Author Topic: FLORIDA RATTLER (Read 2421 times)

Dee · « **Reply #30 on:** October 26, 2009, 03:20:50 PM »

I don't know if it's 15 feet long or not but, it's damn sure a big snake. That would make a fat boy a good belt.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #31 on:** October 26, 2009, 03:29:26 PM »

Well fellas, i dont care how long that snake was or is, with a mouth that big all i need to know is where the back door is............and if there aint one just tell me where you want one!

CannonKrazy · « **Reply #32 on:** October 26, 2009, 03:36:13 PM »

Walking up on a snake like that could make a grown man really mess up a pair of good underware. Probabaly have to bury them after that.

Redtail1949 · « **Reply #33 on:** October 26, 2009, 03:52:15 PM »

growing up in se texas i had heard many a story of "Timber Rattlers" that were 7-8 long. the local vol. fire dept. station had one stuffed and on the wall 7 foot 8 inches. well on the opening day of squirrle season..oct. 15 in 1978 i am riding in a swamp buggy with my cousin when we ran over one..i took ou my .22 and killed him he was 6 ft. 7 inches nose to tail and his head was wider than my hand. he was beautiful golden color and his body was massive. just about 4 days later we killed one more at the same location that was 5 feet 4 inches. i have never seen another in my life. the only other snake that were of comparable size were the diamond backs of florida and the cotton mouths all over east texas and sw louisiana.

i would never believe any US Snake in the 15ft size.

mechanic · « **Reply #34 on:** October 26, 2009, 05:00:18 PM »

Here is a link to a news story.

http://www.news4jax.com/news/21162885/detail.html?treets=jax&tml=jax_12pm&ts=T&tmi=jax_12pm_1_11450110012009

AtlLaw · « **Reply #35 on:** October 27, 2009, 05:39:23 AM »

Okay, I'll buy 7 ft 3 in.

Now you guys know why I always carry a pistol loaded with snake shot down in So. Jawja!

Even though as a matter of professional curtosy snakes don't usually try to bite me...

My huntin buddy's step-son killed a 3 footer last week. it was in a shed when he went to get a stand or sumpin. $:-\$ Probably just lookin for mice or palmetto bugs or such... I guess his appitite got the poor belly crawlin sinner sent home ...

Woody, the step-son, just left him laying. $:-\$ I woulda liked the skin and a young and tender one like that woulda been great dredged in seasoned flour and deep fried... Such a waste.

williamlayton · « **Reply #36 on:** October 27, 2009, 09:09:48 AM »

Thanks mechanic.
I found a source of the "real" story last night but the site was down and have not been able to post the correction to the e-mail I received.
Or, were you the source?
Blessings

Dee · « **Reply #37 on:** October 27, 2009, 11:10:46 AM »

Well william, the snake is half the size your buddy said it was, but it's still a huge snake. Interesting story.

williamlayton · « **Reply #38 on:** October 27, 2009, 11:20:52 AM »

Dee
Snake stories grow on ya, don't they.

Blessings

Dee · « **Reply #39 on:** October 27, 2009, 11:33:07 AM »

Well, it was still interesting, if you notice I didn't completely discount the story until the facts were in. Ya never know, and somewhere there is an eastern diamondback that is probably 17 or 18 feet long. We just haven't heard about it yet.

mechanic · « **Reply #40 on:** October 27, 2009, 11:40:03 AM »

This one was big enough to get folk's attention. I have a cousin there that emailed me about it. She is making her husband cut all her shrubbery down it scared her so badly. I probably didn't help by telling her that there are many many snakes around, we just usually don't see them.

As for size, a snake that can strike 4-6 feet is cause for alarm. I've never encountered one here over about 4', and when you hear that Buzzzzzz, it sure gets your attention.

BrianB · « **Reply #41 on:** October 27, 2009, 11:54:00 AM »

With the low resolution of the images, I can't see any blatant evidence of it being photoshopped. I tend to think the extreme size can be attributed to a very wide angle lens, thus the guy in the background being shorter and smaller. I'm going to guess it is about seven feet, judging from the first and last photos. He is clearly a biggun.

