Be careful out there

[D&P-OR]

This has turned into an interesting thread.----When I made the post, my intent was simply to remind everyone that (especially at this time of year) to be watchful for poisonous snakes.---I realize for some it is a year around thing to be aware of.-----I've been around rattlesnakes most of my life and by & large (all most always) a problem with them can be avoided by just using a little common sense.-----However, you tromp around the "ding toolies" long enough and sooner or later one of those very rare encounters (with them) can/will occur.---and it's going to happen by them either feeling threatened, trapped (no escape)---or both.-----They really don't want to socialize with you any more than you do with them and if you had a way of knowing how many rallesnakes you passed by without knowing compared to every one you see---you would be shocked.---Speaking for myself, I don't ever want to know! ------As has already been mentioned, just make noise going thru an area and be careful where you are walking.----If you're detecting, use that coil to sweep ahead of you & around bush, etc.------It's always worked for me---I'm 72 yrs. old & never been bitten yet so I guess my experience speaks for something.----------Now my wifes dad (an old Pro boxer)--that's a different story! ---He used to milk the things (rattlesnakes) and sell the vennom.----He was never bitten either but he used to carry a few of them in a heavy bag in the car once in awhile.-----One time, one of them got out of the bag & crawled up in the wiring under the dash board.---It took him a bit to get it out of there and my mother-in-law wouldn't drive that car for two weeks after that.----Made life kinda interestin for awhile! ----------Charlie---I enjoyed your post & learned something about cottonmouths.---Sounds like they are WAY more cantankerous critters than our rattlesnakes.----------------Del------------P.S. Yes, God certainly does look out for us---in SO MANY ways!

 

[fowlercharles]

Yeah for sure D&P, I shudder to think of all the creepy critters I have walked and crawled all over that I knew nothing about. I'm almost 74 and been digging since 69,and most of it in the woods. I was raised in Ark. and like Ms we had the same bunch of bad critters there as I have been contending with all these years digging Ms. Rattlers , Copperheads and Cottonmouths are always creeping about, and the Cottonmouths are ageressive.I have had them coil up around my string of fish 2 feet from where I was pole fishing and dare me to do something about it. Had one once literally come out of the water and run me up the bank.Would have surely been bitten when picking berries(by my back yard fence) had I not noticed his white mouth I was about to pick some berries next to. Probably the scariest time was when I steped on a small wet log and when it broke and started sinking into the mud I could see a bigun trying to get unwound from underneath my weight that had him pinned in the mud with the log.God was there then, because I was falling through a sinking log, on a big snake, in soupy mud and all I could do was either sink into the middle of that coiled Cottonmouth, or walk on air. I did the air walk(??) and came down clear and away from the snake, like some comic strip character would have done.Fact is, I don't really know what I did,but it ended well for me, and I know who to thank for that.On a detecting trip I once saw a big Cottonmouth make himself at home right in the middle of where several of us had just gotten out of the boats and unloaded a bunch of our detecting gear.We had taken a quick look at where we would be detecting and when we went back to get geared up, that critter was coiled up by our gear. I guess he wanted to see what all the commotion was so that tells me they will not necessarily move out from activity, but will come see what the activity is all about. That is scary, when you think about it. HH, and YES, let's do be careful out there. Charlie

 

[codydog50]

Holy Crap Guys! , I was out detecting in the woods today, lost about a quart of blood to the deer flys, I finally "wussed out" and got out of Dodge! complaining about how rough it was!
THEN I saw your posts about the snakes! I'll quit whining about the bugs!! maybe being a cheese-head isn't so bad after all. HH, and keep your eyes open.....C-Dog

 

[norman maassey]

Six inches of snow on the ground. If their den is in the place and the weather is right. After a cold front moves out and bright sunny day 60 to 70 degrees