Snakes Galore

Have gone out 3 times in the past couple of weeks. All hunts have been in an area south of Corpus Christi, and east of Kingsville. The hunting camp we were working out of reported they had already killed 16 rattlers.

Another guide we often work with, told me last week, that the prior day, a snake had struck at him well above the top of his snakeboot..about 1/2 way up his thigh. He plans on investing in some chaps.

Last thursday, about noon, after finding and pointing one covey, and trying to pin another, which kept running thru the thick brush, my "goto" pointer came back to the truck with blood dripping down his face. No big deal, I thought he had probably been stuck by a limb, while running thru the brush. I put him up, gave him water...we were picking up and going back to camp. Too hot and windy, and the birds were deep in the brush anyway. Maybe we would jump a covey or two on the way in.

We killed a rattler crossing the road on the way out of the ranch.

When I made a walk around the trunk after lunch, to check on the dogs, there was no mistaking it. Pete was still bleeding, his head swollen big time, and drooling and generally looking pretty droopy. He was snakebit.

In most cases, according to my vets, dogs that are bit on the head are going to make it, but he IS the lead dog of my small kennel, and I was headed out of town for the weekend, So I called ahead, and dropped him off at the vet's clinic for the weekend for some TLC. No antivenin was given, but IV's were utilized for twenty four hours, as well as pain medicine and antibiotics.

I picked my ole buddy up monday morning, and he was much improved. Almost looking like his old self.

I think he'll be ready for our next hunt.

I hate those suckers. Vickers is my go to vet in that area.

Don't know Dr.Vickers personally, but my niece worked for him for several years and thinks very highly of the work they do there.

That is where I would head would I ever be caught needed vet services in the Falfurrias area.

Kingsville has some very fine and knowlegeable clinics. They have certainly served me and mine well.

I was out hunting in the salt bay around Corpus Christi a couple of years ago, and came across a rattlesnake sunning himself on top of some thick ground cover. Really strange to see him on an island like that. He got to moving and we took care of him. Glad to hear your dog is ok.

Glad to hear he's ok. I used to hunt south TX and still have permission to a place in Cottula but I found the panhandle and won't look back. It's always much colder there.

Don't be too comfortable with the pan handle. I spoke to a guy on my lease whos dog was bit. I'd like to see some 20 and 30 degree weather.

Had he gotten the snake proof injections??

Yes and had been snake broke, the snake hit him in the back leg, didn't know it was there.

Be especially careful in hours preceding a front. Watch for reptiles that are a little less temperature sensitive than rattlers--coachwhips and indigos often begin moving before rattlers. Be alert around sandy soil with lots of rodent holes and around packrat nests. If you can buy antivenin in mexico and keep it in refrig at camp. Get a snake avoidance refresher every chance you get. Wear those snake leggings.

I've hunted wild bobwhite quail in Texas for 50 years in 80 counties. I've seen a total of 5 rattlesnakes while hunting. The first one was at a about two hundred yards from me. My pointer jumped back. I've never done snake breaking or anti venom. I no longer hunt in rattlesnake country.

I'm not knocking it. I'm just telling it.

Hmmmm. I hope your next hunt is after a couple cold fronts

I'm going to the valley Friday. Is anti venom otc? I can hop over to progresso and if it is snatch some up?

Jorge, I asked Mundo the same question in a P.M. and no response as of yet.

Let us know the particulars if you go and find some. I still go down there to pick up my medicines, go to the dentist, buy ivermectin for the dogs, and have a great meal at Arturo's.

I've only had two dogs hit in 15 seasons of hard hunting, but I work for an outfit that runs 6 dog trucks, so someone is bound to need it sooner or later. If we had some on hand, that would be peace of mind.

During the only dropped bird hunt I did last year, we found 5 rattlebugs during the morning. Makes a fellow step a little more cautiously when things like that happen.

I never wrote that I was not afraid of rattlesnakes. My hunt is over when I see one. I shoot my way back to the truck and hang it up for the day.

The first thing you should do when you see one is to get the dogs away. Never shoot one in front of a dog unless it is absolutely necessary.

Bingo. Why someone would run dogs during high snake activity is beyond me

There's really not much time in south Texas the snakes aren't moving. This year is just busier than most

ask at pharmacy or vets in mexico.

I think I right that there is a shortage of antivenom for both man and beast, not to mention that if you could buy it the expense is real bad ($1500 a dose maybe?)

I gotten 9 Rattlers just out of my yard since August, one yesterday under my dumpster. Worse year by far here.

One thing I always wondered about snake breaking dogs is why the same method does not work on skunks. I had a friend with britts that jumped every skunk it ever smelled. He kept his e collar on high. Nothing ever worked. My current pointer pays no attention to house cats and she won't back other dogs pointing skunks.

I think fur is more of something they have an instinct to go after, snakes not so much.

Mine are always very cautious with snakes, cats, coons, skunks, not so much.

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As a followup: My Pete was bitten one week before Thanksgiving. I hunted him on the 30th, the area above his eye was still swollen enough that I really couldn't tell whether he was seeing out of that eye or not, and I could see bone at the bottom of each fang bite (ouch). He seemed to be off his game... He was hunting hard enough, but just was not finding like he normally does, while other dogs were doing fairly well.

Yesterday was a different story. His "hole"s are closed up, eye is fully opened, and his nose must be back too, because his abilities were back in spades yesterday.

For the time being, I am calling him "Old Skinhead", while his wounds are still hairless, but I do so with pride.

That's great news!

Lots of snakes in the rolling plains ranch country. Field mice galore. Likely a two year deal, if not longer.

Be careful,

Jack

This cold snap ought to send them underground.