quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Jerry, sorry for your misery. I'd have killed that snake if I could as well. Hope you have recovered.

full recovery with no permanent damage. and i am a lot more careful around the house! at the time i was bitten, i was scheduled to go to Moz on a croc/nyala/red duiker in 7 weeks. the 4 days i was in the hospital my main concern was whether or not i would be healed enough to go. i was and i did- successfully....

Jerry:
That many rattlers around the place.
Is your house on top a nesting area maybe?
That's a bunch every year.

Where did it hit you? Rancher friend got it on the lower leg while out barefoot moving the sprinkler around midnight. Took months for him to get over it.

I married a young girl that had been bit twice in 9 months. First was a 6" wrapped around a squash. They finished up picking, took their time, then all had to clean up and made a leisurely drive 25mi to town. Hosp refused them as no insurance. Other hosp took her in and she was allergic to the horse serum and nearly died from it. The next one was around 5', nailed her with one fang on the big toe, other went into the rubber of her thongs. Vet was there treating a cow when she screamed. Bob/her dad said: "one of the girls got into a snake". They ran to the car and vet worked on her on the race to town. Spent the night, when I met her, the bandaid was still on the toe.
It took yrs before she got over having nightmares during the night.

Snake bite is nothing to mess around with. Get to the medics soon as possible. Glad you had no long lasting effects from it.

George

quote:

Originally posted by Jason P:
Ok, I am a little nervous!

I have been to RSA before and am leaving again in 4 weeks! I never saw one snake when I was there in July of 2011.

However, I am more worried about snakes now than I was the first time! My friend just returned (with the same Outfitter) and saw Mambas, Puff Adders....

I realize that it will be colder when I go. But, I know there is still a chance to see them. I am mostly concerned for my 3 sons and wife who will be coming with me.

So, my question is: Do any of you use chaps/snake proof boots?

Jason , I understand your concern , however , your chances of getting injured or killed in a car wreck is larger than getting bit by a snake.

I raise 3 very active boys in an area with boom slang , black mamba , Mozambique spitting cobras and Puff adders . Never have we had an incident , actually the only lethal incident in my area that I know of in the past 10 years was a snake handler...

I've lost some dogs to them though. The dogs seem to mess with them and then get it. Lost a Walker bitch to a Python recently. The Python came for the pups and when she tried to protect them , it got her instead.

Enjoy your hunt in South Africa.

Happy Hunting

Snakes are pretty much 'where you find them', though some species like the black mamba are territorial to a degree. I've always looked on them as an added plus to a bush trip as the majority are non-venomous. My suggestion, though, would be to get any of the excellent guide books by the South African expert Johan Marais, and learn who's who in the snake world and where you'll find them.

On my first trip to Namibia with Jan du Plessis of Sebra Hunting Safaris I asked him if he had any poisonous snakes on his property. In his typical low key voice he responded... " Yeah SEVEN types- Black Mamba Puff Adder and five kinds of cobras. The only snake that we ran into was a rock python that Jan's son Lourie found and was playing with before releasing it. They lose a dog every now and then to snakes as well as gemsbok gorings.

Thanks again for the help. We are down to 13 days until we leave. Getting real excited!