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Copperhead travel at night #6333036 06/13/16 03:05 AM
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I guess I assumed (wrongly, it appears) that Copperheads stayed put and slept like people do at night. Never really thought about it much. But, tonight, while spotlighting the yard to see if any evil armadillos were digging up flowerbeds, there was a 24 inch Copperhead in full travel mode. I grabbed the rifle and cranked the turrets (kidding) and head shot him. Wife was duly impressed. The snake was moving pretty fast, but I don't think I can claim a running shot. And I never heard anybody mention a slither shot.....

It was a Southern Copperhead, not a Broadbanded Copperhead

Bet I'm the only guy that made a slither shot today.


Not my monkeys, not my circus...
Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: 603Country] #6333039 06/13/16 03:09 AM
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I prefer closer, more personal, methods of killing such as a hatchet to the head.

Nice slither shooting though!

Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: 603Country] #6333044 06/13/16 03:12 AM
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They are very active at night during the summer months especially. Good shooting.


To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

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Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: 603Country] #6333245 06/13/16 12:38 PM
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Killed this one just outside my trailer door at night. My dog was barking and running around it until I got it with the shovel.


Sometimes it's hard being me! But somebody has to do it.
Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: 603Country] #6333277 06/13/16 01:16 PM
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Quote:
I guess I assumed (wrongly, it appears) that Copperheads stayed put and slept like people do at night.


We all make these sorts of assumptions about critters and all get surprised when we encounter them doing things we don't expect them to be doing.

For snakes like copperheads, ask yourself what their primary food is. It is mice. When are mice most active? Night.

Now the descriptions of copperheads say that they are diurnal during the spring and fall, but nocturnal during the hot summer months. It isn't summer yet. Snakes don't do calendars. It is getting hot, however. They are more apt to behave based on temperature than calendar. That is why you will find snakes and other herps out during warm periods of weather during the winter here in Texas.


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Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: 603Country] #6333335 06/13/16 01:53 PM
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Now I'll be a bit less comfortable walking back from the stands.

The wife pitched the dead copperhead into the back yard. Just before I went off to bed, I flipped on the outside lights and saw that our resident backyard Possum (aka 'Little Possum') was happily consuming the snake. The food chain in action.


Not my monkeys, not my circus...
Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: 603Country] #6333364 06/13/16 02:29 PM
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That's when I kill the most of them.. they like lying right on trails and roads at night waiting for mice... We were tracking a deer once in bow season and got into some thick yupon... I had to push a good size one to the side to get through a small path and felt something hit my shoulder then the ground... turned around and there layed a copperhead just lookin at me... figured he was looking for bats or baby birds

Last edited by Navasot; 06/13/16 02:30 PM.
Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: 603Country] #6333564 06/13/16 04:49 PM
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Once read an article saying armadillos were nocturnal. Then I drove the pasture at 1 pm and saw 13. Guess they hadn't read the same article!


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Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: 603Country] #6333593 06/13/16 05:11 PM
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I find nearly all of mine in the evening or after dark. Usually when I go down to my shop. I live out in the country and keep things clean around the shop and outbuildings. Keep the lawn mowed short to create a 'buffer' around the house, but we have pasture land and woods surrounding us...so snakes are always present.

In the warm months....I EXPECT to see them at night. In the daytime I can find them in shaded areas, especially one area of our property that is fed by a natural spring, is shaded and stays much cooler. That area has always been 'snakey'.


Spartans ask not...how many, but where!
Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: 603Country] #6333601 06/13/16 05:19 PM
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I warned y'all about killing copperheads the other day!

Copperheads save boobs thread

grin

Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: 603Country] #6333651 06/13/16 05:59 PM
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We are eat up with them..

Keep boots by back door and front and wife and grandkids are NOT allowed to walk out after dark in flip flops or low shoes..

I have hit the lights and seen 3-4 slide off the concrete ..

My Dogs been hit several times


Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: 603Country] #6333661 06/13/16 06:06 PM
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We've had years when we saw a lot of Copperheads, but this year just two have shown up.

Never seen a Rattlesnake on our place.


Not my monkeys, not my circus...
Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: 603Country] #6333740 06/13/16 07:32 PM
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I see most at night. Usually on roads or concrete. The terrain is usually littered with oaks and vines with shade.

Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: SniperRAB] #6333777 06/13/16 08:04 PM
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Originally Posted By: SniperRAB
We are eat up with them..

Keep boots by back door and front and wife and grandkids are NOT allowed to walk out after dark in flip flops or low shoes..

I have hit the lights and seen 3-4 slide off the concrete ..

My Dogs been hit several times
You should tie a piece of fishing string to a piece of rebar pounded into the ground fish hook through the back side of a small furry mouse and see if you can catch a few.

Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: 603Country] #6333778 06/13/16 08:05 PM
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I find them mostly in the evening or at night unless I flipping rocks or logs looking for them....


Originally Posted by Sneaky
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Originally Posted by beaversnipe
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Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks] #6335835 06/15/16 12:41 PM
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Originally Posted By: QuitShootinYoungBucks
Once read an article saying armadillos were nocturnal. Then I drove the pasture at 1 pm and saw 13. Guess they hadn't read the same article!


Insomniac armadillos, usually happens in groups of 9 or more. clap


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it is the illusion of knowledge.--Stephen Hawking
Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: 603Country] #6338257 06/17/16 11:23 AM
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Lived in the country and killed 20 to 30 copperheads a year, now we live in town and all I find are king snakes.

Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: 603Country] #6338272 06/17/16 11:52 AM
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Quote:
Once read an article saying armadillos were nocturnal. Then I drove the pasture at 1 pm and saw 13. Guess they hadn't read the same article!


{In Cliff Claven voice...}

It is a little known fact that your average armadillo is not a reader. No doubt this stems from the fact that very few writers are armadillos either. According to AT&T, armadillos typically do not add texting packages to their cell phone plans.

I think if you delve into the subject further, you will find copperheads aren't much of readers either. They don't have fingers to turn the pages.


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Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: Double Naught Spy] #6338992 06/17/16 10:39 PM
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Originally Posted By: Double Naught Spy
Quote:
Once read an article saying armadillos were nocturnal. Then I drove the pasture at 1 pm and saw 13. Guess they hadn't read the same article!


{In Cliff Claven voice...}

It is a little known fact that your average armadillo is not a reader. No doubt this stems from the fact that very few writers are armadillos either. According to AT&T, armadillos typically do not add texting packages to their cell phone plans.

I think if you delve into the subject further, you will find copperheads aren't much of readers either. They don't have fingers to turn the pages.


And that is just how I read it. up




LETS GO BRANDON
Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: 603Country] #6339153 06/18/16 12:44 AM
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Quote:
I think if you delve into the subject further, you will find copperheads aren't much of readers either. They don't have fingers to turn the pages.


You shouldn't make fun of the handicapped. wink


Spartans ask not...how many, but where!
Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: 603Country] #6339163 06/18/16 12:55 AM
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To be determined
Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: 603Country] #6339501 06/18/16 12:45 PM
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They are bad in east Texas. Not so much in the hill country or north Texas. Usually people handle the bites pretty well. My bro in law got tagged on the foot at night and didn't even have to stay in the hospital

Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: ELKMTB] #6340003 06/18/16 10:59 PM
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Originally Posted By: ELKMTB
They are bad in east Texas. Not so much in the hill country or north Texas. Usually people handle the bites pretty well. My bro in law got tagged on the foot at night and didn't even have to stay in the hospital
there are a lot of them on Ft Hood

Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: 603Country] #6340008 06/18/16 11:11 PM
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Again last night. Was out with the spotlight, looking (again) for the evil armadillos that dig up the flowerbeds, which really irritates the wife, who then makes my life miserable. So, the Dillos must die. No armadillos, but an even bigger Copperhead. Didn't measure this one, but over 24 inches for sure, though not 30 inches.

Our front yard Possum (aka 'Big Possum') apparently ate this one, and left the head. The back yard snake had been eaten by the back yard possum (aka 'Little Possum'). They seem to stay in their respective areas.


Not my monkeys, not my circus...
Re: Copperhead travel at night [Re: 603Country] #6340170 06/19/16 02:37 AM
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The bottom of my boot was 1/2 step away from seeing this guy last week.


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