A exotic non native python was killed in Missouri.

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JohnhenrySTL

JohnhenrySTL

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I put this up in part cause my recent interest in these exotic snakes taking over Florida. I say "taking" over as the expression some Floridians have explained to me. Not being sure how any of you feel about shooting snakes, or the legal issues, I ask with hesitation, if you had justified reason to hunt large snakes, what would be the ultimate snake gun? And if a shotgun, what size shot, and what action? I prefer a semi auto .22 rifle, and a double barrel 20 gauge with size 8 shot. I like being able to walk around with an open action, and the very fast loading. This is ofcourse my choice based on my time in the Missouri/Arkansas swamps.

If this in the wrong community, please take it down. I prefer to hear from hunters. http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2015/07...prowling-Missouri-neighborhood/6591438198111/
 
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I live in Warren County, just south of I-70. Not too far from the location in the story. A Taurus Judge or S&W Governor might be a wise purchase.
 
Cool article Bob. Have you watched Miami Animal Police? Im not even sure what the show is called, but Im thinking its on Animal planet TV. It got crazy footage of exotic snakes and gators showing up and being dealt with in urban areas. I bring it up, cause every episide I have watched the narrators claim shooting snakes is too dangerous for us non-experts. They have implied stories about guns jamming and poor shot placement.
 
A 20 gauge double barrel would do fine, even against a giant like the one described above. I prefer the doubles for the same reason mentioned by the original poster - simplicity.

Has there been any human life lost to a Florida python or boa? Ever?
 
On another note . . .

I once read a history of Rome and in that book there was a story of a Roman battalion marching across Libya (as we call it today) to join an attack against Carthage. When two forward scouts failed to return from surveying the Bagrada River the general sent a platoon to search for them and they returned with a wild story of a giant Rock Python. The General turned his column towards the river to investigate and saw on a sand bar in the river a gigantic python obviously well fed with two roman lumps in its middle. The general ordered the siege catapults forward to the bluff overlooking the sandbar and the massive snake was crushed with that artillery. According to the story the snake was skinned and that trophy was sent back to Rome were it was hung on the wall of the Pantheon. Of course nobody nows for sure but it is said that that monster snake was 60 feet long.

Although their growth may slow after a certain age, I don't think snakes ever truly stop growing, so 60 feet is possible. 18 feet certainly is.
 
I can remember killing snakes with a 357, a 45 acp, a 22lr, ,a 12ga, a .410, a garden hoe, a stick, and some other things I can't remember.


I guess if we're going to have a dedicated snake gun specificity for larger snakes it'd probably just use a scoped 22 rifle.
 
I only kill dangerous snakes. All the others get a pass because they are beneficial. This snake would definitely be feeling the effects of 12 gauge goodness. Its former owner needs a kick in the butt for either allowing it to escape or for releasing it.
 
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Although their growth may slow after a certain age, I don't think snakes ever truly stop growing, so 60 feet is possible.
Click to expand...

I have a feeling the story you read was embellished. 60 feet really isn't realistic. 20 feet is about as long as they get and with a lifespan of only 30 years, getting one 3 times that long is completely unreasonable.

It is interesting that the story has the snake living outside of what is considered to be normal habitat. The story has a subsaharan snake living in the Sahara desert.

http://www.giantconstrictingsnakes.com/AncientWorldThirdCenturyBC.html
http://karlshuker.blogspot.com/2013/09/giant-anacondas-and-other-super-sized.html
http://www.science20.com/news_releases/titanoboa_titanic_boa_fossil_colombia_worlds_largest_snake
 
I'm thinking a slug or 30'06 to the head would work well as they say kill the head kill the body
 
I would rather have a shotgun in a defensive snake situation, lol. In my experience snakes have small brains and can handle more of a thrashing than any other animal. Then again, I have only dealt with American snakes, which the crocidile hunter claimed are the fastest.

