OT Rattle snakes

Richard from SE AZ · Jul 9, 2009

I just read a post with a picture of a very large rattle snake. Seems like someone that replied is against killing snakes for no reason. Well, I live in an area that has a lot of Diamond backs.I have 10 acres and try to keep it cleaned up around our house but I still have piles of stuff outside our fenced yard. I also have grand kids that spend a lot of time with us. One 4 yr old in particular is with me most of the time.(He is very labor intensive) We do a lot together and are always using stuff from my piles. Two weeks ago we were looking for a long 4x6 to use for a project. I was moving boards and he grabbed one that had one end on the ground. A rattler about 3 feet long was underneath and yes they do strike quickly and defencively . It just wasn,t long enough to strike him. That is why I carry a 357 loaded with 38 blue cap shot rounds all summer. I have found them on my porch and on my lawn and in my shop. I'll kill every rattle snake I come across on my proprety rather than pray for a child fighting for it's life. I have no use for clueless bleeding hearts.

hay · Jul 9, 2009

he only good snake is a dead snake!

ericlb · Jul 9, 2009

i agree,i shoot or run over every diamond back rattler i come across,its easy to play the "save the critter" from somewhere safe when its not his fanny the snake is fixing to bite, western diamond backs are not cute little garden snakes,they can get huge, and their not something to take lightly, they'll kill you, i posted a pick of one last summer i killed myself, had to shoot the thing out from under my flatbed at the gravel pit, he measured 59 1/2 inches long and at least 4inches thru the middle carried 22 rattles still got the pic if anyone wants to see it

Tx Jim · Jul 9, 2009

There's a picture on the WWW being emailed around of a Western Diamondback that is 9'3'' long and weighs 97#'s. I don't know if spec's are right but it's a BIG snake.

lucas boy · Jul 9, 2009

KEEP EM AWAY FROM YOUR HOUSE... WAS BIT YEARS AGO AND IT ISNT A PARTY.. LUCAS

iowatom · Jul 9, 2009

Quick Question. What kind of killing range do you get out of the .38 shotshells? Stray cats are gettin" kinda thick.

steve n carol · Jul 9, 2009

I've killed the ground squirrels with .38 blue caps, (snake shot) 15-20' easy.

S.Crum · Jul 9, 2009

I understand they make some real spiffy boots. #8 shot from a 12 ga Mossburg pump is effective.

caterpillar guy · Jul 9, 2009

As Jerry Clower put it how do you kill a rattle snake wrong.

Howard H. · Jul 9, 2009

Over the span of a couple of weeks last summer, I killed 12 all about the size of a regular pencil out at the farm...

I never did run across the mama, so I guess it is still around somewhere...

Howard

Howard H. · Jul 9, 2009

When my kids were really small (4-5 range), I stopped on the road a couple of times and riled up a rattler and had them listen real close, so they'd know what one sounded like...

And told them to just run like heck if they came up on anything that sounded like or looked like that...

HH

Goose · Jul 9, 2009

Even garter snakes are history when I come across them.

Jeff-oh · Jul 9, 2009

There is plenty of wild country for them to live in. They can stay there. If we had rattlers I agree around the house is too close.

Jeff

ChevCase · Jul 9, 2009

IowaTom.....make sure you don't try target practice on my cat or we'll be talking about what larger caliber weapons can do to your dog the next time he strays into my yard. That cat probably is killing many of the varmits that others are talking about. I always wonder about guys who insist on expressing their manliness by shooting cats.

rhouston · Jul 9, 2009

although I have 4 cats living with me, If you drop off extras for me to take care of I will off them. I don't like it but a new cat is $300 by the time it gets it's shots and is fixed. Feral cats are a source of disease for the domestic ones.

al in ark · Jul 9, 2009

richard i'm with you on that one 11 acres here and a bunch of little ones here it is easier to keep the grass down than watch one of them suffer al

kito169 · Jul 9, 2009

Have you been to Tombstone, Az and seen the rattlesnake skins hanging on the wall at one of the places there?

RN · Jul 9, 2009

The poster that is against kiling snakes may have his reasons, so perhaps you could see how strong his convictions are by catching the rattlesnakes and sending them to him, let him or her make pets out of them. Might have to send snakes by commercial carrier- post office doesn"t like to deliver them. UPS box with small air holes might work. (Humor alert!) RN

Nancy Howell · Jul 9, 2009

We have several very large black snakes around our place. One in particular likes to change its skin in one of the flower beds. These snakes don't bother me because when you approach they leave as fast as they can. I leave them alone.

