was 31 ins. long. My Canoe Paddle was 60 ins. long. The kids didn't get bit, the parents were glad to learn what a poison snake looks like, and my grandaughter and I went on down the river. The Copperhead?, he should have stayed in the woods!!!!

It may not have been a copperhead. Many people confuse water snakes for copperheads. I don't personally know anyone on this forum, so I am not going to disagree with you and your ID skills. But in my experience, most people, including active hunters, fishers, and outdoorsmen, cannot tell most snakes from another, and just make a safe assumption that all snakes are venomous. I do removals all the time from people's homes, and people bring me snakes all the time. Many people even send me pics by text or Facebook now to get a proper ID. And most of the time it's a harmless snake, but almost always it was thought to be either a copperhead, water moccasin, or rattlesnake (even without an obvious rattle).

Where are you from etaylor8???

I'm no expert, but every Copperhead I've ever come into contact with was on dry land. I've never seen one in water.........not saying they can't be, just living and hunting in the swamps, I've never encountered one other than on the hill, and usually around pine trees or open grassy areas.

And any parent that would encourage kids to play with and capture snakes ( unless they happen to be herpetologists and know what the snakes are), should be reported to DSS, and then sent to a mental institution for shock therapy!!!!!!!!

I've only seen copperheads on land as well. As for a moc, if you're in a boat and one's coming toward your boat you have two choices: 1) kill it or 2) get the h*ll out of the boat 'cause that sob's comin' in.

Nasty snakes when they wanna be.

Went out last night and got two D-backs and saw two really cool Mohave desert sidewinders, we did leave the sidewinders alone but got a couple pics, they were rather docile. Both the D-backs were in the high 30"s range so not huge but big nuff for the grill. Even got one completely out of it skin with no tears by the vent this time so I have a couple more hides to dry, to make something out of as well. One being fully intact so more revenue potential.

BWARNER,
okherp,
rthomas4,
and steve.
A Copperhead snake has hour-glass shapes across the lenght of his body, with lighter patches b/t. The hour-glass shapes are the color of new pennies in the Spring-time. His head is solid copper. As summer progresses the copper color grows darked, but the shapes never change. Just this summer while floating the Current River we spotted a large one swimming across the water. He had his head above water, and only wanted to get across, so we let him go. He was no threat to us,so we did not bother him. The larger ones have a dark (almost green color) the last inch or two of their tail, b/t the vent and the tip.
I have never seen one swim under water as legitimate water-snakes do, but yes guys, they do go into the water. I've lived in Mo. all my life and have had many encounters with Copperheads. I don't kill them unless they are in my space, like one in my Kitchen and two in my garage. One summer we had to dispatch 14 within 50 ft. of my front door..........So: Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, and Copperheads can be seen in water. P.S. The Current River is completely spring fed and even in July and August the water is cold.

BWARNER,
Forgot to tell you on this post. I live in central Missouri. I went into more detail in your post dealing with 3 knives. We don't have Cottenmouth snakes this far North, but in the Bootheel, it's a different story.

Rt, I'm with you! The parents need to be taught a lesson!! Those idiots could have gotten their children killed, out of sheer ignorance!!!! I'll bet they are liberals!!

etaylor8,

I mean no disrespect. I have dealt with lots of people before who cannot tell a copperhead from a rough earth snake, so I make no assumptions. I do not know you personally, nor do I know your ability to properly identify snakes. I was just stating that many times people get their snakes confused, and misidentified. I am well aware of what a copperhead looks like. I am a herpetologist in Oklahoma who specializes in venomous snakes, identification, and safety, and please feel free to browse my website (http://www.okherp.com).

etaylor, I never posted anything that said your story wasn't about a Copperhead, just that in all my encounters, I've never seen one in water. Like I said, I'm not an expert. BTW, I've also never encountered just one Copperhead, and I know that people claim this is an old wive's tale, but every time I've run into one, there is always a second and even sometimes, a third. Down here, the most commonly encountered snake is a cotton mouth moccasin, or a regular water moccasin, followed by Timber Rattlers, and Diamond Backs and Copperheads. Every now and then we'll come across a Coral Snake, but not very often.

Heys Guys,
No offense taken, And I did not mean to sound like my feathers were ruffled. RT you are 1000% correct when you say Copperheads seldom are alone. You might only see one, but that one is the safest, it's the one you don't see that will get you if you step in the wrong place.
okherp,
I'll check out the link you posted. I highly respect people like you who work with dangerous creatures who have the capability to kill you. And they don't even do it because they are evil. Most snakes try to conserve their venom for killing food and won't "waste" it on something they can't eat, unless they are harrassed.
You guys are O.K. in my book. AS Louis LaMoore would say" you'all would do to ride the river with".

Interesting how many of us have similar thoughts. When hiking i change my revolver to having the first 2 are snake shot, the next 3 are hollow points. However, I also believe in live and let live when it comes to snakes. We have encountered 2 Blacktail Rattlesnakes this summer/fall while hiking on trails. We did not feel threatened and I saw no reason to shoot them.