Being from Illinois, I don't have much experience dealing with snakes when I am out in the woods. Do you all wear much protection on your legs when you are out scouting at the end of summer, and what do you do if you're hunting from the ground during deer season....anything?

Depends on where in the state you are hunting and the time of the year. Just have to pay attention when walking looking down as much as in front of you. If in South Texas I will always where snake boots.

When I scout I wear chaps. And be careful around old brush piles. During the season its usually cool enough to keep the snakes away. But I generally only hunt ladder stands so I really have no snake problems.

I don't wear snake boots, but won't walk through somewhere if I can't see the ground. Good snake boots are the way to go probably I've just never wore em. I only really worry from now til mid oct. Filling feeders early and during dove season is when most people see em. After a few good cold snaps I don't worry anymore, they den up.

Thanks for the quick advice. I moved down to the DFW area so I think I'll be hunting east Texas mainly (LBJ and Caddo Grasslands). It sounds like a pair of snake boots might be a worthwhile investment, at least for when I am scouting.

You can get the leggings at Academy for 35.00

I bought some plastic leg protectors from Academy. I always wear them when just walking around in the woods. Also, like 8Pointdrop mentioned, dove season is a good time to wear them. I think I paid 15 bucks for mine a few years ago. The plastic ones also keep the stickers(sand burrs) from sticking to your pants by the thousands.

Good advice here

I wear snake boots year around. I know for sure that Rattlers will sometimes come out and sun with snow on the ground.Even though they are not very active, you could still take a hit.

Same thing if you are up around Breckinridge or Albany. Snakes are thick up there too. When I hunted south of Brownwood I would run in to them during dove and turkey season but not deer season.

We killed two durning deer season last year in Young county.

I see snakes all the time at our place in West Texas. Mostly during the warm months. AHH Wait, ehh, well it is warm there all year long. LOL

They are there and I always watch the ground. If you are hunting in rocky areas the thing to remember is this. More dangerous to you than the snake is shooting the snake with a bullet in rocky ground. That bullet can and will bounce right back into your head. Leaving the snake laughing at you bleeding on the ground. So always use snake shot or carry a separate weapon with snake shot in it, if you are hunting in rocky areas.

I carry a pistol at all times and the first round is always some form of rat shot. Then the rest are regular loads.

The best thing to do is just go the other way and leave be. The snakes have a job to. Always remember to also make sure you keep the rat, mouse, and critters to a min. around your camp. The more of them the more snakes you will have.

If you think that bullet will not come back at you check out this video. It is me being a RO at a USPSA pistol match.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDPz4ODYsnw

Better safe than sorry. It never really gets all that "cold" in TX (I'm from Northern UT) so always be wary. If I can't see my feet I don't go in the area. Also you mention East TX?? Welcome to Copper Head and Moccasin Country. They don't have such a friendly reminder to back off. Snakes feel the vibration in the ground so unless you are stalking the buck of a lifetime, walk HEAVY.

Thanks for adding a few more snakes to my nightmares ryguy23! This is all good advice so I appreciate it guys. I'll keep everyone posted on my snake-related endeavors, but of course I'm open to any further tips...

Earlier this summer, I cleared alot of cedars out of the fence line and I just knew I was going to encounter rattlesnakes under those trees and I have saw none


I'm not thinking there are no snakes there, but there are certainly less than I thought at first.
I quit wearing snake gaiters and just rely on my boots for protection along with my Single Six


My kids spotted a snake while checking the trail cam over by the campsite the other day and called out for me to bring the gun

when I got there, it was a nice 3-4 ft common grass snake and we let it go so it can catch rats and mice that get into our camper.


I taught the kids about which snakes need killed and the ones to let go

I killed 13 rattle bugs in one day in a small area about a week ago.
Went back and spent 5 hours searching everywhere for more or the reason they were so concentrated in one area that day.
Never saw any rattle bugs, I did come across a bull snake with a real poor attitude.

If you're not used to being around venomous snakes and don't know what to look for or areas to avoid, full length protection snake chaps are the best, boots /snake gators are okay.

if in doubt, it wont hurt to put em on...

I wear chippewas, snake proof boots, if you break them in right they are very comfortable and give u year round protection.

Good job! Never have understood why someone would kill snakes that are so beneficial to controlling our rodent populations and are no danger to humans. I'm conflicted on Rattlesnakes and Cottonmouths as their bites are so destructive but they are rodent killing machines.

My opinion on snakes is shifting as I get older (from kill em all to leave the good ones alone)... but cotton mouths and rattlers get no quarter from me. The one you pass today might get you tomorrow... or worse your kid.

Even on the golf course, the cotton mouths are getting aggressive and they are definitely eating well (ducks?) as they're some of the fattest I've seen in years.

THE POISONOUS ONES BY THE HOUSE
OR BUILDINGS GET DISPOSED OF.
I LET THE ONES IN THE WOODS GO
TO DO THEIR THING AND KEEP THE
TEENY VARMINTS IN CHECK. MAYBE
KEEP TRESPASSERS AWAY TOO.

Dont wear leggings but no doubt should. If you are west of Fort Worth area there are plenty or no shoulders around