Of the 4 poisonous snakes (3 moccasins and 1 copperhead) we've seen, 3 died. Two of the moccasins exhibited very poor judgment by taking exception to James mowing with the bush hog, enough said about their demise.

The copperhead was close to the house and even though it was not being aggressive, never coiled or attempted to strike, you just cannot have a poisonous snake close to the house. I dispatched it with a hoe.

jim in N M · Jul 9, 2009

A rattle snake is not supposed to be able to strike any father than it's length. So if it's coiled up guess it's length and stay away at least that far,Also all the poison is it it's head,so if you kill one cut it's head off and bury it deep or dispose of it some other way. the body is safe that way!....I catch them with a snare just below the head and cut it's head off....We have a lot of rattlers here in New Mexico,Mostly "Racoon" rattlers,you can tell by the tail, black/white/black/white and so on...Jim in N M

Walterdavies · Jul 9, 2009

Better check your state laws before shooting cats in a lot states they can send you up the river for a long time for shooting cats.
In Ca and OR the cat has the legal right to go where ever he want to go.
Walt

Ultradog MN · Jul 9, 2009

I'll make you a deal:
You can off my dog if she strays anywhere out of my yard. And I'll off your cat/s if they stray out of your yard.
My dog NEVER leaves the yard. Can you say that about your cats?

James Howell · Jul 9, 2009

At least four decades ago when I was much younger and and at the peak of my intelligence, I would hunt Cottonmouth Water Moccasins.

They were plentiful around the pond over by the old barn.

<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa5/jameslloydhowell/Pond%20Fall%202007/?action=view&current=IMG_1433.jpg" target="_blank">

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</a>

Just waited until it got dark, found a good flashlight, and loaded the clip on the 45 automatic.

The Cottonmouth is an aggresive snake; he will come after you.

Kinda hard to see the black snake at night so a good flashlight was very important.

Once the snake opened it's mouth, you saw the white "cottonmouth".

Take quick, accurate aim with the 45 automatic and you produce a headless snake.

Once the snake was dead, then you could safely go "noodling" or "logging" for catfish.

That's another "tall" story for another day.

iowatom · Jul 9, 2009

Its Ok, I got a bunch of cat tags that need used up.

jmortimer · Jul 9, 2009

You and me both. If I find one it dies. Get about 5 a year here. Every one of my dogs has been bitten. To each his own but I won't let them out alive.

iowatom · Jul 9, 2009

Thanks for living in the real world with me Ultradog.MN

Anonymous-0 · Jul 9, 2009

I disagree. Snakes eat a lot of mice and other small critters. I have no quarrel with the snakes we have around here, as they are not dangerous to humans or dogs. They do a great service in helping to control vermin.

Luckily, we do not seem to have rattlesnakes in this area. I have lived on the same property for about 50 years and have never seen or heard a rattlesnake anywhere around here. I have seen several large Bull snakes over the years. They can be 6 feet long and about 2.5" thick and can be quite startling. I don't know how they might act if they were cornered, but when I have seen them, they were doing their darndest to get away from me. I have left them alone, and after I have seen them, the ground squirrel population in that area went down.

I would destroy any rattlesnake that I ever came across. They CAN cause great harm or death to people or pets. And I probably would kill a snake if I found one in or close around my buildings, but I never have. But the snakes that are not dangerous and are out on the property have nothing to fear from me, even if they startle me a little. They are doing a job that is useful to me. Good luck!

dieseldoc · Jul 9, 2009

I dont kill them unless they try and bite me. I let them alone and they do the same for me. Only snake I mess with if I see it on the road is a bull snake. I catch it and take it to one of my hay fields. They sure do eat alot of gophers.It seems people are scared of snakes for some reason.Dont bother them and they usually wont bother you.Or kill the rattlers but dont kill the good snakes. Bullsnakes can be mistaken for a rattler.

bc · Jul 10, 2009

I ran into a rattler a few weeks ago in Montana. Started rattling when I was about 6' to 8' away. I took some pics and didn't get any closer than 3'. He was coiled up and had about 8 or 9 rattles so I figure he was 8 or 9 years old. Just wondering how much advance notice they give you? Do you usually have time to turn and walk back away? Or do you panic and run for the hills?

71ford100 · Jul 10, 2009

You were alot closer than I would ever get. They give you no notice if it is wet outside (the rattles don't make noise if wet).

OT Rattle snakes

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