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Feb 12th, 2024
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 Opinions on balancing "safety" and maintaining the "natural beauty" of the land
#919819
09/22/09 12:24 PM
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,498
TX_LT230FH
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,498 |
I'd like to know what you folks think about this. I recently bought a place of my own up near Wichita Falls. It's a nice sized place and with a little work it's already starting to shape up into something really nice. Plans are to do a little hunting and such so there is a goal of keeping it as "natural" as possible. However, my first wife goes out there with me as will kids and eventually grandkids and visitors/friends. So far in the relatively short time since purchasing it I've run in to a copperhead, rattlesnake, a water moccasin, scorpions and a black widow spider.
Now I'm all for watching out for where you step and I don't have an inherent dislike for any of God's creatures but the observations so far have caused me to wonder. Is there anything "negligent" about leaving the critters there (since they were there first, after all)? Do you just warn people to be careful? Or what?
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Re: Opinions on balancing "safety" and maintaining the "natural beauty" of the land
[Re: TX_LT230FH]
#919835
09/22/09 12:33 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 577
Bear Creek
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 577 |
I'd be more worried about taking my first wife out there if I were you. Snakes and spiders are nothing compared to a $300/hr divorce attorney!! Just my experience.....
Good luck!
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Re: Opinions on balancing "safety" and maintaining the "natural beauty" of the land
[Re: Bear Creek]
#919840
09/22/09 12:36 PM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 111
Billy T
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 111 |
There is NO way you will get rid of your critters, but you might clean it up some to keep them out of camp, and teach wife, kids and future grandchildren to be careful.
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Re: Opinions on balancing "safety" and maintaining the "natural beauty" of the land
[Re: TX_LT230FH]
#919847
09/22/09 12:40 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 31,055
HWY_MAN
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 31,055 |
I'd like to know what you folks think about this. I recently bought a place of my own up near Wichita Falls. It's a nice sized place and with a little work it's already starting to shape up into something really nice. Plans are to do a little hunting and such so there is a goal of keeping it as "natural" as possible. However, my first wife goes out there with me as will kids and eventually grandkids and visitors/friends. So far in the relatively short time since purchasing it I've run in to a copperhead, rattlesnake, a water moccasin, scorpions and a black widow spider.
Now I'm all for watching out for where you step and I don't have an inherent dislike for any of God's creatures but the observations so far have caused me to wonder. Is there anything "negligent" about leaving the critters there (since they were there first, after all)? Do you just warn people to be careful? Or what? I kill all poisonous snakes on sight. Getting bit is no fun, I know! I have to many friends with kids and friends with bird dogs out on my place.
Yes! A Weatherby does kill them deader.
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Re: Opinions on balancing "safety" and maintaining the "natural beauty" of the land
[Re: HWY_MAN]
#919865
09/22/09 12:50 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,537
txhunter24
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,537 |
A good snake is a dead snake. 
 Every good and perfect gift is from above . James 1:17
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Re: Opinions on balancing "safety" and maintaining the "natural beauty" of the land
[Re: txhunter24]
#919882
09/22/09 12:57 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,483
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,483 |
A good snake is a dead snake.
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Re: Opinions on balancing "safety" and maintaining the "natural beauty" of the land
[Re: BOBO the Clown]
#919897
09/22/09 01:06 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,228
janie
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,228 |
If I come across a poisonous snake, it gets shot. I've never been bit and have no intentions of letting it happen.
Like the others said. A dead snake is a good snake.
Congrat's on having your own place.
He is your friend defender your dog. Be worthy of such devotion ![[Linked Image]](https://i.imgur.com/zhLJAGS.gif)
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Re: Opinions on balancing "safety" and maintaining the "natural beauty" of the land
[Re: BOBO the Clown]
#919914
09/22/09 01:15 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,744
psycho0819
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,744 |
Yep, anything considered poisonous is summarily executed. Other than that, a basic knowledge for anyone who comes out to the land on how to be safe in an environment where these types of critters live is in order.
These are a few lessons I was taught as a child, and I feel they have helped me avoid serious encounters with snakes, and other nefarious creatures:
Step on fallen trees, not over them. Kick things around before you pick them up off the ground. No reaching into brush piles or other "habitat" for these predators w/o first making sure it's safe. Shake out your shoes/boots in the AM before you put them on. Mainly though, be aware you are in their environment, and be vigilant about seeing them before you get close enough to get bit or stung.
But yeah, I'd be cleaning up the immediate area around camp, just to discourage them hanging out around there.
Jay
Tolerance is the virtue of a man without conviction.
The end of the world began the day it was created, and life is a sexually transmitted terminal disease.
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Re: Opinions on balancing "safety" and maintaining the "natural beauty" of the land
[Re: psycho0819]
#920019
09/22/09 02:11 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 37,484
Big Orn
great white gorilla
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great white gorilla
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 37,484 |
All the above is good advice. I would only add that two complete ecosystems cannot coexist - it's either suited for a human footprint or not...bottom line. Unlike hunting areas, living areas need be safe and free of hazards. When I began cleaning the area for my new home I wanted to remain as it was - woodsy and rough. I soon found out that the creatures wanted to use my new home place as much as I did; snakes, rats, frogs, turtles, etc, were everywhere...especially on the porch. I couldn't allow kids out the back door unless I was with them. It didn't take long for me to clean it up.
Even though it's not the "park" I envisioned when I first started, it is safe for kids.
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Re: Opinions on balancing "safety" and maintaining the "natural beauty" of the land
[Re: Big Orn]
#920041
09/22/09 02:23 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,243
wellingtontx
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,243 |
Keep everthing around your living area cleaned up, mowed and exterminate the snakes. Big Orn is correct, you will have to impact the environment for the safety of your family and guests. Oh yea, kill all copperheads and rattlers !
I did see something on the internet the other day which was touted as a "snake fence" which appeared to me to be a nylon mesh type fencing about 12 to 14 inches high that you placed/staked out on the ground that acted more like a barrier and trap than anything else. Had video of several trapped copperheads. The fellow on the video came up with the idea after moving to a rural area and trying to keep snakes away from his family.
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Re: Opinions on balancing "safety" and maintaining the "natural beauty" of the land
[Re: wellingtontx]
#920106
09/22/09 02:47 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,574
deewayne2003
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,574 |
keep things around the living area free of brush and trash, and have an exterminator come out and spray for spiders and roaches every now and then.
As for snakes I have had a couple of close calls but never been bit, how ever more people are bit and have to go the the hospital because of Brown Recluse(fiddle back) spider bites. They get sore and the bite area starts to rot and its no fun.
Just make sure people know they are not walking around in Dallas when they are out there, after all when people get bit by snakes its their own fault most of the time.
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Re: Opinions on balancing "safety" and maintaining the "natural beauty" of the land
[Re: deewayne2003]
#920179
09/22/09 03:25 PM
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,498
TX_LT230FH
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,498 |
All good stuff. I'm in the process of clearing up where the majority of the "shelter-type" buildings will be. I've got a bunch of prickly pear patches to deal with and every one of them have burrows in them- guessing they are probably rats? Did see a skunk loping along Saturday morning but he was headed off........
I want it to be as wild as possible but also to be safe. I guess I could just carry my wife around all the time since she's always riding my a** anyway!
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Re: Opinions on balancing "safety" and maintaining the "natural beauty" of the land
[Re: TX_LT230FH]
#920191
09/22/09 03:31 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 37,484
Big Orn
great white gorilla
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great white gorilla
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 37,484 |
I guess I could just carry my wife around all the time since she's always riding my a** anyway! LMBOFAO!  Good'un!
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