Author Topic: Rattlesnakes while deer hunting (Read 13004 times)

woodywsu · « **on:** October 20, 2009, 09:39:47 AM »

Just a warning out there to look out for rattlers. I've killed 5 rattle snakes since Saturday, all in the afternoon and they have all been very aggressive. I hate snakes and it really ruins my hunting. Anyone else been encountered by rattle snakes this season?

NWBREW · « **Reply #1 on:** October 20, 2009, 09:57:04 AM »

Did you eat them. If not why kill them?

duckmen1 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 20, 2009, 10:08:46 AM »

if you don't kill them did you ever think if they get the chance to kill you they would

Rick · « **Reply #3 on:** October 20, 2009, 10:15:07 AM »

Quote from: duckmen1 on October 20, 2009, 10:08:46 AM

if you don't kill them did you ever think if they get the chance to kill you they would

The Rattlesnakes are looking to kill you?

The crap some people come up with.

TheSilverSlayer · « **Reply #4 on:** October 20, 2009, 10:44:06 AM »

Have been pretty paranoid about them ever since we almost walked accross one while hunt last year. Luckily haven't seen one since, but I am on the lookout. I would shoot the next one I see cause i hear they eat decent.

NWBREW · « **Reply #5 on:** October 20, 2009, 11:01:47 AM »

I've eaten them.........they taste like rattlesnake.

Now that I know there out to kill us, I'll be more carefull

PWN Kurt · « **Reply #6 on:** October 20, 2009, 11:12:38 AM »

I've only thought to kill one rattler, and that is when I had one feet from the front of my tent...
Other rattlers I leave alone. They eat mice and rats....I don't like mice and rats. I'm more worried about Hanta virus.

Just an FYI: Western Rattlers are less toxic than the ones you find in the Southwest. Usually their first bite on people is a warning and non-venomous...or less-venomous. I know of several dogs that have been bitten...some multiple times, and even though the bite wrecked their day, they all survived.

Kurt

woodywsu · « **Reply #7 on:** October 20, 2009, 12:37:41 PM »

It's one thing to let a rattle snake live, but when they are very aggressive and striking at your from 6+ feet away without you doing anything, then they will be killed. Around here, there are plenty of bull snakes to help keep the rodent population down. So in my mind, a rattle snake should be a dead snake...no need for them.

duckmen1 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 20, 2009, 02:15:37 PM »

let me know when you step on a snake and don't realize it RICK and get bit
or maybe by that time it might be to late

"The crap some people come up with."
how adout the crap some people talk

wolfbait · « **Reply #9 on:** October 20, 2009, 02:32:45 PM »

Quote from: duckmen1 on October 20, 2009, 02:15:37 PM

let me know when you step on a snake and don't realize it RICK and get bit
or maybe by that time it might be to late

"The crap some people come up with."
how adout the crap some people talk

Don't feel like the lone ranger duckmen1

I kill every damn rattlesnake I see. Some folks might not have grown up around lots of R-snakes, I did and I have seen the damage they do. Horses bit in the face, pups that are bitten die, as far as not being as powerful as the snakes in other parts of the country, that may be true, but if you talk to a few folks that have been bitten by our snakes, they will tell you it isn't no picnic. Don't know if this is true or not, but an old man told me one time that the baby rattlesnake will shoot all its poison in you, where an older snake will control his for future hunting. Baby snakes have the same amount of poison as the old snakes do. I leave the bulls alone but those that rattle get the bullet every time.

C-Money · « **Reply #10 on:** October 20, 2009, 03:05:01 PM »

I dont kill the bull snakes, but the rattlers catch lead if they are anywhere near the house or buildings. I understand the remarks made about letting rattlers live, but my kids and wife come first. I would rather lessen the chance of people getting bit.

actionshooter · « **Reply #11 on:** October 20, 2009, 03:12:56 PM »

I caught one yesterday on my way home, it was in the dirt road sunning itself, I just caught it, took a few picks and tossed it in the bushes. I don't have a reason to kill them.

Chukar · « **Reply #12 on:** October 20, 2009, 03:17:55 PM »

If you live in snake country you deal with snakes. If you are a rancher. You run livestock. You have kids and family out in the sage...do what you have to do to protect but they are a natural part of the landscape. This time of year they are heading back to where they den up.
Shooting every single one you find is silly however. How many REALLY get that close to take a bite? No reason to put you and yours in jeopardy but believing that Rattlers are intentionally HUNTING you is paranoid silliness. No animal is searching you out for the "chance to kill you if they would". Just Stay Home.
Handle the ones that put you in a position for injury as you see fit...but running around like a scared little girl shooting every snake you find because is wrong in my opinion.
On some lists in this State they are protected and others they are not so in additio...SSS

NWBREW · « **Reply #13 on:** October 20, 2009, 03:20:44 PM »

Quote from: C-Money on October 20, 2009, 03:05:01 PM

I dont kill the bull snakes, but the rattlers catch lead if they are anywhere near the house or buildings. I understand the remarks made about letting rattlers live, but my kids and wife come first. I would rather lessen the chance of people getting bit.