Swampman · « **Reply #42 on:** October 27, 2009, 12:11:59 PM »

I don't believe a diamonback can get much larger than 8" still that is a big one. I don't ever think about snakes really. They are endangered and illegal to kill in most states. So few people die from bites it isn't even worth thinking about.

kinslayer1965 · « **Reply #43 on:** October 27, 2009, 01:43:25 PM »

Any rattle snake over six feet long is considered larger than normal. That snake is a monster.

I live in the south florida area and have seen hundreds of three and four footers (thats why I don't do much early season hunting in south florida) and occasionaly a five or six footer.

Actually I worry about the moccasins more than I do the rattlers. Those moccasins are born nasty and only get worse as they get older.

Our biggest problem down here is people turnign their pet pythons and boas loose. I certainly don't mind people owning them ( i have two pythons and one boa) but if they should check into what they are getting into with large snakes and make sure that they are the pet they want before taking one home.

D Crockett · « **Reply #44 on:** October 27, 2009, 02:03:43 PM »

that is one big rattler for sure if that snake hit you in the leg you would more than likely have a broke leg I have hunted in this state the biggest I have found was 7ft long I have herd of a few that were 8ft but herd of nothing over that `D Crockett

pastorp · « **Reply #45 on:** October 27, 2009, 02:25:52 PM »

Well good for you guys on the follow-up. I was out of town today and just got back. Glad you'll got to the truth on this one.

This one is like the occasional bogus claims of 2500 lb 15' tall brown bears in alaska. They are big enought, but not that big.

Regards,

rockbilly · « **Reply #46 on:** October 27, 2009, 03:02:13 PM »

Swampman. They may be endangered and protected in some states but here in Texas we have an abundance of them and take pleasure in eliminating all we can. Course some of the ole boys that participate in the “Sweetwater Rattlesnake Round-up” don’t agree, but it’s a good way to rid yourself of old shotgun ammo.

I didn’t tune in on this one before, but I had my doubts about the actual size of the snake. THey aalways seem to be huge until all the facts are in..............

Williamlayton. You once said you hunted in Brown County, they have some monsters there, I know of several over 7 feet that were killed near Pecan Bayou off Lake Brownwood.

Swampman · « **Reply #47 on:** October 27, 2009, 03:11:46 PM »

I see no reason to bother them unless you are going to eat them. Of course I resist the wanton waste of any animal.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #48 on:** October 27, 2009, 04:01:39 PM »

they do taste like chiken or like a cat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmXxrMC5Pv4

shortround · « **Reply #49 on:** October 27, 2009, 04:36:59 PM »

I graduated from college near San Antonio, Florida (Pasco county) every year in September they had a rattlesnake round up and I went on several and in the four years I spent there I never saw one over 6 feet in length, but even that one was huge.

I've spent a good bit of time in south Georgia, Florida and the low country of South Carolina and I've never seen a rattler in the league of this one in St. John's county.

If there is one out there in the 15 foot range you're gonna' need a sniper rifle to kill it. 'Cause nobody will want to get that close to one that big!

It would be neat though to take one that big and turn it loose at a PETA convention!

Dee · « **Reply #50 on:** October 28, 2009, 01:42:27 AM »

Quote from: Swampman on October 27, 2009, 03:11:46 PM

I see no reason to bother them unless you are going to eat them. Of course I resist the wanton waste of any animal.

Me too Swamper! Unless of course, its rats, mice, neighbor's cats, pit bulldogs, chow dogs, any tresspassing vicious dog, coyotes, feral hogs, and of course SNAKES!

slim rem 7 · « **Reply #51 on:** October 28, 2009, 02:39:51 AM »

them things don t co habitate with humans well.. where ever you seeum ,,you more than likely gonna seeum again ..or mabe you don t seeum.. my opinion..take them out,, if people come an go there much..
a small child would probably die before thier friends could even get mama to the rescue.. best takum out when you get the chance..just what im gonna do ..you do it your way ,,if you disaggree.. no point in argueing..slim

Ruskin · « **Reply #52 on:** October 28, 2009, 03:19:23 AM »

Has anyone seen the picture that RAGE in San Antonio Florida used to use for their rattlesnake rodeo? I believe it would be bigger than 7 foot 3 inches. I don't remember how many men were holding the snake. The picture would have been taken in the days of brownie box cameras. No chance to doctor it.

