Anyone else doing any snake hunting?
02-02-2016, 01:56 PM
#2
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: south eastern PA
Posts: 15,428
I always root for the snakes to win. Catching snakes and having bagging contests is just plain crazy and I have no sympathy for anyone who gets bitten. I will shoot every rattlesnake that is a threat to my setter but I do not play with them, if they leave me alone, I leave them alone. We have those crazy contests in PA but I suspect they will not last much longer.
02-02-2016, 07:27 PM
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Germany/Calif.
Posts: 2,664
Rattlesnake roundups have their place. As long as the people who do the milking are really knowledgeable.
In California they get a lot of hybrid rattlers. Some have nerve venom and some have blood venom. some have both. They are constantly tweaking the anti venom to get the best results.
Back in the old days when anti venom wasn't nearly as well understood as it is today, I'd collect rattlers for the UCLA medical center biology department. They wanted the venom and to define the ranges of different types of Rattlers. They actually paid pretty good, Back when Coke was a nickle, $15 was a pretty good piece of change.
But like others have said, not a high percentage endeavor. Sooner or later you are going to get bitten.
I was bitten once and found out the hard way I was allergic to horse serum. The cure was almost worse than the bite.
Now on days I kill them if they are on a foot or horse path, otherwise I leave them alone.
In California they get a lot of hybrid rattlers. Some have nerve venom and some have blood venom. some have both. They are constantly tweaking the anti venom to get the best results.
Back in the old days when anti venom wasn't nearly as well understood as it is today, I'd collect rattlers for the UCLA medical center biology department. They wanted the venom and to define the ranges of different types of Rattlers. They actually paid pretty good, Back when Coke was a nickle, $15 was a pretty good piece of change.
But like others have said, not a high percentage endeavor. Sooner or later you are going to get bitten.
I was bitten once and found out the hard way I was allergic to horse serum. The cure was almost worse than the bite.
Now on days I kill them if they are on a foot or horse path, otherwise I leave them alone.
02-09-2016, 06:05 PM
#7
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Texas
Posts: 42
02-09-2016, 06:23 PM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Onslow County, NC
Posts: 1,856
I see no issue with it, sounds like it has a past in population control as well as gathering specimens and samples for many different reasons. I know some states have seasons and limits but we just take what we want, haven't found any good ones but have wanted to take one home for a BBQ.
