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Originally posted by CA Safari Hunter:
jdollar – lots of rattlesnakes in Nor CA too. One thing about smaller rattlers is they are worse than bigger ones. Young rattlesnakes can’t control their venom like older bigger snakes can. They just keep pumping and pumping. Big adults will bite and let go.

45 ACP Snakeshot works well and won’t ricochet.

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Originally posted by jdollar:
4 of the snakes killed this year were inside the garage and 2 more were in the barn and 2 in the dog kennel. just to risky to shoot.

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...4 of the snakes killed this year were inside the garage and 2 more were in the barn and 2 in the dog kennel.

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Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:
I got nailed with one fang from a Massassaga many years ago. Blew my arm up big time. Yep, it hurt and the hospital stay was awful.

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Originally posted by retreever:
Jerry, the moral of the story is " quit smoking "... I am laughing writing this would have loved to see you doing an Irish jig trying to shake him off...
The best to you and a speedy recovery... good luck in Mozambique...

It is illegal to kill rattlesnakes in Pennsylvania...at the time, the Irish jig seemed a better alternative than grabbing it and maybe getting bit on the arm. if it was illegal to kill them out here( and it may well be), TS!!we have had 3 dogs bitten in the last 3 years, with vet bills totaling over $14,000( yes my wife REALLY loves her dogs). consequently i kill every one i see

Mike

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Originally posted by Austin Hunter:
You need a yard cat to take care of your snakes. If you have a cat now and he's not; get a cat that will.

My friend was infested with snakes on his place. He got an outdoor cat that gave the rattlers hell, and released about 50 baby king snakes that also gave the rattlers hell (and the cat doesn't bother these for some reason).

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it has been a good year so far. we have only killed 15 (didn't count the bastard that bit me- he got away so far). last year killed 28- of course we still have another month or more to go before it cools off and things quieten down. maybe the guinea hens are a solution.

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Originally posted by Spring:
Jerry,
Have you ever considered the fact that something is telling you that maybe you should move back to Georgia????

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Originally posted by akpls:

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Originally posted by Spring:
Jerry,
Have you ever considered the fact that something is telling you that maybe you should move back to Georgia????

or Alaska.....ain't no snakes here other than the 2-legged varieties....lawyers (not all) and corrupt politicians.

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Originally posted by jdollar:
i have got 2 yard cats now- don't know if they kill snakes or not but they certainly give the mice hell. part of the problem is that the house and barn are surrounded by 36 acres of pasture with numerous rock outcroppings( kopjes??), so even as we kill them , there is a steady stream of replacements crawling up. my wife has killed 3 in the last 5 days while i have been laid up in bed.

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this topic doesn't really fit any of the forums, so i will just throw it up here for general info purposes. exactly 1 week ago today at dark, i stepped out the side door of my house onto the landing in my garage to have a cigarette and stepped right on top of a 3 ft rattler. he nailed me in the Achilles tendon before i ever knew he was there( i was wearing shorts and sandals). one fang got caught in my leg and i hopped down the 4 steps he had climbed up on my other leg, trying to shake him off. finally rid myself of him and walked into the yard to call my wife- she was 25 yards away in the barn. the ride into town was 35 of the longest minutes of my life. the entire way, all i could think of is whether or not this was going to screw up my hunt in Moz. in 5 weeks. spent the next 2 days in ICU, receiving 16 vials of antivenin. i have had multiple surgeries, broken bones etc. and i have never experienced pain like this. the IV morphine took the edge off just enough for the 4 days i was in the hospital to make life bearable. luckily i didn't need any surgery and my leg is improving, although it is still so swollen and painful that i can only walk short distances with a walker. sum total? 2 days in ICU, 2 more days in the hospital, 3 days in bed at home( with 5 more days here before i attempt to go back to work)- a major unplanned "vacation". the good news?- no surgery( hence no wounds that might not heal before my hunt) and so far no permanent gait problems( although my Achilles tendon is still VERY stiff, limiting ankle movement). my advice? if you live in rattlesnake country, before you walk out your door at night, CHECK YOUR WELCOME MAT WITH A FLASHLIGHT!!!!!!!!!!