Rattle Snake

firemanpat2910 · Oct 2, 2006

Got a phone call Sunday morning from one of my buddies, He was cutting 1 or 2 acre lot a few blocks from my house. He was on his stand behind snapper mower cutting the perimiter before using the massey. A 5' rattler slithered right in front of him then coiled up at the woodline. Snake was still there 5 min later coiled and not even rattling. 12 gauge vs 5' rattler= 2 2.5' peices of snake. all the neighbors came out at the sound of the shot

There was a dog pen 10' away with 5 or so hunting dogs in there, we didnt want to try and catch it and have it get away and kill any dogs. (That last sentence is our story and we are sticking too it!) It has nothing to do with the fact that I HATE snakes. Oh this piece of property is in the middle of town. houses all around, so watch out you never know where one will be.

aesanders · Oct 2, 2006

I saw one crossing the raod about mile from the house. It must have been 5-6 feet long. Big around as my arm too. I should have run it over but didn't. Next time their will be two snakes like your's.

SkyPup · Oct 2, 2006

I shot a big fat water mocassin ("cottonmouth") that was almost five feet long and six inches around last weekend in the driveway after he caught one of our four dogs eye. Even after I'd shot his head off, he still wanted to bite me.....

Slamfire · Oct 3, 2006

Found a small copperhead next to my pond scoop, when I went to drain the left overs from the last rain. He had the proper markings but was way darker than any I'd seen before. He badly wanted to get away, so I picked him up with the awning hook from the camper, and toted him to the briar patch. He's danged lucky the wolf pack didn't find him first, he'd have been part of their favorite game, tug-of-war!

AMP762 · Oct 3, 2006

firemanpat2910 said:
Got a phone call Sunday morning from one of my buddies, He was cutting 1 or 2 acre lot a few blocks from my house. He was on his stand behind snapper mower cutting the perimiter before using the massey. A 5' rattler slithered right in front of him then coiled up at the woodline. Snake was still there 5 min later coiled and not even rattling. 12 gauge vs 5' rattler= 2 2.5' peices of snake. all the neighbors came out at the sound of the shot There was a dog pen 10' away with 5 or so hunting dogs in there, we didnt want to try and catch it and have it get away and kill any dogs. (That last sentence is our story and we are sticking too it!) It has nothing to do with the fact that I HATE snakes. Oh this piece of property is in the middle of town. houses all around, so watch out you never know where one will be.

Got one last week

1bush2hog · Oct 3, 2006

"I shot a big fat water mocassin ("cottonmouth") that was almost five feet long and six inches around"

Wow! That must have been one bad dude. I would rather take my chances with a rattler any day than a Moc.

They say during dog days, snakes are alot more onery

SkyPup · Oct 3, 2006

I agree, at least rattlers will warn you of their presence and usually will leave you alone if you don't bother them.

Mocassins are the direct opposite, they will attack totaly unprovoked and actually will come after you and hunt you down.

We had a 14 year old kid water skiing on the lake last year and he missed the beach coming in and went into the brush adjacent to the beach into a mocassin nest, was bitten numerous times and died at the hospital......

ccsial · Oct 3, 2006

SkyPup said:
We had a 14 year old kid water skiing on the lake last year and he missed the beach coming in and went into the brush adjacent to the beach into a mocassin nest, was bitten numerous times and died at the hospital......

I lost a friend in a similar way in the back bay of Biloxi when I was with USAF in the early 60's. I really do love Northern IL. No poisonous snakes, gators, or bears. I like cool weather though and I know a lot of people hate it. I even enjoy winter.

Fishguy · Oct 3, 2006

firemanpat2910 said:
It has nothing to do with the fact that I HATE snakes.

I know exactly how you feel, Fireman! Would you believe the fish & feather folks actually released several thousand of the rattlers a few years back?

Out here on the coast we have Moc's, copperheads the rattlers and assorted other "legless lizards".

In my opinion, there are two types of snakes. Dead ones and those that I haven't seen yet!!!

Steve

RockyMnt1 · Oct 3, 2006

I killed a rattle snake way up here in the Rocky Mountains (8500 ft msl) last week. It was a really warm day (about 75) and he was sunning himself on the warm dirt road. Only about 13 in long, but he struck at the stick that I was using. Lots of prarie dogs/rabbits around the area so I guess that is what they eat.

I just wonder where the mama/daddy are since this one was just a youngster....