Hunting Forum

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.