I know this has been discussed before but I don't recall anyone mentioning snake proof gaiters. Is there any need to wear them while hunting in Namibia in May? I already have a pair so it's not like additional cost for the trip. Your opinions please!

John,

Who knows what kind of response you will get on this but I would say no. I think I have seen five snakes total in Africa and they were trying to get out of my way. Another thing is that unless your gaiters are different than anything I have seen before they are probably noisy as Heck if you are walking through grass or brush. Gaiters could be a drawback when trying to sneak up on something.

Regards,

Mark

I'm looking for a pair for myself. What i've heard is that they're very useful for keeping the irritating grass seeds etc out of the socks. Bob

Bob- I solved the weed seed problem with a pair of Speed Hunters from Cabela's. As Mim's pointed out, the snake proof variety are probably too hot and as Mark has pointed out, most hunters don't even see a snake and they are noisy which isn't a factor when dove hunting here. So, one less item to pack! Thanks guys!

30ott06,

I don't think you need snake gaiters.

Regular gaiters are generally useful (especially with shorts).

I like these:

Boyt Canvas Gaiters


Another option is:

Terra Gaiter

Regards,

Terry

John,

Crocodiles are in Africa, Gaitors are in Florida.

A PH I was with in Zim had some gaiters made from Kudu leather. I'd love to find some like his. Was going to get some leather tanned to make my own, but never got around to it.



BTW, Crocs are in Florida as well:



American Crocodile



FWIW ,



-Steve

30ott6,

Don't worry about snakes in Africa, Egyptians and Mambas all bite above the knee anyway, some higher than that.

Certainly there are a lot of "professionals" here on the AR-forum who would advise you to take everything from GPS to gaiters along on a plainsgame hunt in Namibia, forget about them!!!!!!
Here is a list of things that I would take:
1. A gun somewhere around 7mm/.300# (if eland is excluded)
with a decent scope on it. (Sight it in on 180 meters)
2. A hat made of a soft material so you can "wrap" it up
and put it in your pocket
3. A light shirt. (I know that africa is doorning, but
heavy material will become too much of a hassle during
midday when it�s hot.)
4. Convertable trousers!!!!! (Zip the bottom off when it
becomes hotter during the day)
5. "Atheletic" socks wich look like balett-shoes. (They
don�t stik out of your shoe and don�t fill up with seeds.
6. Very light and comfortable shoes, preferably made out of
leather.(I have the ones made out of kudu or seal
leather) Havy boots are made for "hunters" who don�t do
more than 5 miles of walking and stalking per day.
7. A sweater for the early and late hours when out in the
bush or sitting on the back of a vehicle. Maybe another
jacket, depending on the season.
8. A light pair of binocs
9. I almost forgot the camera and some sun-blocker (very
important)

If you want to hunt in a proper way, thats all to take along for the day. The rest is supplied by your PH. If you want to "harvest" or simply "bag" some plainsgame, don�t forget the GPS, sat-phone, gaiters, gloves, survival-knife and all the other heavy items.
Regards Kamaatu

Gaiters against seed? Are you telling me that you are not wearing puttees!? I am shocked. What is the world coming to???





Regards,
Martin

Thanks guys. No gaiters. No Crocs. Case closed.

Hey, there is nothing wrong with putties!

OK, they may be a pain to put on, but they do give your ankles some decent support as well as keeping the crap out of your boots!

Pete- Will you post a picture of putties? Somehow, I fear them to be obscene!

King Baboon,

I ran across a snake in SA, it looked like a cross between a tadpole and a adder, can't remember what the PH called it, you probably know more about this than I do. It was a short fat puff adder of some kind, maybe a pigmy adder. It looked like an ankle bitter to me.

3. A light shirt. (I know that africa is doorning, but

Kamaatu, what is "doorning"?

Thanks,

Mark

Mark, thanks for asking that. I was ashamed to show my ignorance.

Kamaatu is right. Namibia, in particular, is "doorning" and the doorned thorns will turn your shorts-wearing legs into railroad tracks as well as tear up your shirts. But, skin makes no noise when it rips and cloth does, so wear shorts. (The sun is too merciless and I'm too pale to think of going John Sharpe-like without a shirt...



