Herping in Rattlesnake territory

[bsol]

yes i know bout the nutria rat but also look up feral hogs theyre multiplying by the thopusands anyone can shoot however many they can on their proporty and theyv made a buisness now of shooting them out of helicopters with fully automatic weapons...me and everyone else i know who hunts , hunts to protect the populations of native species and also it provides a way to get out and forget a lot of hassels.....its just you and the chirping birds...everyone enjoys that fealing...sorry im an avid hunter and i cant help goin on thees rants...

A - It is against Federal law to posses a full automatic weapon unless you are military. I don't even think state law enforcement is allowed to stock them, but don't quote me.
B - You need to be more polite when comparing me to a chirping bird.

No one said anything until you decided to challenge my post on a clear definition on poaching vs. hunting and then say that you "real hunters" hunt for other reasons besides the challenge of the gane. We were talking about running into random people(hunters/poachers/weirdo's) while hiking and carrying a concealed firearm for protection.
Take a trip back in history and go back over the posts in this thread. It started off about rattlesnakes and then turned in to, what I believe, unnecessary tit for tat. I shouldn't have even replied to your post because of your insult.
I think you should start a new thread about hunters hunting in Texas. This conversation has been completely drawn WAY off the original topic.

[mustang]

A - It is against Federal law to posses a full automatic weapon unless you are military. I don't even think state law enforcement is allowed to stock them, but don't quote me.
B - You need to be more polite when comparing me to a chirping bird.

No one said anything until you decided to challenge my post on a clear definition on poaching vs. hunting and then say that you "real hunters" hunt for other reasons besides the challenge of the gane. We were talking about running into random people(hunters/poachers/weirdo's) while hiking and carrying a concealed firearm for protection.
Take a trip back in history and go back over the posts in this thread. It started off about rattlesnakes and then turned in to, what I believe, unnecessary tit for tat. I shouldn't have even replied to your post because of your insult.
I think you should start a new thread about hunters hunting in Texas. This conversation has been completely drawn WAY off the original topic.

A is wrong...you can own fully automatic weapons without being military....you just need permit and extreamm background check is givin and they search your house every now and then. i didnt mean to be offensive im just stating certain facts i thought you should be aware of... (most of the time we go wway off topic all the time just derailed the thread for a short time thats all not that big of a deal i presume(since it always happens) i try not to but sometimes it happens) and yes i know what the original topic was i was one of the first to comment on it)...but i dont recall comparing you to a bird.

[GarterGeek]

A - It is against Federal law to posses a full automatic weapon unless you are military. I don't even think state law enforcement is allowed to stock them, but don't quote me.
B - You need to be more polite when comparing me to a chirping bird.

No one said anything until you decided to challenge my post on a clear definition on poaching vs. hunting and then say that you "real hunters" hunt for other reasons besides the challenge of the gane. We were talking about running into random people(hunters/poachers/weirdo's) while hiking and carrying a concealed firearm for protection.
Take a trip back in history and go back over the posts in this thread. It started off about rattlesnakes and then turned in to, what I believe, unnecessary tit for tat. I shouldn't have even replied to your post because of your insult.
I think you should start a new thread about hunters hunting in Texas. This conversation has been completely drawn WAY off the original topic.

I think Mustang wasn't referring to you when he mentioned the birds. I think he was simply saying that when someone hunts it is just them and the chirping birds.

I don't carry a gun, although I'm not against doing so. I always take pepper-spray with me though.

Anyhow, are copperheads much harder to avoid than rattlesnakes? I heard that they often strike without giving any warning, is this true? I imagine that they must be almost impossible to spot on leafy ground.

What are the chances of getting bit without seeing the snake first?
Has anybody here been bit?

Another danger that people should be aware of while herping is the ability for abandoned buildings to collapse. I often herp near old barns and must use extreme caution.

Getting cut by junk-yard trash can be very nasty too. I have a two-inch scar on my calf I got from moving a pile of concrete in a junkyard. (There were about 10 little garters in there so it was worth it. )

[wolfpacksved]

Man. I'd love to see some timbers over a milk any day. I'd have my digital camera and be going ape taking pics. I hunt for milks in timber territory and have only come across one timber to the dozens of milks. Just being aware that timbers are there is usually enough to keep you safe. The majority of people getting bit are the ones who molest the snakes. If you don't want to risk it, i sure will. If there are timbers then there are probably copperheads too. You're lucky. Here's a timber and copperhead I found crossing a road while road hunting for milks.

[GarterGeek]

Man. I'd love to see some timbers over a milk any day. I'd have my digital camera and be going ape taking pics. I hunt for milks in timber territory and have only come across one timber to the dozens of milks. Just being aware that timbers are there is usually enough to keep you safe. The majority of people getting bit are the ones who molest the snakes. If you don't want to risk it, i sure will. If there are timbers then there are probably copperheads too. You're lucky. Here's a timber and copperhead I found crossing a road while road hunting for milks.

Don't misunderstand me, I would love to see more timbers and some copperheads! My concern is that I won't see them and then get bit because of it.

That copperhead is gorgeous! I should post some of my timbersnake photos for you to see. I was fortunate enought to see a dark and light phase together on the same rock-wall.

Could you give me some tips on finding milksnakes? I see your photos are at night, is that the best time to search? I've done most of my searching at mid-day and dusk, but have come up empty-handed. When you do find the most success?

Where do you find milksnakes? I've searched under tin-sheets by abandoned buildings, rock-walls, and some creek-side areas renowned for their milksnake populations. I've heard they are often found on roadsides, does this correspond with your experiences?

[wolfpacksved]

I find most milks in rolling hill country. Road cruising from dusk to dawn is usually pretty productive. And of course, rocks, tin, trash piles, etc produce a few as well. Happy hunting

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

I'm all for flipping rocks when they are manageable, but digging into rock walls, to me, is excessive. That can't easily be repaired like flipping the rock back to its original position. Sounds like habitat destruction to me!

Shame, shame....