I have had a great deal of experience working with snakes throughout my life. I have kept, bread, and lectured to kids and medical proffesionals about snakes for a long time.
First, don't kill a snake unless you have to. If it is on or near your property, I would suggest using a long walking stick or garden tool. A richocet could hurt or kill you or your kids, and is definitly overkill. Sometimes snakes need to be killed (when on or near your property), but killing them just because they are snakes is childish, ecologically ignorant, and potentially dangerous. Do not handle poisonous snakes if you are not very experienced (doesn't seem like too many people hear need to be told that BANG! BANG! THUD! SMAKCK!).
Snakes keep the varmint population way down (better than cats).
Mothballs are a very good idea (but not if your kids are young enough to think they are candy).
Cedar is very toxic to snakes! Might I suggest using cedar mulch or chips around the house (outside perimeter only), and around the bases of any trees or bushes on your property.
In that area of Texas Bull snakes are common. They can look like rattlers (even rattle their tail, but don't have a rattle. They rustle the leaves, and brush with their tails and it sounds a lot like a rattle snake). Bull snakes however have been known to eat ratllers. They also are known to be one of the best snakes for keeping rodent, gopher and rabbit populations under control. Some farmers actually release bull snakes into their barns and near their silos for this purpose. There are many other kinds of snakes which can and do eat rattlers: Indigo snakes (which are very endangered and bring a very hefty fine if you kill or even pick one up). Kingsnakes, milksnakes, and even coral snakes can eat rattlers too.
Coral snakes are the also found in the southern parts of Texas. They are red, black, and yellow. Coral snakes are usually not very large, but are quite poisonous (they are related to the cobra family). Corals can look a lot like harmless milksnakes (if the red bands are next to the yellow bands its a coral, if the red bands are next to the black bands if is probably a harmless milk snake; the saying to remember this is "red next to yellow, kill a fellow, red next to black, venom lack").
Copperheads and sometimes cottonmouths can also be found there. They are not likely to kill an adult, but can easily kill a small child, dog or cat.
When your kids are young, teach them to stay away from all snakes to be on the safe side.
If anyone gets bit, go directly to the hospital, and bring the hopefully dead snake with you so the docs can identify it and give the correct antivenom if necessary.
You don't have to be afraid of snakes, just cautious.
I recommend getting a good field guide or two for the native reptiles and other wildlife in your area.
There are also two poisonous lizards that may be found in the southern most parts of Texas, the gila monster, and the mexican bearded lizard. They probably won't kill you, but they hurt like hell (from what I have heard, and can cause a lot of local tissue damage).
Many snakes can strike up to a half or two thirds of their body length. Also, six foot rattlers are becoming more rare. They can be as big as seven or eight feet (possibly more). However, this is VERY unlikly. If you are about ten feet or more away, it is almost impossible to get bitten. If out in the wild, and that far away, just go somewhere else if possible. If you get close enought to hit it with a short stick you could get bitten. I would use a six foot walking stick if I were you. They make snake hooks and tongs for proffesionals, but I don't recommend them for the average person.
A coyote on the other hand responds very well to a 45 ACP or 44 Colt (try not to use the stick on the coyote
).
Good luck!