Author Topic: Rattlesnakes (Read 2908 times)

e_collop · « **on:** February 13, 2005, 03:59:24 AM »

Is it legal to shoot rattlesnakes any time in Texas? What the odds of them being out in March (got a hog hunt coming up)? I sure would like to get one skinned to go beside that pig head.

E

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** February 13, 2005, 04:21:37 AM »

Legal smeagle. If you see one of the suckers shoot it. Next time you come by you might not see it in time and get bitten. But yeah they might be out in March if the weather is warm as it often is all over the south that time of year.

e_collop · « **Reply #2 on:** February 13, 2005, 04:25:13 AM »

Thats kind of what I figured. I am headed to the Nail ranch so I will let you know how it turns out.

markc · « **Reply #3 on:** February 14, 2005, 07:17:44 AM »

the weather is unusually warm right now in Tx, atleast down S/E it is. I wouldn't be a bit suprised to see a rattler, so better wear your snake boots and be watching. Seems that in cooler weather, they are less likely to rattle as when the weather is hot. Just as likely to strike though. Shoot em, they make nice hat bands and taste like chicken.

rockbilly · « **Reply #4 on:** February 17, 2005, 03:59:30 PM »

As I said on another post, I live about 45 miles southwest of Albany TX. You asked about rattlesnakes being out in March. It depends on the weather, but I would say the chances are very good they will be. The weather in this part of the country is so unpredictable. It may be 80 today and in the thirties tomorrow. I have seen as much as a 50 degree change in a few hours during the day.

The Sweetwater Rattlesnake Round Up takes place in March. Most of these snakes are taken out of the den, but some are caught sunning near a den. I have killed snakes in December. You won't have any problem if you watch where you step and place your hands. Really the chances of seeing a snake are there, but very remote. They are just afraid of you as you are of them. I told my wife that once, she asked if I had ever seen a snake pee on its self.

As for tasting like chicken, I think it's more like chicken s*&t. If I want chicken, I get chicken. :roll:

markc · « **Reply #5 on:** February 18, 2005, 03:35:11 AM »

Come on rockbilly, you just need a little BBQ sauce on those snakes.
:-D

Soooo, how do they remove the snakes from their dens? I need to thin them suckers out.

All the years I have hunted, I had only seen 3 rattlers until this past whitetail season when I leased that ranch in Coleman Co. Now I saw 9 in a couple months of hunting that place. The only thing I saw more of was hogs. Shot 7 hogs and 3 rattlers, one feral dog and cat. Not a single whitetail though.

rockbilly · « **Reply #6 on:** February 19, 2005, 04:49:35 PM »

markc, Most of the snake hunters fill a common garden spray unit with gasoline, and they are ready to go. Using a mirror, they reflect light into the den and when snakes are located they spray a small amount of gas in the den. The snakes will come out. Speaking from experience, if you try this be careful. You may think there are two-three snakes in a den, but after spraying, you find 8-10 on top of you in a hurry. For me that's time to S&%t and git!

Several years ago the highway department tore up a section of Hwy 277 south of Abilene. They dumped the old asphalt near the gate to my place. I had been in and out many times and never seen a snake, but opening day of deer season, before daylight with a two AA cell mag light, standing in grass waste high I heard the rattle. I stood still, it stopped and I moved slowly back to my pickup for a bigger light. Couldn't find him, so I opened the gate and went hunting. My son killed a deer about 8am, it was already up in the high seventys, so we loaded up to take it to the processor. On the way out, my son got out to open the gate, he stopped short of the gate and sheated for to bring the .38 loaded with bird shot. I walked up and found one to his side and another one up near the fence post. I killed both of them. After dropping the deer off we went by the shop and picked up a big weed eater. By dark I had a 30 ft clearing around the gate. Later I told the guy that owns the property next to the gate I use to get to mine about the snakes. He told me the pile of old asphalt was a big den and there were "a bunch of them damn thing in there,' Later that week, we dumped and sprayed a 55 gal drum of used oil, diesel and gasoline on the pile of asphalt and had a "snake fry." Ain't seen one there since.

At one time I hunted on a big ranch near Hords Creek in Coleman County, there were some big deer there. I've had my place in Taylor County for a little over twenty years and do most of my Texas hunting on it.

