Thread: The latest tourist draw-poisonous snakes on the beach!

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That makes me wanna go turkey hunting.....

The original "Stand Your Ground" reptile. Those dudes don't back up for anybody---I've had them slide off the other side of the creek coming after me, defending their territory. That's a bad mistake, considering that I usually have a firearm of some sort, and even if I don't, I'm pretty handy with a stick.

Twenty years ago, I was staked out on a bonefish flat in the Keys and one came swimming by the boat. The guide said he'd never seen one that far down in the keys (somewhere north of Big Pine).

I've had one swim up to me while I was in my boat, even tried to lift his head and body trying to get in. Small alligators seem to find boats interesting too. I've only seen one cotton mouth "run" from me while I was fishing a pond. They can be very aggressive at times.

Rattlers are the worst...or it may just seem that way since they account for most of the bad bites.... in my experience the bites from copperheads, cottonmouths(water mocasins), ground rattlers, timber rattlers etc are usually dry bites or very minor bites. Only one or two a year have complications like dic and even less actually die.

REGARDLESS I only handle non-poisonous snakes, anything with a traingle head/blunt tail gets #8 high brass.

Interesting, Mr. Cleland---those diamondback are the worst here in the southeast U.S., mainly because they're the biggest with most poison, and they can also be territorial, if not aggressive. Timber rattlers are shy dudes that pretty much won't bite unless you step on them---not that I go around provoking them.

One of the most impressive reactions to a rattler I ever saw was when I was in my teens, driving down a gravel road behind a pulpwood truck. The driver and I both saw a large rattler crossing the road ahead of us at the same time---the driver speeded up, then slammed on brakes just as he got to the snake, skidding across it with three sets of tires (the truck was loaded, too), then he jumped out of the cab and grabbed a seven foot long stick from somewhere in the load and proceeded to beat the remains of the snake from the toothy end to the noisy end, then back again. He stood back and leaned on his stick, and when the snake body twitched, he beat it from one end to the other all over again. There wasn't much left but a greasy stain in the dirt and the set of rattles which the driver picked up and put in his pocket. From his actions, I'd say he held a strong grudge against rattlers. I just sat behind the steering wheel of the Jeep in open-mouthed admiration for a job most thoroughly done.

I certainly don't have the antagonistic feelings toward snakes that driver had, but it was an object lesson about being careful who you p!ss off. They might have an attitude like that driver.

Originally Posted by Haywire

Interesting, Mr. Cleland---those diamondback are the worst here in the southeast U.S., mainly because they're the biggest with most poison, and they can also be territorial, if not aggressive. .

I agree with you mr. wire on the db's. thats been the sickest i've seen a person. from bite to dic in like 15-20 minutes with only a single fang entry so it must have shot alot of venom..

thats a funny story have you ever thought of wearing a gopro cam? I would think we would all enjoy watching episodes of haywire every once in a while..

Go Pro? I don't think so. The camera would only show what happened, but I can tell it like it should have happened---not that I EVER stretch, embellish or alter the fabric of absolute truth, I just don't like for the facts to get in the way of a good story if they are inconvenient.

Yep, a GoPro would miss the best part:
watching George's face while he spins these yarns ;-)

LOL my friend!

Have a friend that got tagged with one fang on his pinkie. Entire arm was swollen. Hand looked like it was going to explode.