Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Coyote, Small Game, Varmints => Topic started by: WildlifeAssassin on September 02, 2008, 12:37:05 AM

Title: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: WildlifeAssassin on September 02, 2008, 12:37:05 AM: Considering trying to bring home some snakes this year. Anyone out there hunting them already? If so what are you using to take them down?

I have heard some people use pistol shot shells but I wanted to hear from someone who has done it with success. Thanks.
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: addicted on September 02, 2008, 12:40:42 AM: ive heard a shovel works wonders ;)

i hate the darn things and id just as soon stay away from them. good luck though.

someone on here said drown them in a bucket of water. thats the more conservative way for taxidermy though.

i guess a shotshell or a small caliber would be great.
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: Caseyd on September 02, 2008, 12:50:06 AM: Quote from: addicted on September 02, 2008, 12:40:42 AM
ive heard a shovel works wonders ;)

Im with you on that one :chuckle: Or when it starts getting cold at night and they make their way to the blacktop, the Truck usually does the trick too :chuckle:

Id rather just stay as far away as i can :)
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: jdb on September 02, 2008, 11:02:50 AM: Ive killed them with everything from rocks to .45 colt, a .22mag with shotshells works good as does a .410 shotgun best is probably a hoe. JB
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: DeKuma on September 02, 2008, 11:09:58 AM: saw some snake shotshells for the .45acp at Cheaper then Dirt. Make them for the 44 mag as well. Talked to a guy last night that said the suck unless the snake is right there at 5 to 10 feet max.
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: tlbradford on September 02, 2008, 11:19:58 AM: Pin them down with a stick, grab them by the tail, swing em around over your head, and snap their head into a rock or tree. Or just cut their head off with your pocket knife. If you want the head for a mount, then catch them in a bucket and drown.
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: boneaddict on September 02, 2008, 11:48:55 AM: Haven't used my teeth, but just about everything else. I ahve killed hundreds, maybe thousands with a 22 mag with shotshells.
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: Aperson on September 02, 2008, 12:02:12 PM: just get a high powered airsoft gun, thats all you really need(with metal ammo).
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: jdb on September 02, 2008, 12:07:24 PM: Quote from: Aperson on September 02, 2008, 12:02:12 PM
just get a high powered airsoft gun, thats all you really need(with metal ammo).
I wouldnt try that :bdid:
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: Bscman on September 02, 2008, 02:05:29 PM: The rimfire and pistol "shotshells" work very well on snakes...
The problem isn't that the shells suck, it's the rifling in your firearm! It distorts the shot and jumbles up the shot column so you don't really have a "pattern" when they exit the barrel...which is why they only work at close distance. The plus side, however, is that you don't have to worry about ricochets.

Sportsman's and Cabelas both carry the more common calibers (9mm, .40, .357, 44 and 22lr).

I was watching a hunting program a week or so back from Texas...they were using a bow and arrow. An 8yr old got a pretty nice ~5footer from about 8yds...she put it right through the head.

Another good option would be a H&R single-shot in .410.
You can find 'em used for about $60, or but them new for around $100.
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: Fishhunt223 on September 02, 2008, 02:10:13 PM: A good pair of snake tongs. Throw them in a bucket of water or an empty bucket that you can put in the freezer. With a good pair of snake tongs you dont have to worry about them getting loose and you can usually find them on ebay with some cosmetic defects for fairly cheap. Then you can sell them to me ;).
Travis
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: sivart33 on September 02, 2008, 03:10:50 PM: 20 gauge just hit the head and its over. shovel works well also
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: 300rum on September 02, 2008, 03:12:06 PM: I have shot at least a dozen of them and here is how I do it.... I am usually riding a bicycle so I don't have a long gun with me. I carry a Glock 23 .45 ACP. I like the shot shells that they make for the .45 as they cycle well, the 9mm and .22 don't cycle as sometimes the plastic shell that encases the shot breaks and then you have a bunch of shot in your gun. >:( The first shell in my .45 when I carry it is shot because I am more likely to run into a snake than anything else, the rest of the shells in the mag are hardball for whatever I might need them for, protection, coyote etc. I carry a second mag full of shot in case I need another shell as sometimes I might need to shoot them twice. If they are coiled you can shoot them with the shot standing about 5-10 feet away and it pulverizes their head. You can shoot into their body and it doesn't do too much damage, I do this if they are getting away into a bush or something, after you shoot them in the body they will coil up and then I change mags and get a head shot.

