Snakes

[10Key]

I know I might sound paranoid, but this is the third year in a row that we have been greeted by a buzz worm hunting in October. We ran into one along the Columbia in Central WA on Saturday. I saw it literally within in minutes of stepping out of the truck, kind of made the day tough as I was on high alert. Anyways, keep an eye out if you are hunting until we get some colder weather.

[jetjockey]

Down here in GA I won't even put my dog down till we have our first frost.  Usually early Nov.  Just not worth it, and we have a TON of nasty snakes down here.

[NWBREW]

Down here in GA I won't even put my dog down till we have our first frost.  Usually early Nov.  Just not worth it, and we have a TON of nasty snakes down here.

I've been to GA.....there are a ton of nasty bugs there as well. Seems like everything down there will bite you. The last time I was there I was even mauled by a kitten.........damn thing ripped me to shreds. 

[Huntbear]

Down here in GA I won't even put my dog down till we have our first frost.  Usually early Nov.  Just not worth it, and we have a TON of nasty snakes down here.

I've been to GA.....there are a ton of nasty bugs there as well. Seems like everything down there will bite you. The last time I was there I was even mauled by a kitten.........damn thing ripped me to shreds. 

I saw a stat once, and there is like 2000 spiders per acre in Georgia.. let alone the fire ants, and the freaking snakes...

[Happy Gilmore]

If I remember right, talking with my buddy who breeds snakes. (He's got over 200 in his "nusery" at any time at his place in Kennewick including a 4' monitor lizard and two 8' boas.) (FYI, when I stayed at his house, I pulled the sheets back before sticking my legs into the bed) He said typically our rattlesnakes around here get closer to the area where they den up this time of year. He said snakes travel a couple miles to hit their den sites. They won't completely hibernate until the temps stay in the 50's during the day. Snakes exposed to 50degree temps only survive for something like three days? I might have some of those facts wrong but, pretty sure he said it was close to that...It's about how much heat they can soak up in the day, not about temps at night.

I was shocked how many rattlesnakes he has found within a mile of his house when he and his "snake charming" buddies get together. I've never worried about snakes around Tri-Cities. I remember Grandpa killing a bull snake or two around the farm. My buddy said he can find rattlers anywhere, just need to know how to look for them. He had a picture of almost a 3' rattler in front of his house in a new development just a few weeks ago.

[Stilly bay]

I got to witness the end result of snake avoidance training just a few weeks ago. That dog caught a whiff O' snake and did one hell of a back peddling high jump.

[boneaddict]

GOOD year for buzzers in October.  I killed one Sunday morning, a long ways from his den, unless of course it was going to spend the winter under Slenks house. 

[jetjockey]

Down here in GA I won't even put my dog down till we have our first frost.  Usually early Nov.  Just not worth it, and we have a TON of nasty snakes down here.

I've been to GA.....there are a ton of nasty bugs there as well. Seems like everything down there will bite you. The last time I was there I was even mauled by a kitten.........damn thing ripped me to shreds. 

I saw a stat once, and there is like 2000 spiders per acre in Georgia.. let alone the fire ants, and the freaking snakes...

I'd easily believe that.  You know it's bad when the black widows don't make you take a second look.   Brown Recluses and I don't get along at all though.  Fire ants are just annoying.  I've stepped in several nests, they aren't lying when they say their bites make you feel like your feet are on fire.  Can't even walk in the grass bare footed.   But the snakes!!!!   Oh the snakes!!!!  We have copperhead rattlers, we have diamondback rattlers.  We have Pigmy rattlers and cane real rattlers, we even have coral snakes. But my favorites!!! OH MY favorites!!!  That would be either of the two species of cotton mouths..  Ie; Watermoccasin..  Ie; North American Viper..  Ie; Big azz scary snakes!!!   Yes the Watermoccasins are scary *censored*s and can do serious damage to a dog...  Luckily they stay closer to water, but none the less, they aren't friendly....

Snake breaking a dog does help, but just like a dog being on the upwind side of a bird and accidentally flushing it, the dog has to smell the snake.  Snake breaking doesn't do any good if the winds aren't favoring the dog, or if scenting conditions are bad. Either way, I wait for the first frost.  I believe several cold days will work as well, but the problem is down here even in the winter the temps typically hit the 60's to low 70's during the day.  People have told me to wit for the first frost before really getting a it, so that's what I do.

[Raghorn]

My brother in law just lost his 2 year old GSP to rattlesnake bite while hunting in Montana. I heard about it yesterday, happened the day before that. Don't know the details yet.
Snake avoidance training seems like a good idea especially if you are hunting early.