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All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Hunting Gate => Topic started by: Mr Fluffy Tail on August 04, 2012, 08:12:28 PM

Title: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: Mr Fluffy Tail on August 04, 2012, 08:12:28 PM
.. do you shoot them? My dad does, anything that slithers heheh. I let this big guy live he was warming up in my prepared corn spot alittle while ago .. he's at least 6 foot .. i would say his biggest threat is to some chicken eggs if i leave them in there overnight or something ..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4stfcVW_ws&feature=youtu.be# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4stfcVW_ws&feature=youtu.be#)
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: amb5500c on August 04, 2012, 08:26:06 PM
Not me. I'm of the school of thought that most snakes provide a very benificial service to us just by doing their natural sneaky snakey thing. Even poisonous snakes "usually" get a pass from me. But there ARE some exceptions. Now, on the other hand, to my wife a snake is a snake is a snake and all should die. LOL.
Richard
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: shadow on August 04, 2012, 08:48:01 PM
I give them free run of the yard and garden to keep the rodent's and bugs at bay, slithering yard gaurds. ;) Ed
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: clip on August 04, 2012, 09:05:06 PM
I usually see snakes in my yard in the Spring...the common "garden" snake that is. They're the black with yellow or orange stripes. I always let 'em go. I see other varieties when I'm in the country and let them go as well. Poisonous snakes are a different story however. If I come across a copperhead, cottenmouth, etc. I'll dispatch 'em.
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: Hunter45 on August 04, 2012, 10:55:54 PM
A non-poisonous is likely to be my play toy for a few minutes.  I have been known to carry a 4 foot black snake into the house as a youngster to show my mother my trophy whom just about hit the ceiling when she saw I brought a snake in the house, followed by get that @#$% thing out of my house right now!  They do keep the disease spreading vermin at bay.  The poisonous ones would likely get the ax, only because if my girls saw any snakes at all near the house they would never go outside again.  The harmless ones would be relocated, the others would be dispatched. 
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: aack73 on August 04, 2012, 11:03:53 PM
nah i let all the non poisonous ones go. unless they insist on coming in the basement or insist on staying on the porch. 3 strike rule. ;D
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: Paul68 on August 04, 2012, 11:18:30 PM
That's a nice yellow rat snake. I leave em alone since they keep the rats and mice down. The poisonous ones go the minute I see em since my girls have no idea of the difference between poisonous and non poisonous. I've killed two copperheads in the last few months.
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: BlueSteel50 on August 04, 2012, 11:22:42 PM
nah i let all the non poisonous ones go. unless they insist on coming in the basement or insist on staying on the porch. 3 strike rule. ;D
  They will keep the mice and rats out of your basement and won't harm a thing ~~BS50
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: CharlieDaTuna on August 04, 2012, 11:30:23 PM
We have several species of snakes around here and the only poisonous ones are Copperheads. I don't kill any of them including the Copperheads unless they come into the garage. Now Molly, our West Highland White Terrier, does not tolerate any of them in her yard and has no problem dispatching them from her territory. And it's a trip to see.

CDT
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: aack73 on August 04, 2012, 11:33:46 PM
We have several species of snakes around here and the only poisonous ones are Copperheads. I don't kill any of them including the Copperheads unless they come into the garage. Now Molly, our West Highland White Terrier, does not tolerate any of them in her yard and has no problem dispatching them from her territory. And it's a trip to see.

CDT

that is one good dog you got. not many will actually kill a snake. mine will only bark like crazy. ;D
Title: I don't, as a matter of fact.....
Post by: echochap on August 04, 2012, 11:38:45 PM
I don't kill poisonous snakes either, unless they're around buildings or stock where they'll cause a problem. They are a positive in the environment, other than some people not caring for them, and usually don't cause any problems, they're also no sport to shoot .... I don't get it when people shoot things that don't need to be shot. But if it's legal and they are causing a problem, I won't second guess it.
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: lexair on August 05, 2012, 01:04:48 AM
I shoot the copperheads. I was raking the leaves out of my carport and there was a large one buried in the leaves almost got me.
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: bowhunt on August 05, 2012, 01:43:02 AM
Non-poisonous ones get a pass. As far as poisonous ones go...i just avoid them. If they can't be avoided, and its him or me.....well...let's just say it's not going to be me.
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: CaptGeorge on August 05, 2012, 02:07:50 AM
Like most here, I give all snakes a pass unless it's venomous and presents a threat.

