kentuckycarry

I'm a reptile lover so I'd never shoot one. Move it away with a stick and it'll leave you alone.

firestarplus

I got suprised by a rattler about a year ago. I had nothing with a handle to hit the snake with and I needed it gone. I grabbed my Ruger MKII and started bangin' away. It took MANY shots to kill it. After getting the needed headshot I inspected the snake and found that I had put 4 big holes in him that didnt even seem to slow him down!! Be Careful!!

Precision

+1 to the shovel/stick/entrenching tool idea.

The simple fact is, if you are close enough to use your shot loaded gun (from a concealed location) it would have been way faster and probably safer just to move the snake.

If you are far enough away to get your gun out (from concealment) and use it easily, you could have just as easily walked away.

And for the times you blindly walked right up on them, you are already bit, so...

kentuckycarry

Agree totally.......

libertarian5

There are only two ways to get bitten by a rattlesnake. One way is to tease it then do something stupid and get bitten (ie, screwing around with it) Other way is to step on it. Either way, you get bitten and a gun is a rather dubious defense.

The real question is, why do people feel some need to kill rattlesnakes? They're just working for a living like everybody else. Leave them alone, and they will do the same for you.

A lot more people die from bee stings each year than by snakebite. What's a good load to carry for bees? Will pepper spray work?

mr surveyor

there are those of us that actually work in the woods, and by the nature of our jobs must be at certain places, often repeatedly over the course of several days. If those places are occupied by snakes, and we are most likely going to have to frequent those places several times over the course of a project, then the snake tends to lose it's value really quick. There are times when a snake just absolutley needs killin'! In years past I had absolutely no problem leaning over and taking out a copperhead or cottonmouth with a plain old 24 inch machete. I really don't crave the adrenlin rush anymore, thus the shot shells. And, when Mr. No-Shoulders is no longer among the living (as in shoot until the threat is no longer a threat), he/she is left belly side up in the trail with some survey ribbon strategically placed on the ground to attract the attention of all crew members.

mrhutch

.22 shot-shells work great for bees :)

when i'm bored at the hunt club i poor some soda in the mud and wait. then i lower the local population of yellow jackets with the ruger single six and some cci shot-shells.

mr surveyor

a man of my own heart!

mrhutch

it's really fun, lol. i would try it on carpenter bees, but theres that whole "be sure of your target and what's behind it" rule and i think i would get a little to trigger happy to pay attention... so i stick with the badminton raquet for them.

kentuckycarry

Going into their environment and killing just because you dont like them isnt right... Wear snake boots. The infestation of mice and disease in New Mexico was directly due to too many snakes being killed....