Forums46
Topics537,757
Posts9,728,737
Members87,039
|
Most Online25,604 Feb 12th, 2024
|
|
|
Snakes liking the cooler weather.
#6506754
10/22/16 09:01 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,158
flintknapper
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
|
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,158 |
Seeing more daytime movement of Copperheads around my place. I suppose the cooler weather is more to their liking. I know it is for ME. I was doing a little scouting this morning and ran across this little fella. He was basking in the full sunlight...so pretty easy to spot despite him laying perfectly still. As I approached him... he started to move off slowly. When they crawl across something of one color and texture....their pattern really stands out. But if they are down in the leaves and sticks they pretty much disappear. I picked up a stick rolled the snake over and pinned it down (lightly) with my boot. I wanted to take a quick picture showing the single row of scales (after the anal vent) that denotes a venomous snake (indigenous to the lower 48) in case you didn't already know. Then I let him up to go on his way...which he did post haste.
Spartans ask not...how many, but where!
|
|
|
Re: Snakes liking the cooler weather.
[Re: flintknapper]
#6506757
10/22/16 09:05 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,657
colt45-90
Texas colt45
|
Texas colt45
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,657 |
cooler weather..starting to move to their dens, and they will lay in the sun to warm up after cool nights
hold on Newt, we got a runaway
|
|
|
Re: Snakes liking the cooler weather.
[Re: colt45-90]
#6506823
10/22/16 09:49 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,158
flintknapper
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
|
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,158 |
cooler weather..starting to move to their dens, and they will lay in the sun to warm up after cool nights Yeah, see them on the roadways too. The road topping holds the heat for awhile as the afternoon temps begin to drop.
Spartans ask not...how many, but where!
|
|
|
Re: Snakes liking the cooler weather.
[Re: flintknapper]
#6506904
10/22/16 10:59 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 21,274
East
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 21,274 |
they aint so bad when its colder and they move slow
Last edited by East; 10/22/16 11:00 PM.
|
|
|
Re: Snakes liking the cooler weather.
[Re: East]
#6506923
10/22/16 11:20 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,158
flintknapper
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
|
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,158 |
they aint so bad when its colder and they move slow This one wasn't moving at all until I got within a couple of feet of it. It was warming itself...no doubt about that. When/if they get cold...they will actually be sluggish. This one was nothing like that, just enjoying the sun and taking advantage of the cooler weather. This Summer I would only find them at night after the temperature had abated some. Well...that and they like to hunt at night anyway. This one definitely took a defensive posture and struck at the stick when I went to turn him over (took several tries). But I can't imagine any advantage to being bitten slowly as opposed to fast. They don't act quite as 'pissy' when they are cold though, if that was your meaning....I agree.
Last edited by flintknapper; 10/22/16 11:21 PM.
Spartans ask not...how many, but where!
|
|
|
Re: Snakes liking the cooler weather.
[Re: flintknapper]
#6506938
10/22/16 11:30 PM
|
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,917
Bear Charge
Veteran Tracker
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,917 |
"Democracy is a sheep and two lions voting. Liberty is a well armed sheep contesting the vote." Ben Franklin
|
|
|
Re: Snakes liking the cooler weather.
[Re: flintknapper]
#6506962
10/22/16 11:54 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,987
Michael W.
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,987 |
I think Colt is right, the cooler weather has them moving. Be careful.
A clear conscience is often the sign of a fuzzy memory.
|
|
|
Re: Snakes liking the cooler weather.
[Re: flintknapper]
#6506974
10/23/16 12:09 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,773
Big_Ag
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,773 |
They are out and about with the warm days and cool nights. Killed 4 rattlesnakes at our cabin last Saturday. Time of the year to watch your step and use a flashlight at night. Be careful.
|
|
|
Re: Snakes liking the cooler weather.
[Re: flintknapper]
#6507018
10/23/16 12:47 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,514
SnakeWrangler
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,514 |
Well done....nice southern....
I believe in science and I’m an insufferable [censored] Actually, BBC is pretty damn good "You Cannot Simultaneously Be Politically Correct And Intellectually Honest!"
|
|
|
Re: Snakes liking the cooler weather.
[Re: flintknapper]
#6507024
10/23/16 12:50 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 391
Pintail711
Bird Dog
|
Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 391 |
I would've pressed a harder when holding him down...I know they serve their purpose but I hate snakes
|
|
|
Re: Snakes liking the cooler weather.
[Re: Pintail711]
#6507391
10/23/16 02:55 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,158
flintknapper
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
|
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,158 |
I would've pressed a harder when holding him down...I know they serve their purpose but I hate snakes This snake was out in the woods (where it belongs), no threat to me or our animals. Absolutely no reason to harm it. Normally, I would not even have stopped or handled it, but I have spotted more of them recently and wanted to advise folks to watch for them. And you KNOW how the forums go: No pics= It didn't happen, so I provided the obligatory photos.
Spartans ask not...how many, but where!
|
|
|
Re: Snakes liking the cooler weather.
[Re: SnakeWrangler]
#6507401
10/23/16 03:01 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,158
flintknapper
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
|
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,158 |
Well done....nice southern.... Have also found a few 'broad bands' over the years, but most are the more common 'Southern'. This one was pretty drab, but some have beautifully contrasting colors. Found this well marked pair down by my shop one evening.
Spartans ask not...how many, but where!
|
|
|
Re: Snakes liking the cooler weather.
