crs@beta.lanl.gov (Charlie Sorsby) (06/21/91)
# I was hiking with my SO over Memorial Weekend when I shot a rattlesnake. # I'd always thought that my .357 Mag would be an appropriate weapon until # it came time to shoot the snake. He was coiled up in a pile of rocks!!! # The possibility of a ricochet with the 158 grain .357 seemed much more # likely than the .22 rifle I was also carrying. I opted for the rifle and # with one shot almost severed his head from his body. But why do it? Sounds as though you weren't close enough to be in any danger. Snakes, as other predators, do a lot of good keeping various rodents in check. Insects too, I believe. Why kill them unnecessarily? I've hunted and hiked for a number of years here in the southwest (New Mexico and Arizona, mainly). I've crossed paths with only a few rattlesnakes and never closely enough to be in any danger. In Arizona, I wore snake leggings just in case. If you look where you are going and don't put your hands or feet into places you can't see you should have no problems. As far as I can see, the only reason for shooting a snake is that rare instance where you find yourself within striking distance before you are aware of the snake. But if you are that close, I suspect your movement in aiming the gun may trigger a strike, so ... Far better to do your damnedest never to get into that position. Well, just my $0.02 worth... Best, Charlie Sorsby "I'm the NRA!" crs@lanl.gov
phil@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (Phil Howard KA9WGN) (06/22/91)
crs@beta.lanl.gov (Charlie Sorsby) writes:
#As far as I
#can see, the only reason for shooting a snake is that rare instance
#where you find yourself within striking distance before you are
#aware of the snake.
One other being that another person has suddenly found themselves in a
bad situation with the snake. They may have gone past the snake to get
into an isolated place, disturbed it upon entering, and are trapped.
Of course you should find other means, if you can, to remove the snake.
Should none be found or work, then I guess you have to terminate the
threat.
--
/***************************************************************************\
/ Phil Howard -- KA9WGN -- phil@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu | Guns don't aim guns at \
\ Lietuva laisva -- Brivu Latviju -- Eesti vabaks | people; CRIMINALS do!! /
\***************************************************************************/malodah@PacBell.COM (Martin A. Lodahl) (06/22/91)
In article <35865@mimsy.umd.edu> crs@beta.lanl.gov (Charlie Sorsby) writes:
# .... As far as I
#can see, the only reason for shooting a snake is that rare instance
#where you find yourself within striking distance before you are
#aware of the snake ...
In general, I agree with Charlie on this issue. But there have been two
settings in which I routinely kill rattlers, for reasons related to
reptile psychology. I've never seen a truly aggressive rattler; they
seem to attack when they feel threatened, but they can interpret your
presence as a threat whether you're aware of them or not. Children
are notoriously heedless. In the middle 70's I rangemastered a
ridgetop range with a truly impressive rattler population, especially
in the spring. I'd see kids climbing over piles of rocks where I
*knew* there were snakes, and if they found one they'd usually tease
it until it was altogether too furious to quietly slither away. Seeing
a lawsuit coming if a kid was ever bitten, I resorted to thinning out
the snakes.
Now I live in a brushy area, and have two children. Occasionally, but
not often, rattlers pay us visits, and they can get into the cellar
where I age the beer I make. I've had a number of "close encounters
of the reptilian kind", and can't help feeling that it would be
irresponsible of me to take a laissez-allez approach when my kids'
safety is concerned. When we're hiking, we detour around snakes.
When we're home, we kill them.
Interestingly, the snakes we've had in the cellar have always appeared
when the chickens are wandering about the place. I suspect they go
into the house to get away from the chickens.
--
= Martin A. Lodahl (DoD #65) (AHA) (NRA) Pacific*Bell Staff Analyst =
= malodah@PacBell.COM Sacramento, CA, USA 916.972.4821 =
= If it's good for ancient Druids, runnin' nekkid through the wuids, =
= Drinkin' strange fermented fluids, it's good enough for me!! 8-)} =gary@gatech.edu (Gary Coffman) (06/26/91)
In article <35901@mimsy.umd.edu> malodah@PacBell.COM (Martin A. Lodahl) writes:
#
#Now I live in a brushy area, and have two children. Occasionally, but
#not often, rattlers pay us visits, and they can get into the cellar
#where I age the beer I make. I've had a number of "close encounters
#of the reptilian kind", and can't help feeling that it would be
#irresponsible of me to take a laissez-allez approach when my kids'
#safety is concerned. When we're hiking, we detour around snakes.
#When we're home, we kill them.
#
#Interestingly, the snakes we've had in the cellar have always appeared
#when the chickens are wandering about the place. I suspect they go
#into the house to get away from the chickens.
If you want a snake free home place get a few hogs. Hogs love snakes,
they hunt them down and eat them. The hog's fat layer protects it from
snakebite.
Gary