I wear soft leather gaiters only to keep seeds out with low cut shoes/boots, but never bother when using the seal skin boots made there that go 11 inches high. Also recommend lightweight gloves, both to fend off thorns as you sneak through the bush, and to minimize reblueing needs.

Regards, Tim

I wouldn't worry about snakes. Mambas are fast and should try to avoid you as much as you try to avoid them. As quiet as you think you are the snakes will always know where you are. They are very deadly, and if you feel like shooting them be aware if the head is still in one piece it can still bite you. Now I personnaly would like to find a boomslang while in Africa. There fascinating little snakes, very venamous but pretty docile.

If you bring gaitors, they should be for thorns and seeds. Your PH should be walking infront of you, so if someone is bit, it would probably be him. Have a fun trip.

Sevens

king Baboon,

You certainly know your snakes. I have no intentiopns of becoming a Steve Irwen. I would just like to see one. Thank you though for reiterating how dangerous they can be. Holding a venamous snake is like playing with fire. I prefer the large pythons myself, but again to try and hold a full grown African rock python might also get you killed. I don't think gaitors would help protect against them either.

Sevens

I wear a pair of light snow gaiters, they work fine..I also have a pair of Cabelas as pictured by Mark...Those grass seeds are no laughing matter..My legs and ankles are a mass of scar tissue from them and infections from them...

T Carr,
I went to the web page re: gaiters...you posted with photos.

I ordered a pair of the 8" #14235 for $24.99....They seem to be just what I have been looking for for a long time now, as they are just long enough to tuck your pants into and sabotage the evil Tetsi Fly and keep out the grass seeds also. ...give them a look see...

Sorry for my spelling gents,
but having to speak more than three languages at a time stirrs my spelling up a bit.
Rgeards Kamaatu

What do you guys think of theese gaiters..?
http://www.westleyrichards.com/sale/s_courteney_product.php?id=s3005
Looks pretty good.. Thought I might purchase a couple, togheter with a pair of Courtney Selous Boots before my Namibia-hunt this July..

Anders,

Thanks for the link. They are ver simlar to those that I described as used by the PH. The price is right too.

-Steve

Anders,
They are the same as my Cabelas short gaitors and they are fine to combat grass seed, but I want a gaitor that not only gives me grass seed protection but closes the gap between my pants and my shoe or boot, so the Tetsi flies cannot crawl up my leg and feed on my beautiful legs and my sensitive private parts!!!

Anders,

I just ordered a pair, thanks for the tip. The fashion Zebra's as mentioned elsewhere will love these!

Those are exactly like the PH I had last time had, but he wore short britches, and I damn sure don't--at least not in the last 55 years! I think that they were real useful to him, but since I wear regular britches, I don't think they would be of any use to me.

All this talk of snakes brings up a question unrelated to gaiters--can snake skins be brought back to the US? Last time I saw a big (according to the PH) Puff Adder. It had a real pretty skin and I would like to have had it. I also wanted to eat the snake, as he was big, but the coloreds would have no part of killing, or damn sure eating the snake. If I knew I could bring the skin back, I would over-ride their opinion. Also, while I sincerely hope I never see a Black Momba, if I do and it is iliminated, I would like to have that skin, even though not pretty, but just to have a Momba skin.

Anders,
Those courtneys are fine for the grass seed, but not for the Tetsi flies...The 8" summer gaitors will close up the gap so that the flies cannot go up your pants or bite through your socks...

Thanks for tip, Ray!
But are Tetsi flies a big problem during most African hunting..? Only been there once, so I have so little experience..
Which countries and/or seasons are the worst..?
When I considered buying gaiters I only wanted to get rid of the "grass-problem"..
I read another thread at the forum about what shoes to wear in Namibia, and the poster said that he almost had his hunt ruined because of bad shoes. Are most of the Namibian terrain so demanding and rough..?
Any comments!?

Westley Richads have kudu skin gaiters for $15 from courtney boot company

Cheers,

Andr�

Anders,
Tetsis are not everywhere, but you also have seed ticks, grass seeds, and Tetsis, so with the 8" gaiters your covered anywhere you go and can also close up you pants leg at the cuff...and they even help if you get into mud and high water.