I have gotten the drop on a coyote who was sneaking up on a turkey, I couldn't rack my slide back to get hard ball in the tube without too much noise so I fired the first shot (which was shot) and then got the coyote with the second which of course was hard ball. It is a pretty good 1 gun setup for snakes, meth pukes, grouse, snakes, etc.
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: Idabooner on September 02, 2008, 03:39:17 PM: I was hunting deer up on the ridge just down lake a ways from Stehekin with Boneaddicts oldest brother when he was small. Before noon the sun had warmed things up some when I nearly step on two big rattlers wrapped up together in the buck brush and tall grass. I decided it wouldn't be smart to mess with them in that steep rocky, brushy terrain so we went on with the hunt. Every few minutes the kid would whisper, Dad, Dad we should get those snakes so I finally had enough and we went back after them. They were in the same place so I got where I could see them good at about 10 feet. I shot the 300 savage into that pile, pieces of snake flew, one snake came at me fast, boom I blasted it, my heart was pumping, there was blood all over the front of me, I thought it was snake blood, heck it's still squirting, from my cheek just below the eye. It finally healed then months later fester up and I dug a piece of copper bullet jacket 1/3 the size of the little finger nail from my cheek. :bash: :bdid:
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: HCDowns on September 02, 2008, 03:43:36 PM: Not sure what to tell you on that one, of course the standard shovel. ( my husband keeps one right by the front porch) or you could do what I do and run away very fast. :yike: <--------not a snake fan.
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: sivart33 on September 02, 2008, 03:45:29 PM: A small pistol or shoty would be good in case it is pissed at 10 yards. a shovel will not reach that. sometimes it better to play safe at 10 yards then at 2 yards and a shovel. better to be safe then sorry :twocents:
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: DeKuma on September 02, 2008, 03:48:37 PM: Wow, even Idabooner can do some dumb things! I do not feel so bad now for some of the dumb things I have done. When I was reading your write up I was saying "Oh No, that sound like a bad idea!" I have never come up on a snake, but I am sure after I peed myself I would probably do the same thing you did with my 300WSM and wonder why I am cut up all over.......
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: deerslyr on September 02, 2008, 04:30:43 PM: I have a 410 called the "snake charmer" just a tiny lil gun made for shootin snakes...got 2 with it this weekend, blew there head rite off.
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: MuleySniper on September 02, 2008, 04:53:40 PM: Im gonna go with my truck tire :P
MS
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: HCDowns on September 02, 2008, 05:06:07 PM: They ran out of anti-venom here about a month ago and everyone that got bit had to be airlifted somewhere else.
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: swanny on November 12, 2008, 09:51:31 AM: Quote from: HCDowns on September 02, 2008, 05:06:07 PM
They ran out of anti-venom here about a month ago and everyone that got bit had to be airlifted somewhere else.

A neighbor of ours down in Lincoln said the snakes were really bad this year. He had never had one in his yard for 15 years and had 3 this summer. We had one on our property that lost it's head....I hate snakes....
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: rasbo on November 12, 2008, 04:36:08 PM: I pin them down and whack off the head.But I can be a nut case.killed alot that way but!!!! shotgun to the head bone or shovel.just depends on how bad you dont want to be bit.
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: Huntbear on November 12, 2008, 04:53:25 PM: Quote from: deerslyr on September 02, 2008, 04:30:43 PM
I have a 410 called the "snake charmer" just a tiny lil gun made for shootin snakes...got 2 with it this weekend, blew there head rite off.

best darn snake killer there is, and doubles as a great grouse gun.

I hate snakes!!!
The only good snake is one already made into a pair of boots!!!!!!
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: uncoolperson on November 12, 2008, 04:56:41 PM: Quote from: Bscman on September 02, 2008, 02:05:29 PM
The rimfire and pistol "shotshells" work very well on snakes...
The problem isn't that the shells suck, it's the rifling in your firearm! It distorts the shot and jumbles up the shot column so you don't really have a "pattern" when they exit the barrel...which is why they only work at close distance. The plus side, however, is that you don't have to worry about ricochets.

if you're dumb like me and shoot at a sheet of plywood from 10feet to "check out the pattern" they can and will bounce back and nail you... though it's barely noticeable (eye protection would be a good idea).

out of a 38 snubby... for the sake of "hey that looks like fun!"
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: KillBilly on November 12, 2008, 05:02:37 PM: I have a Taurus Judge that shoots 2.5 inch .410 shells. That will mess up a snakes medical records for sure.
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: mossback91 on November 12, 2008, 10:02:59 PM: I just use a rock.......it works good also have soem 357 shotshells that will do the job but mostly I just use a rock or the truck :)
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: deaddog on November 13, 2008, 02:55:49 PM: If yer killin em and not eatin em yer missin a great meal. I kinda freak my friends out cause I like to play with em. If you spend a little time calming them down you can pick em up and pet em.
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: rasbo on November 13, 2008, 03:07:56 PM: Quote from: deaddog on November 13, 2008, 02:55:49 PM
If yer killin em and not eatin em yer missin a great meal. I kinda freak my friends out cause I like to play with em. If you spend a little time calming them down you can pick em up and pet em.
I tried no shoulders once reminded me of chicken and frog crossed. :cue:
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: WARHORSE on November 14, 2008, 06:14:12 PM: put a pinch of copenhagen in his mouth kills em dead!!! :chuckle:
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: alecvg on November 15, 2008, 11:50:39 PM: Quote from: jdb on September 02, 2008, 12:07:24 PM
Quote from: Aperson on September 02, 2008, 12:02:12 PM
just get a high powered airsoft gun, thats all you really need(with metal ammo).
I wouldnt try that :bdid:

Plus a good high powered airsoft gun is as expensive as a real gun...
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: phishisgroovin on November 16, 2008, 11:01:22 AM: Marlin has resurrected rimfire shotguns with its new Model 25MG "Garden Gun."
this will be the perfect snake gun.
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: Idabooner on November 16, 2008, 11:42:42 AM: Quote from: bigbuckdown on November 14, 2008, 06:14:12 PM
put a pinch of copenhagen in his mouth kills em dead!!! :chuckle:

Don't take long either, when I was a kid on a brush pileing crew, working in a snake heaven we had an old lumberjack that chewed copenhagen, he killed every snake we found that way. One or more a day except 3 days all summer.
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: boneaddict on November 16, 2008, 01:00:53 PM: Another story I am not sure I have heard. So who held this snake while he was spitting into its mouth.
Title: Re: Rattlesnake Weapon of choice.
Post by: Idabooner on November 16, 2008, 03:47:15 PM: HA HA you been in the fog to long. :rolleyes: When some one found a snake they would holler for Jack, you would hold the snake down with a stick behind the head forcing the mouth open, Jack would take a pinch and chuck it in, turn the snake loose and it don't take long until it's belly up. Interesting thing, Old Bob Crandall was stone deaf but he found way more snakes than any body else, his eyes were extra sharp I guess. Makes you wonder how many a guy was working around and didn't see. :yike: