Snake protection

Snake protection

  • Snake boots

    Votes: 1 10.0%

  • Snake gaitors

    Votes: 2 20.0%

  • Something I've never heard of

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Stop being a sissy and walk around barefoot

    Votes: 7 70.0%
  • Total voters
    10
YotaOnRocks

YotaOnRocks

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2007
Location
Madison
The thread about surveying got me thinking after @mommucked mentioned snake gaitors. My wife and I are spending alot of time in the woods at our land. She doesn't spend as much time walking through the thick woods as I do but I worry about her none the less.

The woods are very thick and have an extremely thick layer of leaves and brush and I know it's only a matter of time before one of us finds a venomous snake at our feet. We both have nice leather boots already but they aren't rated as snake proof and I know there are snake gaitors but not sure what to buy considering the huge price difference between different brands.

Any advice or opinions are welcome.
 
I never wore snake boots, I tried a few brands/styles but just trying to break them in made me take them back. To stiff, hot and not comfortable for working/hiking miles in summer when the snakes are out. The gaiters are lighter, cooler and will work w more comfortable boots. You can also take the gaiters off and stuff them in a stake bag or a backpack when you don't need them and put them back on when you need to. If your working wearing shitty boots your gonna wear them all day.I have worn gaiters and the only problems I had was snagging them or the straps on green briars.

edit. I always had a bag in the work truck w a spare or two pairs of socks If my socks got wet in a wetland and a long sleeve t-shirt and 2 t-shirts to swap out at lunch when they were wet from summer sweat and other to ride back to the office if needed.
 
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How often have you guys had snakes strike at you?
 
jeepinmatt said:
How often have you guys had snakes strike at you?
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Strike at?....A few times. I've had countless bow up or arch up at me. Mostly cotton mouths. That flash of white is horrifying.
 
jeepinmatt said:
How often have you guys had snakes strike at you?
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When I was kid exploring the big island near the Kerr lake dam. I was walking around and pushing dead trees down. I was rocking a tall, 12" tree and when I backed away as it started to fall I stepped on a huge banded water snake that hit the back of my leg hard and about knocked me down. I had jeans on and it didn't latch on to me. It hurt and I screamed like girl thinking it was a moccasin that bit me. Dad came running to me and caught it and took it to our camp to show the family. It wrapped around his arm and he had to peel it off before he threw it in the lake. It was 4'+and fat. I've had black racers strike, them snakes are mean and don't like to be cornered or messed with and they will bite. I had a racer chase me after I raced after it in a pine plantation. I was rabbit hunting on a cold day when I saw it sunning and thought I could catch it, hide it in my coat and scare my friends w it. I thought it would be sluggish in the cold but it took off fast and I raced after it. There was nowhere for it to hide and after about 70 yrds the snake turned around and came after me. It stuck at me 3 or 4 times as I high stepped backwards and dodged it. It finally stopped, raised it's head high and hissed quickly like it was spitting at me, then it turned around and slowly slithered away the victor, I decided leave it alone. I thought it would be a great video, a grown man w a shotgun dancing w an angry, striking snake. When you're deep in the woods, swamps, mountains you don't want to get bit by a bad snake. The venom will hurt you bad quick and you'll prolly not walk out of the woods. Most survey parties are 2 man w the robot instrument. I know I can't drag a man a mile out of the woods by myself it would take an hour. Dragging a gutted deer out of the woods is tough alone, but I can take breaks. When your working in the woods,swamps etc. all the time you're gonna find snakes.
 
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Just hang a bunch of those snake safety flags around the property. Everytime I seen one it reminds me to look around for snakes and I've never been bit.
 
snake.jpg
 
It's not the ones I can see when looking for them I was worried about. I may just have an irrational fear of accidentally stepping on a snake
 
YotaOnRocks said:
I usually carry my Lcrx in my boot with some #9 shot in it.
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So yer gonna bend down and let it bite you in the face while you get your gun out? :laughing:

Like most situations, if possible, the option to retreat is the best. Ol snakeboi don't want none of you, and you don't want none of him. As long as he hears and smells you coming, he just wants to get out of there.
 
I've looked at gaiters several times due to "interesting" events (brush cutting by the creek and had a 3' copperhead flipped against my legs... and checking the overflow from middle pond into creek, stepped on "something" that struck the back of my bare leg) that caused me to scream like a little girl/levitated like Michael Jordan dunking from the free throw line!

What I found appears the "guaranteed 'snake proof'" models are stiff & hard to wear, equivalent to medieval armor... not conducive to wearing 8-9 months out of the year and have decided to chance it 🤓
 
paradisePWoffrd said:
I would carry a Judge loaded with 410, on the hip. Doesnt really help if you step on one, but might if one raises up on you.
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Taurus Judge is on my Christmas list. Not for snakes, but for morons. They're way more dangerous.
 
Tails said:
www.onlyinyourstate.com

Beware Of Copperheads Out Snacking On Cicadas This Spring In North Carolina

Copperheads love eating cicadas! Beware of extra copperhead activity this spring as the Brood X emerges in North Carolina.
www.onlyinyourstate.com www.onlyinyourstate.com

I’ll just leave this right here.
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If they're in the leaves in hardwoods you'll never see them if they don't move. Every time I found one when I was hunting or surveying I would turn around, take a few steps, turn around and try to find them again. I still had trouble seeing them when I knew where they were and they had not moved. I showed that trick to a bunch of surveyor newbies, friends and a few neighbors when I found copperheads. Most of the time you're not gonna see a snake if it doesn't move. If you step on it you will find it real quick.
 
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mommucked said:
If they're in the leaves in hardwoods you'll never see them if they don't move. Every time I found one when I was hunting or surveying I would turn around, take a few steps, turn around and try to find them again. I still had trouble seeing them when I knew where they were and they had not moved. I showed that trick to a bunch of surveyors newbies, friends and a few neighbors when I found copperheads. Most of the time you're not gonna see a snake if it doesn't move. If you step on it you will find it real quick.
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You're not helping my fear here
 
I have used many many different types. The pair I own and like the best are the 12101 Whitewater super fabric gaiter. They can get a little hot but not too bad compared to others.
 
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