How Common are Snakes When HOG Hunting?

[Chris]

During warm weather I see cottonmouths almost every trip to one place I hunt, but I rarely ever see them on other places I hog hunt. It just depends on the habitat. Cottonmouths like shallow still water much more than rivers and creeks which of course correlates to better frog habitat too. You'll see them on running water, but you take an area that stays flooded most of the time and they will be in abundance.

That being said, I've never had a cottonmouth strike at me unprovoked. I know it happens, but I've never seen the aggressive behavior that most people say is common among cottonmouths.

Here's a video I shot back in August that shows the typical attitude of a cottonmouth. They almost always display (open mouth) and that might be where the agressive reputation comes from, but you can see this snake won't even strike. I've done this with dozens of cottonmouths (I know I'm stupid) with the same exact results. Click on the image below to watch the video.

See yall in the Emergency Room!

 

[BFinegan]

i lived and worked down south for many years as a timber buyer. i was in the woods almost daily in all types of environments. swampy areas be looking for cottonmouths. rattlers are there but not as common. get the smake chaps or boots and you will soon forget about them. it's a good piece of mind and that far south it's good sense.

now the feral python that was liberated by some free thinkin liberal is another story. it's most likely to strike from above as it lies in wait. unlike the native species that strike out of fear this operator will take a predatory interest in your approach. aside from that i'd say go for it.

[Rick McGowan]

The danger from snakes is way overblown, they can't eat you so there is no advantage to them to bit you and lots of disadvantages, they want to be left alone. I've seen lots in FL,GA and elsewhere and the only ones to even strike in my You have a far greater chance of getting hit by lighting in FL than by a snake and even a greater chance of getting run over by a tourist!

[Bill Turner]

Buy a pair of snake boots or leggins and forget about the snakes. I don't like them either but they will not keep me from hunting. I've been tromping around in snake country for 40 years and have had few encounters with the critters. Course I am not out hunting for them either. Good luck with the pigs. They are loads of fun and good eating as well.  

[geno]

I have seen alot more snakes here in MO than I ever did when I lived in fla and I lived on the edge of the everglades. Saw lots of tasty lizards though..I think if you go to punta gorda you need to go inland toward lehigh or east. Things have built up alot since I have moved. (94). Good luck and have fun. There are alot of places you can pay to hunt if you want to make the most of it and have the cash.Good fishing in puntagorda. Take a pole..

[Tom Anderson]

Originally posted by Rick McGowan:
The danger from snakes is way overblown..

Oh no it's not!  ALL snakes are dangerous - they'll cause you to run into stationary objects and hurt yourself!   :D

[Angus]

there's lots of very large rattlers in the Cache Creek WA where I go from time to time.  they wander out after the sun has left the squirrel banks, and work at taking a rodent or two for dinner.  last time we were there we discovered a pregnant female about 4 feet from where I was standing.  Funny thing-this large rock just fell out of the sky and beaned it.  We know it was pregnant because we skinned it, and voila-little pit vipers all over the place.  Those weird rocks fell from the sky and got them too!  Rattlers and politicians: the only good `un's a dead one!

[countrygirl]

The guys at Paradise hunt camp in Ga. convinced me to invest in snake boots.  The say the rattlers sometimes lay up on the River Road sunning in the winter.  I haven't spotted one yet...it's the ones I don't see that I worry about.

[hoebow]

I have killed two big rattlers and seen several hunting here in texas. One spring turkey hunting day I saw three different rattlers and had one strike at me. He was changing skins and half of his skin was pulled over his head. My sister-in-law teaches science and she says when they are changing skin they strike at anything because they are more at risk/irritated. you should have that problem this time of year. Good Luck

[Jacko]

Your lucky you dont hunt feral pigs where I do mate - number 3 most vemonous snake in the world the Eastern Brown is very common . Got bailed up by one that raised up to the strike position and it seemed to  follow me every backward step I took and after about 15 minutes I got enough distance on it so it did not feel threatened , the whole time I was looking for my hunting mate for help - turned out the so called friend was watching from 20 yards away leaning against a tree having a quite laugh .

A couple of hundred kilometres down the round your right into the territory of number one , the Fierce Snake or Inland Tiapan and I stood on one 5 hours walk from the 4 x 4 , it struck hit my mid calf lenth boot 1 inch from the top and left a few drops of vemon on the boot and on my army fatigue trousers .A differant hunting mate  thuoght it was hilarious the way I jumped backward over the top of the saltbush .

 Just to make things interesting Number 2 Coastal Taipan lives locally . I hunt a local Banana farm for pigs . The authorities removed one from my kids school a few months back . Funny how I learned to look straight ahead straight down and sideways at the same time when ever I am stalking in on a mob of pigs or goats . Snakes react to your footsteps usually and get out of the way but when you are stalking -lookout . regards Jacko

[Rick McGowan]

The anuual average for poisonous snakebites in the US is about 20 and nearly all of those were HANDLING the snake when it happened. I would buy a FL lotto ticket and worry about how I will spend all that money when I win, you got a better chance of that happening!

[SERGIO VENNERI]

I know what you mean Rick. I used to guide Bear hunters and it was quite coical to see how nervous they were in the thick northern bush! they expected to be a bear hiding behind evry tree! I wish! Just enjoy the hunt!!

[Apex Predator]

Rick,

That figure is hard to sink my fangs into. I know several people locally that have been bitten.   Where did you get the stats?  Just curious.

Take care, Marty

[Chris]

I think Rick meant to insert "DEATHS" in that sentence.

Whole lot of folks get bit, but less than 20 a year are fatal. A high percentage of bites are dry bites.

Talked to a guy that had a timber rattler get him in the back of his calf when he backed up into a palmetto while looking up into a chestnut oak for acorns. He walked a 1/4 mile to the truck, drove a couple of miles to a farmers house, luckily they were home. Said he was throwing up when he got out of the truck, but after checking his leg good they realized there was no swelling and determined it was a dry bite. Scared the you know what out of him!

chris

[hoebow]

Jacko,
you aussies got it tough when it comes to snakes. Can you carry a quiver full of arrows for all those snakes. What about the dingo can you shoot them? They seem pretty tough too, and what about those big venomous spiders?

[Jacko]

Hoebow our native snakes are protected animals over here - enormous fines in the $50 000 range I think it is for getting caught killing them or possesing skins etc . Don't think there is any introduced snakes here either , aussie snakes ate em . I love spiders great predators and for that I leave em alone except when there on the dunny seat .

 Generally our snakes are shy and go out of there way to get out of our way . In those examples I gave with the Brown I was sneaking along a river bank and stepped over a log and disturbed the animal - the inland taipan , just plain wasn't looking .

On a closing note Nala I'm sure I could arrange a hunt for you over here mate in the middle of summer after a good wet season and big grain harvest when the mice are prolific on a full moon in the wheat field , could be a few Dingo's and the odd pig in the paddock  and they are
not protected . regards Jacko

[returntoarchery]

Originally posted by Jacko:

On a closing note Nala I'm sure I could arrange a hunt for you over here mate in the middle of summer after a good wet season and big grain harvest when the mice are prolific on a full moon in the wheat field , could be a few Dingo's and the odd pig in the paddock  and they are
not protected .

Jacko,

Somehow I don't think Nala is going to take up you up on that offer.