I shoot snakes at ground level with 9mm often, I'm worried about ricochet.

"Big sticks are cheap, ammo is not"???? What???

My daughter was bitten by a copperhead a number of years ago, minding her own business walking across our property. I picked one up in a pile of leaves I was cleaning up. Another one was in my house gutters when I was cleaning them out. I nearly stepped on a diamondback rattlesnake going out to our birdfeeder.

Not all snakes give warning before they strike, and you can't always see a snake before you come in contact with it. My policy is to let a non-venomous snake go but a poisionous snake I will kill every chance I get. There are a lot of them around, and as someone said they will certainly make more, and I don't want a small child to step on one.

As far as weapons, I try to use a shotgun. I would suggest you try a Judge if you want to carry something when you run. Or there's shot made for a .45 as well.

"When I'm hiking people often make fun of me for stepping over the curled up pile of dog poo not knowing that the dog poo is actually a rattle. They don't rattle too well in the cold."






do theses people walk threw the dog poo....... every time i see dog poo i walk over it or avoid it.....

This is probably the only good use for the Judge!

Humans are dangerous to humans so on that logic you would shoot every human you see!

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Only if they have fangs and venom glands

Just out of curiosity according to the logic on this board-- If I were to find a Black Widow or Brown Recluse spider in my kid's room should I just leave it be???? Since it's just being a spider and all and they rarely attack unprovoked.:banghead:

If there is a venomous snake in my yard I'll dispatch it as I see fit most likely with a shovel since my town has laws about discharging a firearm. My child and pets aren't something I'm going to risk for the life of snake.

If you can see them, you can get around them. If you want to kill them, just whack them with a stick, hoe, oar, paddle, chair, car....

FWIW most of my snakicide has been accomplished using a John Deere Mower!

Eastern Diamondback and Timber Rattlers are amasing creatures in thier own right. I would simply let them be and give them a wide bearth if I came across them on a trail.

At home is a different story, as I see them as a threat to the animals that I take care of. I have dispatched several with my break action .410.

I would reccomend CCI snake shot rounds for your 9mm.

FWIW most of my snakicide has been accomplished using a John Deere Mower!

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The best thing mentioned in the thread so far. Whether you kill, or don't kill the snakes, everyone has admitted: THEY'LL MAKE MORE. Want to reduce your chance of getting bit by a snake in your yard? It's not about shooting the ones passing through - it's about making sure you're not creating an environment suitable to them. That means low cut grass, not hollowed tree stumps, and no big piles of leaves.

This coward will be buying a Judge this year just for rattlesnakes and cottonmouths. Coward.....LoL really? That's like having an Anti tell me I'm a coward cause i own a gun.

Ben86 said:

By the way it's nothing but thick woods 360 degrees around my property.

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There's your answer. Just pick up a stick!

You are not significantly impacting the water moccasin population around your place whether you dispatch it or not. For every one you see there were probably ten that noticed you. If it makes you feel better to kill it go ahead. I just don't think the big picture would change if you just kept running and left it be.

I'd also try the 9mm snake shot. I've not used it myself in that caliber, but it's worth a try. As mentioned, it may not cycle the slide, but that's probably not a big deal, it's not like you're going to double tap a rattler. I'd carry with one chambered and a mag of jhp for self defense along with a few rounds of snakeshot in the pocket. Can always drop the mag before shooting and insert shots individually if follow-up shots are necessary. If it does cycle, then chambering one and topping the mag off with a few might make a really convenient snake gun.

I think I've even seen 9mm and .45acp snake shot at Walmart in the past, but it's been awhile. I assume the .45acp snake shot will be a little more effective since there's more room in the case for pellets. They came in blue plastic casing if I remember correctly, might be CCI brand. I'm sure the local gunshop or sporting goods store will have some.

Are you running up on enough of these critters for maybe a nice pair of boots??

I've actually had a pet ball python at one time, the non poisonous ones I'll happily let be but in my suburban neighborhood there are just too many kids around here to let the poisonous ones wander about. They get dispatched to snakey heaven fairly quickly, if not by me then my neighbors.

Don't care about the snakes...but if you are going to shoot, you have a responsibility of having a safe backstop.

Like some one else said, unless your being attacked by said snake, I`m thinking you can avoid it by altering your route. Just a different view on snake killing.

When I'm mowing the yard I carry either my P-11 with the CCI 1/8 oz # 12 shot or my Colt Commander with CCI 1/3 oz #9 shot for snakes. I have grandchildren that come over to visit and I don't need the complication of snake bites. A box of 10 rounds at my local shop costs $14.99 but I used to buy the components and load my own. Might get back into that again although I doubt I would shoot more than 10 rounds during a season anyway and the store-bought cycle my guns just fine.

I would kill the snake in a heartbeat. You said you only shoot the poisonous ones, good, shoot the twice. Then eat it or leave it for food for other animals.

Your on THR! If it isn't illegal and your not worried about hitting your neighbors, keep it up. I would think that if it doesnt hit a rock, it will not come back to get you. Just try the snakeshot, even if it's expensive it is probably worth it. Plus it will probably have a better chance of killing the snake.

