#@%% snakes
I have been carrying a pistol for a few weeks on a 4,000 acre survey in old mine country where every single local person I have spoken to has warned me about the rattlesnakes and copperheads. No sightings yet but I expect to before the project is over.
Today, I have a small lot job in a new subdivision near my office and when I pull up, I see a good surveyor friend wrapping up a survey a few lots down. We shoot the breeze for a bit and he asks how I feel about snakes. I don't care for them particularly but am mostly a live and let live sort. Near one of his back corners, a blacksnake got tangled up in the green straw mesh they use to sow new lawns and he felt bad for it. It either had to be set free or killed, neither of us could let an animal suffer so back we go and spend 25 minutes cutting this very large blacksnake out. Fortunately his head was wrapped up tight like a hay bale. Then we saw another tail and started getting nervous until we found another head also wrapped up tight. The two of us cut and held until one was set free. It darted off about five feet then coiled up shaking it's tail at us and showing it's dental work. Finally got the second one free and we were out of there. Ungrateful wretches never even said thanks.
Then I start to stake out my lot and it should have taken 20 minutes or less because I was already tied in. I set the front pin and one line stake and the skies opened up on me. Rain for the next three hours. Those snakes cost me a half day of work and I don't even like them.
@tom-bushelman All my surveying has been in Alaska, so no snakes thank Providence. My father said he used to carry a .22 revolver loaded with birdshot while surveying in rattlesnake country (PA) and water moc country (LA). Do you load solid projectiles or shot?
A .22 with birdshot doesn't do enough reliable damage unless you are too close to the snake for my comfort.
A .22 with birdshot doesn't do enough reliable damage unless you are too close to the snake for my comfort.
That's what I always reckoned...
Good snake karma. They eat rats and I dislike rats far more than snakes.
I carry a 1911 .45 because I'm old school that way. I have shot snakes with .22 birdshot but it isn't a guaranteed kill. If you can hit with a 45, the creepy crawlies will go to that great terrarium in the sky every time. I have a sent a lot of bullets through a 1911. Probably the best anti-snake pistol would be a large caliber revolver with snake shot but I am very fond of the .45.
Black snakes eat rattlesnakes. Probably eat copperheads, as well.
A .22 with birdshot doesn't do enough reliable damage unless you are too close to the snake for my comfort.
Best protection I've found for snakes that get "too close" is either a shovel or a machete. I won't walk alongside anyone with "snake jitters" that has a firearm...for obvious reasons.
A .22 with birdshot doesn't do enough reliable damage unless you are too close to the snake for my comfort.
Best protection I've found for snakes that get "too close" is either a shovel or a machete. I won't walk alongside anyone with "snake jitters" that has a firearm...for obvious reasons.
Pretty sure I am a better aim with a shovel than a handgun...