I assumed any shot smaller than buck shot would work great, it always has for me. But I wonder if the bigger snakes require heavier shot, or if anything changes. I dont plan on hunting pythons, they just freak me out so I ask.
 
I'm calling BS on the 60 foot snake story. Like the sixteen foot rattled killed in Texas a few years back.
OK, let the urban legend flaming begin.
 
i know for a fact that our rattlers can get 7' long n be thicker than a big mans upper arm.i killed one that size. a 10' rattler is entirely possible on the high plains.
i doubt 16' but 10' would be amazing enow for anyone.
at 16' i bet the strike would be too slow to be dangerous.
i doubt the snake could keep himself fed.
i think anacondas can grow to 30'.
i bet these stories just get doubled for good storytelling.
 
My personal favorite is my single six loaded with 4 rounds of 22lr hollow points and 2 ratshot rounds. When I get close enough to need to kill a snake I'm usually either in my own way or close to it. Ratshot doesn't penetrate a leather boot and doesn't ricochet much either. I haven't tried my 44 mag snake tames yet. Around here though diamondbacks, pygmy rattlers, copperhead and cottonmouths are enough that if I feel like trying out the 44 ratshot I can find a good reason easily enough. As for big snakes, we have killed several copperhead in the 6 ft range. Dad had an s10 and we have had plenty that were hanging off both ends of the tailgate. High five footers are common, low sixes less common. I have never see a 7 ft in the wild. None of them have put up much of a fuss after a point blank ratshot shell gives them a quick migraine.
 
west, what ratshot works?
i tried some in my 22/45 n the spread was so much a snake could waltz right thru. n those little bbs don't look like they'd do much.
 
Snakes are not hard to kill. IMHO the ultimate snake gun for Heavy cover would be a fast handling 20 ga pump or auto stuffed with pheasant loads (high brass 6 or 5 shot). Just seeing a snake is tough, I can't imagine anything but a chance encounter for getting off a shot.
Has anyone used dogs or baiting to kill non-native snakes?
 
I have never baited snakes.Infact, moth balls work pretty good at keeping them outdoors. In Missouri, swampeast missouri in particular, its hard to not see snakes between april and september. Any old junk left outside tends to attract them. Coming across snakes by chance is the most dangerous. They will appear on hammocks, tractor seats, and even hide in stove logs that are carried inside. Snakes are more scared of us than we are them. They are likely to attack only when caught off guard. I dont hate them, I respect them. I remain aware.

As far as non native Florida snakes killing people, it happens often enough. Its not just in Florida. I watched this long documentry about a huge black market of the exotic snake trade. People pay huge illegal money and grow falsly attached. They assume snakes reactions to feeding are emotions. Snakes dont have emotions. I was told only sensory. People get bit and strangled. It does happen.


I'm not worried about exotic snakes killing me, although I believe snakes are the third leading cause of animals killing humans outside of insects and dogs. Im not pretending they are a direct threat to human life. I have read enough about them invading the south Florida area to be concerned. My cousin, who works for the State of Florida told me they opened up a special program to deal with the threat. The hunters had almost no success.

If I came across a 20 footer in my garage, or one was hanging out under my deck, which I did see on T.Vee, lol. I wouldnt want a rifle. I would want a shotgun. I think I would want heavier shot.

My thread may be childish. Several conservation types said at the end of the show to not TRY to shoot the snakes. They had stories about it not working and people getting mangled or even killed. They didnt really explain how, but in my experience their brain must be scattered. Body shots take too long.
 
kill them on sight in florida. sure it kills rats. but it gets a little bigger and it kills your pets. #4 shot imo.
 
I use a S&W 329 PD .44 mag loaded with 9 shot in a snake capsule when hunting in rattle snake areas. At 10' and in it is an instant rattle snake shut down. After having lost a dog to a rattler several years ago when pig hunting I now carry that little snake charmer with me whenever hunting during snake season. It cuts way down on dog/snake drama.
 
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