One morning (before dawn), many years back, I encountered SEVEN cottonmouths on the trail to my stand while bow hunting in Aransas Wildlife Refuge here in Texas. Per refuge regulations, they all got passes, but I sure kept my flashlight shining on the trail!
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: 1377x on August 05, 2012, 02:49:59 AM
the enemy of my enemy is my friend
non poisonous snakes get a pass by me
rattlers and rodents get dispatched on the spot
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: MustangMike on August 05, 2012, 02:52:01 AM
ya i give them all a pass unless their up by the lake house, other then that they all perform a very vital role in maintaining balance. i think people would be very shocked at what things would be like if snakes just one day disappeared from the face of planet.

i mean for example other then say birds of prey and feral cats what eats all the mice and rats ? snakes perform the same role fish do, a bass in genetically engineered to a dead or dying fish (if not to big for them) weither or not their hungry. the only time ive seen that not apply is during spawning times when you actually have to tick the bass off when their sitting on their beds by dragging a a bait or a fish has to swim into the spawning bed.

at the lake house i run into moccasins sometimes 3 to 5 times a day when fishing the dry lake bed i also give them a pass because 99% of the time they try and get away from me faster then i can get away from them. but there is that .5% that stand their ground, so i walk way far around them and there is the .5% that actually come after me and those guys are easy to deal with. role my lure of to the first eyelet of the pole nice and tight and use the pole to hook then and then bash them on the rocks or drop a rather large rock on their heads
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: aack73 on August 05, 2012, 03:04:56 AM
no doubt snakes play a role in the eco system and food chain, But Hawaii gets by fine, and their eco system isn't upside down. ;D just saying ;D

 i have a large resident Black snake. he will be fine so long as he stays out of "her" sight. ;D if not i would have to be rid of him to appease her. with 3 rambunctious children and 3 dogs to boot the poisonous ones will die if caught in the yard. better him than even a simple visit to the ER.  ;D if left to hang around too much, increases the chances of someone stepping on it. plenty of woods around. they are fine if they stay in there. ;D 
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: grizzlyadams on August 05, 2012, 07:56:07 AM
i let them all go as i don't have small kids and all snakes are protected in ny state. secondly, my wife and i keep boas and pythons and i dont think my buddy bubba  would take kindly to me killing one of his kin folk and you dont wanna make bubba mad!lol
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: jimmie lee on August 05, 2012, 10:57:53 AM
I don't kill snakes ever...Mr. No-Shoulders has kept this property free of mice or rats, moles, voles or any of the smaller rodents for decades. I have a huge black snake living under the house that sheds 7 foot skins; the only complaints I get are from contractors who come in to do occasional work in the crawlspace. They are warned to do no harm to my snakes.
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: thekid on August 05, 2012, 03:00:22 PM
Grizzly:
That pick reminds me of my bud Russ, tattoo's and all.
He has some nice snakes. Boa, Burmese python and some grey little snake that tries to attack me everytime I see it.

Not many Poisonous snakes this way, Now if we had poisonous snakes here, would probably get rid of it right fast. Kids and poisonous snakes don't mix.
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: clip on August 05, 2012, 03:05:20 PM
My Grandfather "kept" or tolerated a large blacksnake in his barn, I was warned I'd better not harm it as it would take care of any rodents there. Many times I'd be playing in the loft, raise my head and stare into the eyes of that snake. He would lay on the roof beams or coil behind hay bales. It would startle you when you first saw it but you soon became accustomed to having it around.
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: clip on August 05, 2012, 03:23:06 PM
We have several species of snakes around here and the only poisonous ones are Copperheads. I don't kill any of them including the Copperheads unless they come into the garage. Now Molly, our West Highland White Terrier, does not tolerate any of them in her yard and has no problem dispatching them from her territory. And it's a trip to see.

CDT

that is one good dog you got. not many will actually kill a snake. mine will only bark like crazy. ;D

 I have two Mini-Dachshunds that will kill any snake ( always the common garden snake ) they see. They don't bark..they attack. Every Spring I find what's left of the snakes in the back yard or on the deck. They've even brought 'em in the house to their cage at night. Maybe they were gonna mount the heads on the cage wall like trophies...:>). As far as I know, we've never had a copperhead in the yard. Years ago, there used to be a large undeveloped area across the street that was a haven for copperheads. It was not uncommon for a neighbor to step outside only to find a copperhead sunning on their backstep. A few of the snakes tried crossing the street but none made it that I was aware of.
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: aack73 on August 05, 2012, 03:35:33 PM
Larry those Dachshunds can be fierce. they were meant for a hole ;D mine only acts fierce though. she is a great alarm however. ;D had a few jacks that were on it. ;D
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: grizzlyadams on August 05, 2012, 03:41:12 PM
had daschshunds growing up.... it's not an act....they are fearless.gotta restrain them from things that can hurt them...cuz they dont care!
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: grizzlyadams on August 05, 2012, 03:48:30 PM
was typing at same time as aack. wienerdogs are fearless!
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: Nikoman on August 05, 2012, 05:19:49 PM
I give snakes a pass unless they're venomous.
I had to kill a rattlesnake in my neighbors yard for her because she has 2 young children.
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: clip on August 05, 2012, 08:25:40 PM
was typing at same time as aack. wienerdogs are fearless!


had daschshunds growing up.... it's not an act....they are fearless.gotta restrain them from things that can hurt them...cuz they dont care!