Did I mention to shoot the poisonous snake twice, j/k. Don't try and use a stick or a knife, that is how you will get bitten. Good luck

wow ... what a "split" thread!

First the less important animal issue:
If anyone chooses to not tolerate
a not-endangered species in his
and especially his familys vicinity ...
that´s his/her choice. Free country n stuff.

I trust myself enough to avoid spiders, snakes,
sharks ... when in go into their habitats ...
But i saw an aussie farmer kill a taipan and two
other snakes on his farm in one day.
He just did it because he had less trust
in the abilities of his young farmhands
and his kids, who might stumble into one.

... i agree with that fully.
( Having almost picked up a Bluering Octopus
from a rockpool, BEFORE knowing what it was ...)


MORE IMPORTANT:
use something that does not endanger youself
or other living things from ricochet.
Be it snakeshot or a stick ....

If you try to make things safe
by violating the most important rule ...
= fail.

Am I on THR or the PETA online shooting forum? Seriously guys I don't believe in killing for the heck of it but Water Moccasin is still dangerous to humans therefore I'd eliminate them as well. Blacksnakes, Garters and the like I live be but Copperheads and Moccasins get sent to there Snakey Maker.

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I've always used a long handle shovel blade myself, but only when it was absolutely unavoidable (which is RARE).
You are on THR.....where we are exhorted to abide by our federal, state, and local laws, right?
PETA or not, your location says "Missouri"....better recheck your state laws.

Excerpt from Missouri Dept of Conservation website:
"Few Missourians realize that all snakes native to our state are protected. The Wildlife Code of Missouri treats snakes, lizards and most turtles as nongame. This means that there is no open season on these animals, and it is technically unlawful to kill them. There is a realistic exception, however: If a venomous snake were in close association with people, which could result in someone being bitten." (There you go, that is a valid reason....notice it doesn't say "whack 'em whenever you see 'em".) Venomous snakes in MO are; Osage Copperhead, Western Cottonmouth, Timber Rattlesnake, Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, Western Pygmy Rattlesnake.
http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/herpetol/snake/index.htm

More excerpts from Missouri Dept of Conservation website:
"There is no record of a human death caused by a copperhead bite in this state, but medical treatment for such bites is necessary."

"Few people in Missouri suffer venomous snakebites, despite the fact that there are five venomous species and at least one of them—the copperhead—is commonly encountered. Most bites occur when people are trying to kill or handle the snakes.
About 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes each year in the United States. Fewer than five die, which amounts to a fraction of one percent. By comparison, about 120 people die annually from bee stings and 150 die when struck by lightning."

I don't see a location mentioned for the OP, but he'd be wise to check his state wildlife laws also. Many venomous snakes are protected species.
.

I'd shoot them also.

I'd shoot them also.

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Do you folks ever look at your state regs?

From the Michigan Dept Of Natural Resources website:
"Shooting of snakes and other reptiles is prohibited"
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145_12201-61219--,00.html
.

12 gauge with any bird shot.

Don't you have a 12 gauge laying around?

A poisonous snake in my backyard, he's a dead man.
If I'm in HIS backyard, I go around.

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Best advice so far.

Quote:
A poisonous snake in my backyard, he's a dead man.
If I'm in HIS backyard, I go around.
Best advice so far.

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Ditto. But if he IS in my backyard he is a dead snake. I have kids walking around and while an adult may see and walk around the snake a 4 yr old will not always. Neither will my dog.

That being said, IF I had the means I would not use a gun for killing them, just a shovel, or a long stick will do. Course I CAN'T use a gun as we are in a city and it is illegal to discharge it in that manner. If I was not in a city and more rural, i would likely use a stick, or large rock, gun would be my last option due to the same issue you mentioned in your OP. All else failing though, go for snake shot. I will have to ask though, how many guns to you carry out on these trips and will all the other wildlife/threats you may encounter out there going to respond to snake shot if you do not have another weapon?

As to the OPs question ---- I DO NOT think there is much "danger" of you being hit by a 9mm ricochet ---- if you are more then 2 or 3 feet away from the snake , the angle should be safe enough --- if you are shooting a snake thats less then a foot away , Yes , there is MUCH more danger.

As to "live and let live" ----- ever wonder why there are so many 3 legged dogs south of the Mason/Dixon Line ???? I also personally know of two people that do not have all five fingers because of snakes. And as the Anti-Gun people like to say -- "What about the children " ??? When I visit my In-Laws who have 20 acres of riverfront in the boonies of Mo. , they encourage me to kill any Mocs or Copperheads that could/are a threat to the Grandkids/pets/livestock.

From the Michigan Dept Of Natural Resources website:

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I really would like to see some stats on humans/animals bit by poisonous snakes in Michigan vs. Texas/Miss./Mo./ etc.

Easy to say " leave them alone and they will leave you alone" ---- just like inner city muggers !!!!

It's a poor choice of actions considering that you *could* dispatch them with a stick and knife.

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Have you ever tried getting that close to a p'oed cottonmouth?

I would get some snakeshot and make sure it cycles properly in the G26.