Snake boot wearers in Klickitat-Goldendale area?

[River]

I will be hunting in the dry lands in the SW Washington or Klickitat area.  Do a lot of people wear snake boots when hunting in these areas?  Thanks much.

[JimmyHoffa]

I don't know of any snakes of concern west of the cascades.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

I clicked cause I have some snake skin boots.   

[jackelope]

Klickitat is not really Southwest Washington. I guess there might be some snakes there, but it's not SW Washington.

[Bob33]

If I were bird hunting in September along the breaks of the Snake River, I'd consider it.

[grundy53]

SW Washington is far from dry.

[Bob33]

I think he must have meant SE Washington?

[pd]

I think a better way of responding to the OP would be this question: "Has anybody with experience hunting the Klickitat ever seen rattlesnakes?" 

I have some limited experience there, and have never seen a snake.  Please ask others with more experience. 

[jackelope]

I think he must have meant SE Washington?

The Klickitat is not really SE Washington either.
 
It's sort of in the southern middle of the state, isn't it? A little west of center....Could be the "breaks" of the Klickitat River...I assume there are some snakes there but I really don't know. I've never been there.

[River]

Sorry - I live in Clark County which politically people refer to as SW Washington.  But will be going to the Klickitat River-Centerville-Goldendale area which is quite dry.  And I have seen rattlesnakes just hiking and mountain biking the Klickitat River trail.  That's why I ask

[270Shooter]

The klickitat has a lot of snakes. Boots would be a good idea if you plan on hiking around in there during the summer.

[Timberstalker]

The klickitat has a lot of snakes. Boots would be a good idea if you plan on hiking around in there during the summer.

This!  There are plenty of rattlers down in Klickitat county. Plenty.

[carpsniperg2]

Yes there is plenty of snakes here. We have had a bit of a cold snap here the last few days. I hate it when the days are colder and they are out. Less likely for them to buzz, more likely to just strike. I have killed far less snakes on the west side of 97 then on the east side. When you get into rocks or sage that is when you start seeing them. More diamondbacks then anything. Very few timber rattlers up high. I use to ware a pair fixing fence in the spring. After getting grabbed twice. I always seem to walk into them in the spring.

I have never wore a set while hunting but it's not a bad idea. I deal with snakes a lot and have only got grabbed twice. Once was my boot and the other was my pant leg. I didn't think I would ever scream like a girl but when you see a snake strike and stick on your leg. Let me tell you what, you scream like a girl! Neither of them by the grace of god got into my skin. If the one that got my pant leg had got into my system I don't think I would have made it out. I was in a hole and it would have not ended pretty.

[Jingles]

if you don't have snake boots or chaps do not wear the pecker pants (Spandex) wear something loose and baggy

[carpsniperg2]

That's what saved me! I grew so fast my dad always bought me big jeans. I had a couple of rolls over the top of my boot from the jeans being to long. I was at the end of his striking distance and his fangs caught one of the folds over my boot.

[pd]

if you don't have snake boots or chaps do not wear the pecker pants (Spandex) wear something loose and baggy

C'mon, Jingles.  Have you really ever seen a hunter in Spandex?

Pecker pants.  Sheesh.  This could be the start of a great thread.

But I agree with you: Loose leggings better for snake strikes.

[lokidog]

I used to turkey hunt the Klickitat area and have seen lots of... ticks and poison oak, but I never saw a snake.  I never even thought about it, so maybe I was just lucky.

[ATM green head machine]

I used to turkey hunt the Klickitat area and have seen lots of... ticks and poison oak, but I never saw a snake.  I never even thought about it, so maybe I was just lucky.

any turkeys on the island over there. 

[buckcanyonlodge]

Yes there is plenty of snakes here. We have had a bit of a cold snap here the last few days. I hate it when the days are colder and they are out. Less likely for them to buzz, more likely to just strike. I have killed far less snakes on the west side of 97 then on the east side. When you get into rocks or sage that is when you start seeing them. More diamondbacks then anything. Very few timber rattlers up high. I use to ware a pair fixing fence in the spring. After getting grabbed twice. I always seem to walk into them in the spring.

I have never wore a set while hunting but it's not a bad idea. I deal with snakes a lot and have only got grabbed twice. Once was my boot and the other was my pant leg. I didn't think I would ever scream like a girl but when you see a snake strike and stick on your leg. Let me tell you what, you scream like a girl! Neither of them by the grace of god got into my skin. If the one that got my pant leg had got into my system I don't think I would have made it out. I was in a hole and it would have not ended pretty.

The only specie of rattlesnake in Washington State is the Western Rattlesnake..  ...No timber rattlers or diamondbacks. Lots of color variations of the Western rattler.


blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2011/03/21/rattlesnakes-in...

Mar 21, 2011 · The only rattlesnake species found in Washington State is the Western rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis). Western rattlesnakes live in warm, ...
 

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

Yeah never heard of any rattlers west of the pac crest trail. 

[Boss .300 winmag]

Way back they had them at the cooks fish hatchery on the Columbia along the railroad grade, my sister almost stepped on one.

[Rob Allen]

I know that there is a  beware of  rattle  snakes  sign at  the Dog Mountain  trailhead.
  Personally  the  furthest west I have seen rattle  snakes  has been at the  first lake  east of Bingen  along hwy 14  and I have  seen them there often..

 I have encountered 1   rattle  snake  along the Klickitat  river  tight at the Lidel  campground   he  was  the  same  color  as the  oak leaves on the ground

  seen lots  of them   on the Deschutes  and  other  areas, been buzzed  a  few  times  but never  struck  at   but i leave  them  alone  as  well  when I  do see them,, unless they are  on the  road   then I  usually  try to shoo  them  off the  road  so they  don't  get hit.

