Hunting Forum

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.