Snake shot....

[Papa]

Sometimes hands-on is much more satisfying.

[Redbug]

I have tried several brands of snake gaiters. For me the most comfortable ones are made by Turtleskin. They are good against briars and all the debris that gets into your boots, too. You can find them cheaper if you shop around.
https://turtleskin.com/default/outdo...e-gaiters.html

[barnetmill]

I have tried several brands of snake gaiters. For me the most comfortable ones are made by Turtleskin. They are good against briars and all the debris that gets into your boots, too. You can find them cheaper if you shop around.
https://turtleskin.com/default/outdo...e-gaiters.html

Chainsaw chaps might offer some protection. I do wear a common brand of leggings that wear out. The are good for water moccasin bites, I am not sure of it stopping a strike form a large rattle snake. The force of getting hit by a sizable rattle snake is like getting kicked very hard. Quail hunters often get into contact with rattle snakes.
Below a likely staged encounter between a smaller southern diamond back rattler and a larger water moccasin.

[H60DoorGunner]

My experience with snake shot is that it is only moderately effective, and only so at a distance where some of the bigger snakes can bite you too. It also has the potential to tear up your barrel. Gabe's suggestion of a small shot gun is significantly better idea all around.

Carry a pistol for two legged critters. Everything else in that AO can be handled with an appropriately loaded shotgun or suitably sized rifle.

ETA: Yes, copperhead and cotton mouths can be aggressive snakes, but I think typically that's because you don't see them until you step on them. I'd be aggressive too if someone stepped on me.

The eastern diamond back and other rattle snakes around here are somewhat reclusive, and come with the added benefit of an early detection system. Just don't stick your hand where you can't see, and 8/10 you'll be fine. Your dogs might get tagged on the nose occasionally, but they typically fair better than a human does with a snake bite

[M1A's r Best]

I've taken out two with a hand held brush cutter saw blade attachment. And another two with a 6ft pry bar. Last one was perfect shot placement driving the head right into the ground.

No poisonous snakes within a few miles of my parent's house (lots of big black snakes, some over 6 or 7 ft.) and dad hated to kill the regular snakes.

Sometimes he did, by accident, when trimming along the creek or over the hill from the garden. That big green machine string trimmer would cut the head off the smaller ones and almost cut the heads off the bigger ones. If he was swinging that trimmer across in front of him wound up at several thousand rpm and that snake raised it's head up, it was all over.

Not that I'd carry a weed eater in the woods or while wading the river smallmouth bass fishing, but when you're out doing the weed eating, they'll tear up a snake if you've got one with the heavy line in the head.

Having said that, if I was in the habit of finding "bad" snakes while weed eating I'd have the Ruger in my back pocket.

[P.D.]

I have tried several brands of snake gaiters. For me the most comfortable ones are made by Turtleskin. They are good against briars and all the debris that gets into your boots, too. You can find them cheaper if you shop around.
https://turtleskin.com/default/outdo...e-gaiters.html

I'm a fan of gaiters for many reasons besides snakes, and many climates. They are great for keeping snow out of your boots in the winter.

[barnetmill]

My experience with snake shot is that it is only moderately effective, and only so at a distance where some of the bigger snakes can bite you too. It also has the potential to tear up your barrel. Gabe's suggestion of a small shot gun is significantly better idea all around.

Carry a pistol for two legged critters. Everything else in that AO can be handled with an appropriately loaded shotgun or suitably sized rifle.

ETA: Yes, copperhead and cotton mouths can be aggressive snakes, but I think typically that's because you don't see them until you step on them. I'd be aggressive too if someone stepped on me.

The eastern diamond back and other rattle snakes around here are somewhat reclusive, and come with the added benefit of an early detection system. Just don't stick your hand where you can't see, and 8/10 you'll be fine. Your dogs might get tagged on the nose occasionally, but they typically fair better than a human does with a snake bite

Not all rattlesnakes will warn prior to striking. Especially hard to do if they have no rattle. Mowers often cut off the tails of snakes.
Here is a water moccasin killed May 2017 that appears to be missing its tail. There just to show that losing the tail is possible. Normally there is a small stubby pointed tail on a moccasin. It is not there on this one.

DSCF0836.jpg
DSCF0839.jpg

[barnetmill]

snake-from-toilet-mother-defends-child-texas__oPt.jpg


https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...found-23-more/
Jason McFadden was at work one morning in late January when he got a text message from his wife, Cassie.

“What the crap do I do?” it read.

That text was followed by a picture — of a rattlesnake inside a toilet at their Texas home.

[Papa]

Get a broom. Slam the lid. Flush. It's all in the SOPs.

Not the time for a big bore snake load, unless you have the plumber on speed dial.

[Travlin]

We got a call today the soil mapping is good so now to just sign on the line. I appreciate all the input from you guys, it will be used starting in about a month to figure out where to put the house. It was 70 there today so I'm sure in a month we will be seeing the extent of what I have to deal with.

I had a pretty funny talk with a guy yesterday down there. Apparently copperheads and rattlers are "protected" and are supposed to be "shooed off the property". I started laughing when he said that and was told ill fit right in.