I understand the reasoning behind killing rattlers in the yard or close to home or around you livestock. I grew up around rattlers and we killed many in our yard. I would still do the same today. But when I'm out hunting and come across one....I will leave it.(unless it real big, then I will kill it and fry it up). The chances are I will never see that snake again. It just don't bother me seeing them when I'm hunting. But I also do not care one way or the other what anyone else does when they see them.

walt · « **Reply #14 on:** October 20, 2009, 03:23:47 PM »

They are all over the NE corner and the Palouse, usually they stay out until hunting season ends and they are VERY aggressive. I'd stay away just to be safe.

I kill them when I find them in areas I hunt with my dog and I don't eat them.

PA BEN · « **Reply #15 on:** October 20, 2009, 04:32:48 PM »

They make good hat bands. Nail the hide to a board and use borax.

Huntbear · « **Reply #16 on:** October 20, 2009, 06:31:55 PM »

The only good snake is a dead snake in my opinion. They scare the bejesus out of me. Sorry, I know they eat rodents, but if I see one, it is a dead snake.

hornhunter · « **Reply #17 on:** October 20, 2009, 07:00:35 PM »

Quote from: Huntbear on October 20, 2009, 06:31:55 PM

The only good snake is a dead snake in my opinion. They scare the bejesus out of me. Sorry, I know they eat rodents, but if I see one, it is a dead snake.

shoot-em-dead · « **Reply #18 on:** October 20, 2009, 07:13:25 PM »

I have yet to see one in the wild. Seen a couple at reptile gardens in Dakota's when I was young.

duckmen1 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 21, 2009, 09:54:11 AM »

i wasnt saying that the snakes are searching for you morons

yall just to dumb to realize they do bight when provocked
you all that agree with me about killing snakes i think are pretty smart but when the others get bit they will pay

NWBREW · « **Reply #20 on:** October 21, 2009, 10:01:56 AM »

Quote from: duckmen1 on October 21, 2009, 09:54:11 AM

i wasnt saying that the snakes are searching for you morons

We were joking with you.Thats why you saw these

Don't take it so seriously. Sure they will bite when provoked....wouldn't you. I have been around rattlesnakes damn near all my life and I know better then to provoke them. I just don't have a problem with them when I see them out hunting.

Jeremy S · « **Reply #21 on:** October 21, 2009, 10:04:51 AM »

Damn! I was looking everywhere in an area thick with snakes in the summer and couldn't find one

surfj9009 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 21, 2009, 01:11:56 PM »

If there is anyone here who can catch one and pull it's fangs that would be cool. There was another thread in the Upland section where some folks had shown interest in attending or having a snake-breaking seminar or class or something to get our dogs to stay the f*** away from these things. I would do it but I would shoot it, and it would not work if it was dead.

Any takers? I'll give ya $20 and come get it from ya? PM me if your interested, or if you know where i can take my dog to a snake-breaking class.....

wolfbait · « **Reply #23 on:** October 21, 2009, 05:12:35 PM »

I snake break every dog I get, it has worked for me to just kill one or two and lay it out on the ground call the dogs up and scold them good as in NO when they go to sniffen. I had one Blue Heelers that would hunt snakes she would dive in and grab the snake and shake it real hard kind of snaps their necks, pretty wild to watch. Sometimes I pick a R.snake up pinch him behind the jaws a little till he opens up wide then I put a pinch of Copenhagen in his mouth, kills em deader than hell, they don't even move afterwards. Snake looks like he died of natural causes.

Dayton Elk · « **Reply #24 on:** October 21, 2009, 07:21:52 PM »

Kill em all , I was bit this summer still have poor circulation and an $80,000 dollar hospital bill. The whole time after I was bit and then killed the snake I never thought it would be as bad as it was. Two days in the hospital and could barely leave on the third, hobbled for a week. If you or a friend are bit get the antivenom in as quick as possible and have them give you as much as they will. It is a judgement call and the doctors are not always smarter then we are. I had 14 vials and there should have been more and quicker. Do not underestimate their bite, all I could think about was being way out hunting alone, it may have been ugly, I would not have been able to walk out! Swelling, sorness, vesiculation, blurry vision that kept escalating until the antivenom was administered. They are trying to stay alive and so are we Be careful, and kill em all!!!

bow-n-head · « **Reply #25 on:** October 21, 2009, 07:33:03 PM »

Most folks I know kills every one they see. I was at the lake this summer when a friends 2 year old girl was bit by one. I have small children, I don't let rattlers go.