For this old country boy, I would'd waste good BBQ sauce on snake. I could survive on it if necessary, but right now there is too much in the freezer to even consider snake............. :roll:

markc · « **Reply #7 on:** February 21, 2005, 03:47:20 AM »

Never eaten a snake myself. My brother was (trying) to skin a rattler one time, said he was gonna cook it. I had eaten armadillo (once) but never snake. He found a full size half digested squirrell inside that nasty snake. Needlesse to say, we didn't cook and eat it.

There seem to be big deer on this place in Coleman Co, but unfortunately, across the fence is a 500 acre place with something green planted. Hard to compete with that. We did have hogs coming to feeders, but not even that many of those. I will be looking to kill rattlers when we go back in a couple months to prepare for next whitetail season.

hardertr · « **Reply #8 on:** February 22, 2005, 07:48:09 AM »

I'm out in San Angelo, and see snakes ALL of the time. The guy that owns the lease I hunt on has old cars scattered all over his place. I usually see them coming out from under the cars when I am headed back to my truck in the evening.

Most of the snakes out here don't seem to rattle. I was talking to my vet this past fall and he said they were having a lot of guys bringing their dogs in..saying the snakes didn't rattle even after they struck.

I've walked up on several on the public land that just laid there. I think I'll invest in a good set of snake boots for next year.

I prefer to leave them alone rather than kill a snake "for no reason". Part of the excitement I get out of being in the woods is PAYING ATTENTION to my surrounding. I'm sure many leases and public hunting areas would be over-run with mice and rats (thanks to all of the corn left out for the deer) if it weren't for the snakes to keep them in check.

I've only shot 2 rattle snakes in my life. One decided to make my garage his new home....the other was under my grandmother's porch and like to keep warm on her sidewalk at night.

E_collop...I would bet you chances are pretty good at seeing a snake or two this march. It's been a mild winter, so there are a LOT of mice. It's also been up close to 80 already, so the snakes may stay around their dens during the cold fronts, but they are done hibernating.

Of all the feelings in the world...nothing compares to the adrenaline rush you get when you hear a full grown, pissed off rattle snake buzzing just a few feet away from you.....and it's totally dark. That's a better rush than any drug or drink can ever give you!

markc · « **Reply #9 on:** February 23, 2005, 07:08:18 AM »

I can think of lots of better rushes than a rattle snake nearby in the dark. No thanks, I would gladly let you have all of the snakes at our place you want. The only snakes I routinely kill are the ones with the fangs and poison. I let all of the other snakes go about their Merry way to chase mice and such. For me, the outdoor experience is much improved if I don't have to worry about rattlesnakes at my feet, especially when they don't rattle a warning.

I have been wearing Rocky snake boots for several years now, but will be switching to Chippewa snake boots soon. Both pair of Rockys I have owned had problems with splitting in the soles. I need mine water proof, and the cracks leak.

rockbilly · « **Reply #10 on:** February 23, 2005, 03:27:56 PM »

:roll: Yes, walking up on a mad rattler at night really gives you a warm feeling. I can feel it all the way down my leg.

I agree on leaving the snakes alone when possible, but I don't feel bad about popping a cap on one if it gets in the way. I usually carry a .357 S&W 60-9 loaded with shotshells even when working. Several times while mending fence I have looked down and was almost standing on one, those are history. I catch large bull snakes and release them in the barn to help keep the rattlers out, but even walking up on one of them when not expecting to see a snake will get your old heart pumping.

ras308 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2005, 08:31:21 AM »

The snakes you see on the Nail will be legal game, they are diamondbacks. In my neck of the woods, we have timber rattlers, they are protected for some reason??? The timber rattlers are supposedly on the endangered list, I told my Warden, if I see them, they are definitely "in danger"!!! You all have a nice weekend.

rockbilly · « **Reply #12 on:** February 28, 2005, 03:22:04 PM »

ras308, What part of Texas has the protected Timber Rattlers? I'm no expert, but I was under the impression the only protected snake in Tejas is the Concho Water Snake. The stopped a multi-million dam building project because they (?) said it was endangered. After four years of study someone wised up and said the people need the water more that we need the snake. Now they found there are millions of the darn things :eek:

ras308 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 01, 2005, 09:15:10 AM »

I am from Lee County, it's between College Station and Austin. There seems to be no shortage of these snakes either, I don't know what the deal is??? I have spoke to some Game Wardens and they don't seem to have an answer either. I get the impression they do not enforce this law too much as far as the snakes go!!! I'm headed down between La Pryor and Crystal City this weekend to do some hog & coyote hunting, hope I don't see any diamondbacks while I'm there. The weather is getting warm, so I am sure they will be moving around looking for something to eat when the sun is out. Have a great day!!!

