I just sent that link to my mom and dad. She got upset when dad hunted buffalo this year with Driess Sr because it was "too dangerous". Can't wait to hear what she thinks about the danger level now of plains game hunting!!
Thanks for sharing - I loved it.
Posts: 472 | Location: Virginia | Registered: 26 January 2003
No way, no way in hell I'd have ever survived that snake crawling accros my feet. I'd likely have gotten nailed when I jumped for the door the second I saw the damn thing. And I'll guarundamntee, I wouldn't have been jobbing that snake with any 3' stick--or a 20' stick!
Posts: 747 | Location: Nevada, USA | Registered: 22 May 2003
No kidding. I would have has a panic attack the second that snake slithered across my foot. IF I survied getting out of the blind, I would have walked back to camp, screw the radio
Quote: An hour ago in the audubon guide I learned that he was the fastest snake on earth, carried a huge quantity of perhaps the most deadly venom on earth (both a Neurotoxin and a Cardiotoxin)
Most deadly on Earth, I don't think so! Not even remotely in the top Six.
I think the crew were playing around with this guy at the end of the day.
Interesting little stories though and good website.
Posts: 10138 | Location: Wine Country, Barossa Valley, Australia | Registered: 06 March 2002
Quote: Originally posted by NitroX.... A 10 foot snake????
Most deadly on Earth, I don't think so! Not even remotely in the top Six.
Well, deadly.....?
Most venomous? Certainly not in comparison with some of the Australian elapids....or some sea snakes. Nor if deadly means number of annual deaths attributed to this snake.
But this snake, in the conditions and surroundings described and photographed, certainly was in position to use all the attributes that make it a deadly reptile. Speed, agility, size, aggressive when cornered, capable of repeated strikes with copious amounts of fast-acting venom. More than ample to take the measure of this hunter.
There are more than a few more venomous snakes that wouldn't have been as dangerous in similar circumstances. That's at least a top-six deady encounter.
I think the crew were playing around with this guy at the end of the day.
There was obviously a lot of "playing around" after Mr. Mamba's head was severed from his body.
GV
Posts: 768 | Location: Wisconsin | Registered: 18 January 2001
Snakes, by nature, are not very aggressive - at least that has been my own experience.
We saw a black mamba walking on the track ahead of us. We jumped out of the truck and got close to take photos of it. It just kept going. We got closer and closer, trying to get it to stand up. It absolutely refused to to do so, and just kept moving.
We shot a buffalo and were waiting for the truck to come. Alan heard a puff adder, which was less than 10 feet from us. Again, we got lots of video and photos of it as it kept moving. We got in front of it, and it just turned to the side and walked next to us.
When one gets one very close to him, I suggest the best thing to do is just remain still.
A bit difficult to do when you see a black mamba on your own feet though
I doubt it I will ever bow hunt again, I dont want any of that to rub off.
Its a wonder the snake didnt run up that stick like a race track. I've seen chicken snakes come up a hoe handle, so I know a mamba can and I never even met one, if I did I would have s.......it myself.
That snake could have had the radio and ever thing in that blind, I'd have walked my ass back to camp.
Posts: 1868 | Location: League City, Texas | Registered: 11 April 2003
Saeed's comment about snakes not necessarily being aggressive. This may sometimes be true but there are times when they can be very aggressive such as the mating season. Some species are worse than others. Still they will usually try to escape rather than attack. An "attack" is often the snake just trying to get away.
I don't believe the snake was 10 feet long. A snake always looks long when it surprises you.
Most snakes also can strike up to 75% of their body length so a 6 foot long snake can strike 4 1/2 feet. One reason trying to deal with them with a stick may be foolhardy. A long post digging spade works well and a shotgun with birdshot (not "buckshot" as in the story) is better. I believe there is a species of snake that can strike more than theirbody length ie using their body as a spring, and some such as the spitting cobra (or mamba?) can spit venom as well often at the eyes.
The only good snake is a #### snake.'
Posts: 10138 | Location: Wine Country, Barossa Valley, Australia | Registered: 06 March 2002
All I know, is as if the account wasn't hair raising enough, seeing the video of it crawling up the wall was enough to have my heart racing.
I think his account made the situation seem a little more dangerous then it looked in the video. when it was coiled up in the corner of the blind, it appeared the hunter could make an easy get away.
As far as length, the PH held up the tail and there was still snake laying on the ground. So if the PH was let's say 5'8" or so and could raise his arm an additional 2' above his head, we have a conservative length of 7'8" of snake off the ground. 10'? Who knows, but it was plenty long enough to give me a heart attack.
Posts: 543 | Location: Belmont, MI | Registered: 19 December 2002
I think the PH said the most deadly snake in Africa, I may be wrong. Just what I need to see while getting ready to hunt Leopard out of a blind in a few weeks, but that is what it is all about. I have only seen a couple of snakes and as Saeed said they were not aggresive.
Posts: 5338 | Location: Bedford, Pa. USA | Registered: 23 February 2002
Snakes!!! There are still a few (actually plenty) of things in Africa that I haven't seen, but one of the only things there that I hope I never see is a Black Mamba! I don't want pictures of one; I don't want to be able to tell folks I saw one! I DO NOT want to even see one! I've been employing the 6 minute hill for the past few weeks for an upcoming mountain hunt. I've seen (almost stepped on) 2 smallish rattlesnakes in the past 1 1/2 weeks. It's a good thing I'm not hunting now, because I can't get my eyes off the ground in front of me while I hike! I wouldn't see an animal if it was standing 30 yards from me in the open! Bah Humbug on snakes!!!!!
Posts: 747 | Location: Nevada, USA | Registered: 22 May 2003
While bow hunting in a similar blind last year, I noticed a spider. The PH told me he was deadly poisonous. Nothing like a Mamba though.
Last week I was scouting for Pronghorn in ND, and I found the largest Praire Rattler I've ever seen. He was around 4 ft. long with 10 or 12 rattlers and was green in color. I've never seen a green rattler before.
