Another rattle snake encounter!

[gamestalker]

Early this evening I came rolling up into the driveway and found my wife with shotgun in hand. When I got out of the car she was just getting ready to dispatch it. She had just moved one of the garbage cans to check for snakes when she encountered this one, a very small one, but a rattle snake none the less. Fortunately, she is very aware of the threat and as well prepared for it, we have been dealing with this problem for a number of years, and on a regular basis, so no worries there.

I reloaded some snake loads for one of her pistols so she wouldn't have to deal with carrying a shotgun, but she says she just prefers using the SG over a handgun for this task. But she has a nice 18-1/2" barrel 870 clone that has a light on it, and with a shoulder strap, so she can perform her task at hand without having to worry about holding the SG. And in that respect we have other critters, bob cats, mt. lions, coyotes, and lots of javelina, which can be very aggressive, and much more difficult to hit with a handgun in the dark. So she keeps bird shot up front, and then backs that with 00 buck for bigger 4 legged, and even 2 legged human threats.

GS

 

[JohnhenrySTL]

So did she hamburger it?

 

[Constrictor]

LETS hope she didn't murder it. please just relocate it.

 

[MtnCreek]

Murder? LOL.

What's an 870 clone? Is it Remington or another brand of shotgun?
Thanks.

 

[Sav .250]

If they don`t bother me (Rattlesnakes) I don`t bother them. My property has it`s share.

 

[lemaymiami]

Rattlesnakes (and we have our share in south Florida) aren't a bother at all since you simply won't encounter them in our urban or suburban areas...

Pythons on the other hand have a "kill on sight" order wherever they're found down here. Because of a mis-guided policy that allowed sales through pet shops for years and years down here we now have a very serious problem with them. They've actually substantially changed the areas of Everglades National Park that I frequent (where I work as a fishing guide most days...). I'll stop here since I don't want to de-rail the existing post. Anyone interested in learning just how badly we've been affected by this can send me a PM...

 

[Potatohead]

I hope she "relocated" it to animal heaven.

Nothing more appealing to a man than his wife with a shotgun, except maybe a revolver on each hip.

 

[Reloadron]

I like rattle snakes, they taste good. Unfortunately the odds of me finding a rattle snake up here are the same as the odds as me finding an alligator (they also taste good). However, having spent considerable time in the American South West you learn to look for the things that can ruin your day.

Ron

 

[Ranger Roberts]

We have rattlesnakes in my neck of the woods, fortunately for me (and them) I haven't seen one around the perimeter of my house yet. Once I know where a snake is it doesn't really bother me (poisonous snakes are different) but nothing gets the adrenaline pumping like being startled by a snake!

 

[Arizona_Mike]

I take low brass skeet shells, unfold the crimp, pour out the #7.5 shot and add 1 1/8 oz of #12 rat shot plus a little tissue to add volume and recrimp. Absolutely devastating effect and no recoil risk.

Mike

 

[Byrd666]

Though I'm not a snake liking type person, I do appreciate the job they do overall. With that said, My most recent interaction with a rattler ended up with him(?) being nothing much more than buzzard bait. I will even walk quite a ways out the way for a snake and leave them wholly undisturbed but, when I'm walking well clear of a known snake area and I see a rattler directly ahead of me in the coiled and pre strike position, all niceties fly right out the window and the lead flies right out of the barrel.

 

[buck460XVR]

As long as it's legal, IMHO, it's up to the discretion of the hunter whether or not to kill a snake. While they scare the bejeebers outta me, I tend to leave 'em be.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Just so you know, I'm not an indiscriminate snake hater/killer. I have speckled king snakes living under my front stoop and grey rat snakes(we call them "chicken snakes") living in my basement and attic and they are welcome. With that said, any venomous snake found on my premises is dead meat and no I won't eat it. Relocating a venomous snake only makes it some-one else's problem(a problem they didn't previously have) plus increases your chances of getting bitten while doing so....ain't gonna happen.

 

[Constrictor]

As long as it's legal, IMHO, it's up to the discretion of the hunter whether or not to kill a snake. While they scare the bejeebers outta me, I tend to leave 'em be.

in most if not all states, its actually illegal to kill a snake, even a venomous one ( there is no such thing as a poisonous snake) unless there is a season. Missouri its illegal to kill a snake.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

in most if not all states, its actually illegal to kill a snake, even a venomous one

It is not Illegal in my state, Alabama, to kill a venomous snake, at least not the pit vipers. Not that it would matter. There is a limited number of non-venomous snakes on the do not kill list as well as some lizards and some turtles. Be that as it may, social media is littered with people from my area and known to me posting the " look what hubby killed on our porch this morning" dead snake pictures(usually of the protected variety) nobody bats an eye.

 

[Constrictor]

the timing of this topic is ironic. A couple weeks ago I sent a letter to the major ammunition manufacturers with the idea that they could advertise they will donate a certain % of their sales to wildlife ( with a FOCUS on snakes) to save them.

 

[DeepSouth]

When I see a rattlesnake it dies, then fries.

 

[Ankeny]

Starting to see more and more rattlesnakes this time of year as they head towards the den. About 10 years ago I was carrying some five foot 2"x4" boards into our storage shed at the range. A few steps into the shed (cool place on a hot day) I heard a rattle just before the snake bit me on the heel of my boot. Before I was finished one of the 2x4 boards was nothing but tooth picks.

Last Saturday I was p-dog hunting with my brother. I stopped my vehicle and stepped out. The snake rattled like it was pi$$ed off to the max. I looked down and it was less than 3 feet away. We both survived the encounter.

 

[Sunray]

She planning on shooting 'em on pavement or other hard surface? Just curious if she's ever heard of Rick O'Shea?
Friend of mine lived in the boonies of California, long ago. Found a small rattler while cleaning behind the crapper one time. Told her she'd have been fine if she didn't clean what nobody sees. Recall she didn't panic but forget how she got it out. No nasty snakes other than very rare massassuga rattlers in Ontario.

 

[lxd55]

if my wife sees a snake she will yell for me, I will go and see if the snake is harmful. if I tell her ok she will pick it up and move it to the back woods. if it is harmful it dies. copperheads and water moccasins do not make noise. but I do have to say I have never seen an eastern diamondback in the wild.

 

[WestKentucky]

My aunt once found a rat snake in her kitchen. They had to call a plumber to replace pipes and my uncle had to work on the floor when he got home. The 10 ga and my aunt waited for him in the driveway. She only shoots 410 because a 20ga hurts... that day the 10 ga and goose loads were the medicine.

I try to leave snakes alone but if they get too close then they have a deathwish. My grandfathers farm where I hunt has a lot of copperhead in the woods and rattlers on the rocky hillside leading down towards the creek. As long as they tell me where they are before I get close we get along. Not so much friendly with them at 5 ft.

 

[bikerdoc]

Water Mocs get dispatched routinely here.

 

[Double_J]

Cottonmouths and copperheads are DEAD MEAT around my house and my parents house. I don't care for either of them as they have chased me before. Rattlesnakes I tend to leave alone if possible, if not then they will meet the same fate as the cottonmouths and copperheads. All other snakes are left alone as they are usefull and tend to leave me alone.

 

[Dframe]

I pretty much leave snakes alone unless they get too close to my house then they die. Much the same as I treat MOST wild critters. Live and let live, as long as it ain't in my house.

 

[burrhead]

I only kill rattlers if they're around the house. I generally use a long handled hoe. Less noise, cheaper, no ricochet and gets the job done.