Larry those Dachshunds can be fierce. they were meant for a hole ;D mine only acts fierce though. she is a great alarm however. ;D had a few jacks that were on it. ;D

   They can be tough. alright. They were originally bred for hunting animals that lived in dens or holes.....badgers and such. They can be as loveable as any other dog, tho. It's been many years since we've been WITHOUT at least one Dachshund or two. They are "people" dogs...need attention. We had, at one time..4 minis. I called 'em  the thundering herd. The oldest was Gus, the godfather. He taught 'em all he knew to get attention. We just have two now...they allow us to live here with 'em.      :>)
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: aack73 on August 05, 2012, 09:17:29 PM
I give snakes a pass unless they're venomous.
I had to kill a rattlesnake in my neighbors yard for her because she has 2 young children.
 

good for you. rattlesnake would be lethal if not treated quickly. at least the copperheads generally aren't lethal. there are rattle snakes around this area but we never see any. get our share of copperheads though. ;D
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: aack73 on August 05, 2012, 09:18:39 PM
hey Larry maybe start a post of your furry little brigade. :D ;D show us some pics. ;D
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: clip on August 05, 2012, 11:09:57 PM
hey Larry maybe start a post of your furry little brigade. :D ;D show us some pics. ;D

  I'd LOVE to be able to post pictures! I've tried, but no dice. I have a camera that would do the job but I can't figure how to get the photos on-site. I've had all kinds of advice and demonstrations on how-to and nothin' works. I even ask the geek that put my new computer together to show me and he couldn't do it either. By the way.....Before I'm taken to task about that "geek" title...it was what HE told me to call him.....:>)
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: aack73 on August 06, 2012, 12:47:22 AM
lol yea bet he's been called worse lol :D ;D
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: oldpink on August 06, 2012, 09:29:12 AM
I'm 100% with both Richard and Ed on this one.
There are very few venomous snakes in my area, and even those I leave alone, unless they were to encroach onto areas of my property where they could pose a threat, which has never happened and probably never will.
As a kid, I used to catch entire five gallon buckets full of Garter snakes from our barn lot and show off with them before releasing them where I caught them.
As mentioned above, they do a great job of controlling insects and rodents.
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: Atchman2 on August 06, 2012, 09:31:28 AM
Some states you can't kill snakes at all (legally).  I don't mess with them.  If I had a poisonous one in my yard proper, it would get a blast of bird shot though :) 
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: Bobbo on August 06, 2012, 11:12:25 AM
Snakes in their area are safe. Snakes in MY area are history.
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: ShakySarge on August 06, 2012, 01:17:22 PM
Some states you can't kill snakes at all (legally).  I don't mess with them.  If I had a poisonous one in my yard proper, it would get a blast of bird shot though :)


You are absolutely correct! In many states almost all snakes, to include the venomous ones are protected. Be sure to check your local and state protected species list! But don't worry, most states allow the killing of a venomous snake if it endangers livestock, pets and humans! The best practice, regardless of your stance on snakes is to think about the pros and cons of your actions and then decide the moral and legal solution!!!
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: Mebits on August 06, 2012, 03:09:58 PM
They get a pass from me and always have. Even poisonous ones get a pass if I think it's reasonably safe to.


M
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: Air Rifle Hunter on August 06, 2012, 10:41:57 PM
 I let all of the beneficial non-poisonous snakes have a free pass at all times. Poisonous snakes are fine as long as they stay away from me, my family or my pets. If I'm out hunting and find a rattle snake I will try to shoot it, but that is because I'm going to skin it and eat it. ;)
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: yoshi800 on August 06, 2012, 11:22:59 PM
There's a famous hotel in Death Valley, CA called the Furnace Creek Resort.  They usually have farm-raised rattlesnake on the menu in the restaurant.  Haven't tried it yet.
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: Nikoman on August 07, 2012, 12:02:44 PM
I've never had rattlesnake before. Always wanted to try.
What does it taste like?
....and don't say like chicken! ;D
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: ShakySarge on August 07, 2012, 12:12:26 PM
It tastes like, well, rattlesnake!!! Very tender and juicy if prepared properly! As long as the juice isn't the venom!!!! I would put the taste between frog legs, squirrel and rabbit.
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: Nikoman on August 07, 2012, 12:14:52 PM
Wow, that sounds good since I like all three of those others!
I'll try not to use the venom for sauce. ;D
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: ShakySarge on August 07, 2012, 12:19:43 PM
Good idea!!! I like a little Cholula hot sauce on it when it is lightly fried! AMAZING!!!
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: Powder burner on August 07, 2012, 12:46:35 PM
  in the woods, it's ok if i can get around it.  in my yard, it dies.
Title: Re: Are non-poisonous snakes on your hunting menu?
Post by: mtbdrew on August 10, 2012, 12:48:01 PM
Venomous die, too many kids and animals around.
Clearly non venomous get a pass if they stay out of the chicken coup.

The non venomous that have taken to looking like their poisonous cousins die just like them.