[Re: Bear Charge]
#6507402
10/23/16 03:01 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 7,806
Deerhunter61
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 7,806 |
|
|
|
Re: Snakes liking the cooler weather.
[Re: Deerhunter61]
#6507579
10/23/16 06:07 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,158
flintknapper
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
|
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,158 |
Why wouldn't it still be alive? It wasn't harming anything. ALL snakes on my property get a 'pass' as long as they are not up around my house, in the yard or hanging around my shop or outbuildings. Even then, ALL non-venomous snakes are relocated.
Spartans ask not...how many, but where!
|
|
|
Re: Snakes liking the cooler weather.
[Re: flintknapper]
#6507593
10/23/16 06:16 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,514
SnakeWrangler
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,514 |
Why wouldn't it still be alive? It wasn't harming anything. ALL snakes on my property get a 'pass' as long as they are not up around my house, in the yard or hanging around my shop or outbuildings. Even then, ALL non-venomous snakes are relocated. I relocate or keep all mine (venomous or not)......just got a nice hog nose a couple weeks ago....first one I've seen since I was a kid....
I believe in science and I’m an insufferable [censored] Actually, BBC is pretty damn good "You Cannot Simultaneously Be Politically Correct And Intellectually Honest!"
|
|
|
Re: Snakes liking the cooler weather.
[Re: flintknapper]
#6508555
10/24/16 01:21 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 43,845
Stub
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 43,845 |
I saw several moulting/shedding remains this weekend
|
|
|
Re: Snakes liking the cooler weather.
[Re: flintknapper]
#6508871
10/24/16 03:56 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,030
d.g.ruff
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,030 |
I don't normally check their anal venting apparatus....I just look at their head. A V shaped head and cat eyes means they usually meet the "shredder", lol.
Mmmm Hmmm
|
|
|
Re: Snakes liking the cooler weather.
[Re: d.g.ruff]
#6508962
10/24/16 04:50 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,158
flintknapper
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
|
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,158 |
I don't normally check their anal venting apparatus....I just look at their head. A V shaped head and cat eyes means they usually meet the "shredder", lol. Understand...and for expediency in the field, that is a good way to render a decision. Of the four 'indigenous' venomous snakes in the U.S., three are pit vipers (Rattlesnakes, Moccasins and Copperheads) and those three have distinctly triangular heads with the neck being noticeably narrower than the head and also have an elliptical pupil of the eye. The last venomous snake (indigenous) is the Coral Snake, it does NOT have a triangular shaped head, has round pupils and of course the distinct color and pattern. But for sake of determining the status of certain non-venomous snakes (look-alikes) from actual venomous ones...it is helpful to know that the venomous ones have a single row of scales (past the anal vent) whereas non-venomous have two.
Spartans ask not...how many, but where!
|
|
|
Re: Snakes liking the cooler weather.
[Re: flintknapper]
#6509544
10/24/16 09:45 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 245
jdd912
Woodsman
|
Woodsman
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 245 |
I kill any copperhead or rattlesnake, end of story. Spent 2.5 days in the hospital bc of a copperhead doing its on thing in the wild while I was walking and not screwing with it, in fact it was pitch black outside. They never intend harm unless your screwing with them which I wasn't. So anything like that, that could hurt one of my kids or someone else hunting with me is dead.
Last edited by jdd912; 10/24/16 09:46 PM.
|
|
|
Re: Snakes liking the cooler weather.
[Re: flintknapper]
#6509581
10/24/16 10:11 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,030
d.g.ruff
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,030 |
I don't normally check their anal venting apparatus....I just look at their head. A V shaped head and cat eyes means they usually meet the "shredder", lol. Understand...and for expediency in the field, that is a good way to render a decision. Of the four 'indigenous' venomous snakes in the U.S., three are pit vipers (Rattlesnakes, Moccasins and Copperheads) and those three have distinctly triangular heads with the neck being noticeably narrower than the head and also have an elliptical pupil of the eye. The last venomous snake (indigenous) is the Coral Snake, it does NOT have a triangular shaped head, has round pupils and of course the distinct color and pattern. But for sake of determining the status of certain non-venomous snakes (look-alikes) from actual venomous ones...it is helpful to know that the venomous ones have a single row of scales (past the anal vent) whereas non-venomous have two. Interesting. Thanks for the info, I never knew that. However, I don't normally handle any snake. Not because of the fear factor, but more because of the smell factor. I CAN NOT stand the smell an agitated snake gives off. Makes me nauseas, lol.
Mmmm Hmmm
|
|
|
Re: Snakes liking the cooler weather.
[Re: jdd912]
#6510909
10/25/16 05:20 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 391
Pintail711
Bird Dog
|
Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 391 |
I kill any copperhead or rattlesnake, end of story. Spent 2.5 days in the hospital bc of a copperhead doing its on thing in the wild while I was walking and not screwing with it, in fact it was pitch black outside. They never intend harm unless your screwing with them which I wasn't. So anything like that, that could hurt one of my kids or someone else hunting with me is dead. I am with you. I kill every single poisonous snake that I see.
|
|
|
Re: Snakes liking the cooler weather.
[Re: flintknapper]
#6511092
10/25/16 07:03 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,857
LarryCopper
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,857 |
|
|
|
Moderated by bigbob_ftw, CCBIRDDOGMAN, Chickenman, Derek, DeRico, Duck_Hunter, hetman, jeh7mmmag, JustWingem, kmon11, kry226, kwrhuntinglab, Payne, pertnear, rifleman, sig226fan (Rguns.com), Superduty, TreeBass, txcornhusker
|