Invented

I saw a few snakes the first week of Blackpowder season in VA last year, if I see them I just look away and keep on walkin'

soarkrebel

When i am turkey hunting i won't shoot a snake. i just keep on going unless he is a danger to me. i am after turkeys not snakes.

i wear rubber boots for what they are worth i have thought about chaps just haven't gotten any yet.

Tree climber

we don't worry to much about the snakes ; the gators eat them all!!!!!!!!!!![8D][&:]

Orions_Bow

I hunt various parts of KY as well & you can run into copperheads and rattlesnakes. Generally I have not seen a lot in the spring for turkey season but those dang little ticks will eat you alive!

I have seen more snakes in the aummer & early fall (June - Sept.).

I hunted in Alabama for turkey's one year & did nto see any snakes but I sure looked wherever I stepped. I have heard the rattlesnakes can be really bad at times. If I ever go back I am buying snake boots just because I would feel better about it!

Deleted User

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JagMagMan

Tracker, you took the words right off of my keyboard!
I made a trip to the woods yesterday, and the chiggers and ticks are awful! I'm more afraid of them than of any snakes!

Russ otten

You can help keep the poisonious snakes numbers down if you get a book describing them. Especially the King snake. Learn to identify this fellow. He is a cannibal. And he will do his best to take down any rattler, Cottonmouth or Copperhead he can find. I have a great number in my timber and I educate everyone I can to not molest them. In 15 years here on the farm I have seen one poisonous snake, a Cottonmouth. There one advantage? They are immune to a snake bite; and if bitten, just go ahead and eat the biter. The best friend a hunter/fisherman can have.

Russ

benhuntin

Ive been stomping through the Florida Swamps since i was 12. Only been bit once and that was a couple of years ago. Luckily I had on my jeans over my rubber boots. The rattler penetrated both but only scratched the skin. I now wear 18" snake boots. Im so used to the creepy crawlys down here that I dont give it alot of thought. Until I step or almost step on one.
Even the swamps and creeks I have to wade across usually have a few gators lurking about. That does get me a bit nervous at times. ESpecially heading back in the dark after an evening hunt and seeing gator eyes right at the creek crossing I came in on.

T/C fan!

I live and hunt in Ky and have not had any trouble with snakes while turkey or early bowhunting for deer. But thats not to say that I'm not prepared for them either. I carry a cheap little double-barrel Cobray .410 pistol and if I run across a copperhead or a rattler, he's DEAD!! I know that they're supposed to be more afraid of me that I am of them, but that don't make me feel any better when I'm walking out after dark.

LBR

Just have to watch for them. It'll rattle your nerves when you start smellin a cottonmouth whey your tromping through a brushpile or high grass or crossing a beaver dam--hate smellin them and not being able to see them. Cottonmouths seem to be the most agressive, but we have several types of rattlers and copperheads too. Grew up watching for them--remember my mother (generally a very meek and gentle person) breakin more than her share of hoe handles chopping a snake into peices.

I'm the odd one in our family--snakes are really interesting to me. My favorites are the king snake, hognose (known here as a "spreadin adder"), and grey rat snake. Like Russ said, a king snake is great to have on your place--they will eat any snake that is smaller than them, poisonous or not--along with mice and rats. The hognose will only eat toads, but they put on a great show if you walk up on one. They will rear up and spread out similar to a cobra, even hissing and striking. Funny thing is they make it a point to strike at the air--stick your hand down close and they will strike in the other direction (you'd think it was drunk or something). They will not purposly bite. If that doesn't work, it will put on a big show writhing and rolling like it's been poisoned, then go belly-up and hang it's tongue out. Those are protected in MS, so don't think about getting one as a pet. Grey rat snakes are common here (aka "chicken snakes") and are great to have in a barn or anywhere you store feed. They do a number on mice, rats, etc. and generally try to stay hidden. They will eat eggs and chicks too, though.

For the most part, leave them alone and they will leave you alone. Many snakes do a great job of keeping the rodent population under control. I worry more about biting and stinging bug types than snakes.

Chad