  I think they are  really  cool creatures...

  I  don't  imagine  snake  boots  would  be a bad  idea  if  you were  walking in the brush  or  rocks   but  if  you  can  see  where  you  are  walking and  actually  watch  your  step  you'll  be  fine..

Ticks  are  thick  this   year  though... went  for a hike  last  Saturday   from Lidel to  dead  canyon (  short  hike)   I had   8  ticks on me, my  wife had  1    and our  dog  70  or  so..

 i recommend   not  going up there  alone  this  time of  year  simply  to have  someone  check  you  for  ticks 

[The Gobble-stopper]

Fewer snakes in Klickitat area, compared to Goldendale. Remember guys. Get quick medical attention, and remember not to panic. Most people that  have died from Rattlesnake bites died from shock, (Sheer panic) thinking they were going to die. Yes it hurts, yes it can get infected. But unless you are a mouse or other similar vermin. You arnt going to die! Again. just don't panic! Hospitals in the areas where the snakes live have anti venom accessible to them. And also I must say, 99% of the time snakes would rather not waste there venom on a human. So unless you step on them, they will not bite. The only strikes I have encountered, are because I purposely prevoked them to bite, so that I could see how ( in my opinion ) how slow they are to bite. Of course I am fleet of foot! 

[ghosthunter]

I have hunted from one side to the other and I guess been lucky no snakes.
I got close once over around Republic. Coming down through a sage slope I hopped up on a big rock to sit. Happen to look over the side and there was a 3 inch hole going under the rock.

Laying outside the hole was a big snake skin.

Poof I was gone.

[Odell]

I've spent a lot of time hunting goldendale east of the hwy and have only seen a rattlesnake once and it was a baby.

[Gobble]

I was hunting Deer there a few years back and found a dead Gopher snake, didn't see any rattlers

[carpsniperg2]

Yes there is plenty of snakes here. We have had a bit of a cold snap here the last few days. I hate it when the days are colder and they are out. Less likely for them to buzz, more likely to just strike. I have killed far less snakes on the west side of 97 then on the east side. When you get into rocks or sage that is when you start seeing them. More diamondbacks then anything. Very few timber rattlers up high. I use to ware a pair fixing fence in the spring. After getting grabbed twice. I always seem to walk into them in the spring.

I have never wore a set while hunting but it's not a bad idea. I deal with snakes a lot and have only got grabbed twice. Once was my boot and the other was my pant leg. I didn't think I would ever scream like a girl but when you see a snake strike and stick on your leg. Let me tell you what, you scream like a girl! Neither of them by the grace of god got into my skin. If the one that got my pant leg had got into my system I don't think I would have made it out. I was in a hole and it would have not ended pretty.

The only specie of rattlesnake in Washington State is the Western Rattlesnake..  ...No timber rattlers or diamondbacks. Lots of color variations of the Western rattler.


blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2011/03/21/rattlesnakes-in...

Mar 21, 2011 · The only rattlesnake species found in Washington State is the Western rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis). Western rattlesnakes live in warm, ...
 

I understand that. We just call the big green rattlers we have only found in the mtn's. Timber rattlers even though they are just a different pigmentation of skin color.

I have a couple places that I go when looking for snakes and I can find them just about every time I go looking for them during the right time of year. I have lived here my whole like and can tell you there is a fairly high number of snakes. Just because you don't see them does not mean they are not there. 

[BullCrazy24]

 
tons of rattlers from the white salmon river all the way throughout the east klickitat gmu!

[Deer slayer]

I am with Carp there are places that have a lot of snakes. Just depends on the location. They are spread throughout from Lyle to the far east end of the county in places.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

With all the snakes and ticks I can't believe anybody would want to outdoor recreate in the this part of the state?

[dawei]

I've been turkey hunting in GMU388 Grayback since 2007; don't deer hunt there. There are a hell of a lot of snakes there. I carry a snub nose 38 Special loaded with CCI® snake shot. Never hurts to be too careful, especially in May when it really starts to warm up.

[Okanagan]

I didn't think I would ever scream like a girl but when you see a snake strike and stick on your leg. Let me tell you what, you scream like a girl!

   That's exactly what I did-- screamed like a girl.  It was a small snake and somewhere inside I knew simultaneous to my scream that my boot was probably adequate-- but I still screamed.  Embarrassing.  Never would have believed I would do that.

I've been threatened by bull moose, grizzly bears, armed men and disarming women-- and only screamed when the snake struck my foot! 

[WoolyRunner]

How do you know if you got a tick?

[motg9_6]

theres ALOT of rattle worms along the klickitat, floating you an see them on the bank have seen them all over that area and east they are a plenty

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

How do you know if you got a tick?

Check yourself. Use a long handled mirror for your crevesis or have someone else look for you. Good luck! Not to wory most ticks around here don't have lime disease? So I'm told?

[Wazukie]

How do you know if you got a tick?

Check yourself. Use a long handled mirror for your crevesis or have someone else look for you. Good luck! Not to wory most ticks around here don't have lime disease? So I'm told?

Ya, tell that to the guy here that is dying from it.  Not everyone gets it but it is there for sure.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

Super rare in Washington.  Most cases are from other states where the person came back to wa after being bit.  Only a few cases  2-3 per year coming from ticks that bit the person in Washington.  The tick also has to be on you for more than 24 hours to contract it.  More common would be 48-72 hours of having the tick burrow into your skin to contract Lyme Disease. Just check every day and you should reduce the chances.