Here is a pic and description of what just happened on my front steps.
My Aussie sherpherd/Kelpie mix named Digger started up with his frantic, angry "snake bark" underneath our front porch.
I responded with a Taurus Model 66 loaded with .357 magnum shotshells.
Digger indicated the threat was just under the front steps, and I was shortly down on the ground on my own belly, revolver in one hand, flashlight in the other, peering through the three-inch gap that leads to the space under my front steps.
I had to shoo the dogs away and finally, there he was....coiled, head up, not more than about two feet away, forked tongue flicking in and out.
I made sure the dogs were clear, cocked the revolver, and took a flash sight picture.
BLAM!!!!
Suddenly, he wasn't there any more.
It took me several more minutes of looking with a flashlight and poking around with a stick before I located the remains.
So I dug it out and took a quick digital pic.
Again, all that damage was caused by exactly one .357 magnum shotshell.
Up close, those shotshells are nasty on snakes. Not much good beyond about seven or eight feet, but up closer than that...yikes.
Apparently, my lens was fogged up, as the photo is a bit hazy.
The snake's body is already gone, as Digger hates snakes and grabbed the body and shredded it, growling and snarling.
He's been bitten three times that I know of, and is very good about telling me when there is a snake near the house that needs killing.
This is the second copperhead kill of the year.
The first was a baby copperhead, only about 8 inches long.
Digger found him out on the walking trail. And that day, all I had was an M1 Carbine slung over my shoulder.....not as much left of that first one, and what was left wasn't worth toting back to the house for a picture.
hillbilly
My Aussie sherpherd/Kelpie mix named Digger started up with his frantic, angry "snake bark" underneath our front porch.
I responded with a Taurus Model 66 loaded with .357 magnum shotshells.
Digger indicated the threat was just under the front steps, and I was shortly down on the ground on my own belly, revolver in one hand, flashlight in the other, peering through the three-inch gap that leads to the space under my front steps.
I had to shoo the dogs away and finally, there he was....coiled, head up, not more than about two feet away, forked tongue flicking in and out.
I made sure the dogs were clear, cocked the revolver, and took a flash sight picture.
BLAM!!!!
Suddenly, he wasn't there any more.
It took me several more minutes of looking with a flashlight and poking around with a stick before I located the remains.
So I dug it out and took a quick digital pic.
Again, all that damage was caused by exactly one .357 magnum shotshell.
Up close, those shotshells are nasty on snakes. Not much good beyond about seven or eight feet, but up closer than that...yikes.
Apparently, my lens was fogged up, as the photo is a bit hazy.
The snake's body is already gone, as Digger hates snakes and grabbed the body and shredded it, growling and snarling.
He's been bitten three times that I know of, and is very good about telling me when there is a snake near the house that needs killing.
This is the second copperhead kill of the year.
The first was a baby copperhead, only about 8 inches long.
Digger found him out on the walking trail. And that day, all I had was an M1 Carbine slung over my shoulder.....not as much left of that first one, and what was left wasn't worth toting back to the house for a picture.
hillbilly
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