Ponydog · « **Reply #14 on:** March 13, 2005, 01:24:48 PM »

Where abouts are you hunting? I was in LaPryor in late Dec -mid January.....and saw no snake movement......did see a few of the Blue Indigo's at a tank in some sand country ....they were out for a couple of warm days.....but towards mid jan the weather turned cold again...never saw a live rattler the 4 years I have hunted that area...(nor heard one)...thanks goodness......but I tell you , when you are after a covey of blues.or bobs.........better watch your step if it is a warm day...

markc · « **Reply #15 on:** March 14, 2005, 03:30:58 AM »

for under $200.00 you can buy some real piece of mind with snake boots. My current snd and last pair of Rocky snake boots do help me focus on game rather than staring at the ground directly in front of me. Chipewa boots on the way soon to replace the Rocky's. I wouldn't hit the woods any more in anything thing other than snow covered ground without snake boots on.

ras308 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 16, 2005, 03:09:10 AM »

I was I think about 9 miles out of La Pryor toward Crystal City, right where the road turns to 4 lanes. I ended up shooting 2 hogs, one with my rifle after dark while I was corning the stands and one with my bow. About snake protection, I bought a pair of zip-up chaps several years ago, not quite as hot as snake boots. Luckily they have not been personally snake tested, but briars, thorns and cactus don't hurt them at all. Looks like I'll have to buy another pair though, seems I lost one last time, think it blew out of truck??? I filled some feeders at home last weekend, hope to shoot some hogs in a couple of weeks. Take care.

markc · « **Reply #17 on:** March 16, 2005, 03:25:37 AM »

the only thing I don't like about the chaps, is that they don't cover the top of the foot good enough to satisfy me. I haven't seen snakes strike very high, usually ankle of top of the foot area. I like the boots because they cover the areas most likely to be hit in a snake strike. Now, honestly I was thinking about adding snake chaps over my snake boots. Might be hot, but I would sure feel better walking around during dove season. Happy hunting and nail some more of those pesky hogs.

hardertr · « **Reply #18 on:** March 16, 2005, 07:24:58 AM »

Quote from: e_collop

What the odds of them being out in March (got a hog hunt coming up)?E

Well...here's your answer:

My buddy and I went out Friday night and Saturday this past weekend. We saw TWO! One Friday evening, and the other Saturday around noon. It was up to 85 degrees both days, so they are out and about now.

After seeing the snake Friday evening, we decided not to do much stalking Friday night. They tend to lay in trails or across roads as the sun is going down.

NOW...it's 40 degrees again...they won't be out. Or, if they are, they will be VERY SLOW and probably not strike.

BE CAREFUL, and watch your step!

williamlayton · « **Reply #19 on:** March 23, 2005, 01:00:57 AM »

I have no use for snakes, not very good at identifying the critters either. When in close quarters quarters with em I will try and identify the remains.
Back in '61 when I worked on a survey crew for Lake Livingston we would kill many, specially after Carla blew thru and cutting property lines in the trinity river bottom below Cold springs in those palmetto flats. All that crawled were dead, got so you could feel em before you saw em. A 5' brush hook took care of em.
Hate snakes.
Blessings

markc · « **Reply #20 on:** March 23, 2005, 04:13:59 AM »

are heading out 5am Friday to check on things at the Bangs, Tx ranch. I will let you know what we find as far as snakes go. maybe I can figure out how to psot pic's by then.

ras308 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 23, 2005, 07:21:58 AM »

I went through that part of the world this past weekend going to and coming home from Clovis!!! Pretty good looking country out there. Do you have a lease there?