NWBREW · « **Reply #26 on:** October 21, 2009, 08:30:45 PM »

Quote from: Dayton Elk on October 21, 2009, 07:21:52 PM

Kill em all , I was bit this summer still have poor circulation and an $80,000 dollar hospital bill. The whole time after I was bit and then killed the snake I never thought it would be as bad as it was. Two days in the hospital and could barely leave on the third, hobbled for a week. If you or a friend are bit get the antivenom in as quick as possible and have them give you as much as they will. It is a judgement call and the doctors are not always smarter then we are. I had 14 vials and there should have been more and quicker. Do not underestimate their bite, all I could think about was being way out hunting alone, it may have been ugly, I would not have been able to walk out! Swelling, sorness, vesiculation, blurry vision that kept escalating until the antivenom was administered. They are trying to stay alive and so are we Be careful, and kill em all!!!

How far were you away from a vehicle and the hospital? Was this in Wa. state? I'm sorry to hear that but I'm glad things didn't turn out worse.

Redmist · « **Reply #27 on:** October 21, 2009, 11:41:21 PM »

Living in Grant County for 50 years on a ranch/farm we were taught to eliminate them because we will eventually get poked. But in remote areas I'll let them slide. With high frequency hearing loss from guns, I can't even hear them. Last one I saw was sitting 2 feet directly under my 270 in the blast zone when I was kneeing and shooting at a coyote. I let him slide away from me because I felt sorry for him because I gave him high frequency hearing loss. Poor *censored* had the hell rang out of his ears.

duckmen1 · « **Reply #28 on:** October 23, 2009, 06:27:49 PM »

my bad sorry

benbo30 · « **Reply #29 on:** October 24, 2009, 09:27:09 AM »

i will kill every rattler i see , not one is left alone , they scare the crap out of me especially since they are poisonous , my life is more important than theirs

Dayton Elk · « **Reply #30 on:** November 11, 2009, 03:38:24 PM »

Was in a hospital within 20 minutes and yes it was in Washington, Okanogan county. Be careful!!!quote author=NWBREW link=topic=36481.msg429743#msg429743 date=1256182245]

Quote from: Dayton Elk on October 21, 2009, 07:21:52 PM

Kill em all , I was bit this summer still have poor circulation and an $80,000 dollar hospital bill. The whole time after I was bit and then killed the snake I never thought it would be as bad as it was. Two days in the hospital and could barely leave on the third, hobbled for a week. If you or a friend are bit get the antivenom in as quick as possible and have them give you as much as they will. It is a judgement call and the doctors are not always smarter then we are. I had 14 vials and there should have been more and quicker. Do not underestimate their bite, all I could think about was being way out hunting alone, it may have been ugly, I would not have been able to walk out! Swelling, sorness, vesiculation, blurry vision that kept escalating until the antivenom was administered. They are trying to stay alive and so are we Be careful, and kill em all!!!

How far were you away from a vehicle and the hospital? Was this in Wa. state? I'm sorry to hear that but I'm glad things didn't turn out worse.
[/quote]

Hunter17 · « **Reply #31 on:** November 11, 2009, 03:53:25 PM »

yea I hate rattle snakes I found one in our bathroom one time scared the crap out of me

rasbo · « **Reply #32 on:** November 11, 2009, 03:56:10 PM »

No shoulders dont live on this side..

No worries here just spiders and tweekers

teal101 · « **Reply #33 on:** November 11, 2009, 04:32:40 PM »

We let all the bull snakes go. Rattlers get shot in the head and skinned. Haven't had a good fat one to eat yet but I got skins.

I've mainly ran into them chukar hunting and killing them and chopping the heads off and burying the head is the only sure fire way to keep my dog safe. She is not snake trained and very playful so it is a fear of mine that she's gonna be bit. Had to kill one she found a few years ago with the shotgun. Took 7 shots before the damn thing quit squirming.

andrew_12gauge · « **Reply #34 on:** November 11, 2009, 05:29:27 PM »

i saw a juvi rattler a few years back hunting deer during general out by othello, thats the only rattler ive seen while deer hunting, seen a lot while scouting though

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Author Topic: Rattlesnakes while deer hunting (Read 13004 times)

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