BBF · « **Reply #53 on:** October 28, 2009, 09:39:20 AM »

TM-7

Now those are cheerful thoughts !!

mechanic · « **Reply #54 on:** October 28, 2009, 03:18:48 PM »

A guy that works with me got a call one day from his wife that there was a rattlesnake in the hen house. He kinda' got blunt with her and told her he couldn't come all the way home just to kill a little snake, just to take the garden hoe and deal with it.

When he got home she had cut it up in little pieces about 3" - 4" long. She kept cutting until nothing moved. When pieced together it was about 6'.

The fangs in the head he brought to work with him the next day were almost an inch long.....

williamlayton · « **Reply #55 on:** October 29, 2009, 01:55:19 AM »

I don't hunt snakes. I do kill them----without remorse.
I worked on a survey crew back in 1961---surveying Lake Livingston. It is a lake that Dams the Trinity River in the S/E piney woods of Texas.
We were surveying property lines in the river bottom below Cold Springs when Carla came thru and flooded that river.
After the river went down we went back into that bottom--about 3000 acres of Palmetto flats and cut Property Lines with 6' brush hooks.
Boys, I got a life time of killing snakes in that bottom.
If I killed one I killed 300.
I hate snakes.
Blessings

pastorp · « **Reply #56 on:** October 29, 2009, 06:30:17 AM »

TM-7, of course it is a option, unlike wearing our seat belt that is mandated by law, carrying anti venom is optional.

I lived in rattler country(as well as other poisionus snakes) for all but the last 12years of my life, and never carried it. You just learn to spot those suckers. You never put your hands where you can't see. Look over the log before you step over. And in areas where they were really bad we wore snake boots.

Prevention is better than treatment after being bitten. JMO

Regards,

Redtail1949 · « **Reply #57 on:** October 29, 2009, 07:10:27 AM »

i do not think the picture is valid.

If you want to eat snake go to one of the many Rattlesnake Roundups held every year in TEXAS. I went to many in Brownwood over the years and I gave the meat a try. Really no real taste to it. Kinda like white meat of a chicken in a way. I doubt anyone would "LOVE or HATE" it.

pastorp · « **Reply #58 on:** October 29, 2009, 10:10:46 AM »

Sorry if I misunderstood you TM7, but you said "carrying antivenom is not a option". Reread your post.

While the use of it may be necessary, carrying it is not. IMO I go into really remote areas but still there is usually time to get to medical aid if you need it. The only rattlesnake bite I've ever actually seen was a dry bite. When my wife worked in the hospital in Ocala,FL they averaged about 15 bites from poisionous snakes a year. About 75% were dry.

For a cautious man that is aware of his suroundings, poisinous snakes are really low on the list of bad things that can happen to him in the outdoors. Just like bear attacks in Alaska. You are safer in the woods than on the streets of most of our big cities.

Regards,

williamlayton · « **Reply #59 on:** October 30, 2009, 03:44:00 AM »

Snakes are snakes---they all taste the same------ask any chicken.
During WWII I, and my mother, lived on a dairy with her parents--my dad was in the war.
It was a typical old farmhouse. Outhouse, well water you pulled up.
During the summer my grandfather and I slept on the screened in back porch.
One night or early one morning i awoke to a clatter---no it was not Christmas--and found my mother, grandmother and grandfather in the kitchen--along with a big ol black chicken snake.
He wa laying across the counter. My grandfather got it out of the house and chopped it up with a hoe and left it by the back porch.
Bfefore I went to bed my grandmother told me that the snakes head was not far from the body and it would grow back together.
Well, the first thing I did the next morning was look for the snake.
It was not to be found.
I went for years thinking it had grown back together. Then one day an epiphany. Like all folks on a farm--the back yard was for the chickens.
Those chickens eat anything---even that snake.
Blessings