Rattler on the range!!

[jonbearman]

We have missisauga rattlers and I have seen 3 of them over the years. In Pa you have copperheads too. They don't rattle and are more dangerous yet.

 

[PDS]

it's only a rattlesnake. Some of the idiots on the ranges are more dangerous and much more annoying.

 

[Syncrowave]

I never heard that copperheads were more venomous than timber rattlers ... only that they aren't as afraid of humans as rattlers, and so you see a lot more copperheads in populated areas than rattlers. I guess maybe that can make them more dangerous...

 

[JRS]

We have missisauga rattlers and I have seen 3 of them over the years. In Pa you have copperheads too. They don't rattle and are more dangerous yet.

The venom from a Timber Rattler is life threatening Jon. A Copperhead bite is going to be extremely painful, but not life threatening. When we would swim in the mountains in Gatlinburg TN, many people were bitten by Copperheads. The hospital would administer morphine for the pain.

 

[Travelor]

I have a very simple rule - if it slithers, I kill it.

In states stupid enough to stock and protect poisonous snakes - keep you mouth shut.

 

[rwk]

There in New York too!

 

[Gun Smith]

it's only a rattlesnake. Some of the idiots on the ranges are more dangerous and much more annoying.

Indeed!!!

 

[dickn52]

WOW!

I just checked the ins and outs about PA and rattle snakes. You are required to possess a permit to hunt, trap, capture or kill one!

Ok, another state to avoid for dumbing down everything they can get their hands on. A freakin permit to kill a snake? How many cars run over snakes in PA every year you think. Bad bad cars.

 

[LHSmith]

^^^^^There is also a minimum size to "take" a rattler in PA. You are supposed to measure the snake by putting it in a tube to get the correct length. Rattlesnakes (at least up to a few years ago) were prevalent at the Mainville Sportsman Ass'n Range which still conducts IBS group shoots. It was common for the target crew to run into a few during the season.

 

[Medic505]

There in New York too!

Liberals or snakes?

 

[snert]

I have a very simple rule - if it slithers, I kill it.

In states stupid enough to stock and protect poisonous snakes - keep you mouth shut.

I hate even garden snakes. Visceral response that usually exceeds 120 decibels, if I have my shooting iron! No such thing as a good snake in my mind

 

[jds holler]

I think it's weird that most of us humans have the fear (irrational fear) of snakes. There are tons of more dangerous and common killers than the lowly snake.

I do like the fact that many of my favorite fishing spots have a good deal of rattlers just to deter the masses from over-running them. My grandson and I are going camping this weekend in a spot where I've killed many rattlers, and will probably spend at least some time looking for them. What better way to boost a couple of male egos, than by killing a deadly beast and then frying it in corn oil and consuming it. Who knows, I may get the chance to try the "sharp stick to the back of the leg" trick on him. ;D jd

 

[Outrider27]

My grandparent's place was in Cameron County, PA about a 5 minute walk from the Potter County line, so I saw lots of rattlers there as a kid. The laws were a lot different then, and I used to hunt rattlesnakes for the bounty - something like $1.25 per rattle, with an inch of fresh meat attached so that you couldn't save rattles from years when they didn't offer a bounty. I kept the rattles in a jar in the refrigerator and took them down to the courthouse to collect the bounty once a week when my grandmother went to town. I also prepared the skins on boards I kept for the purpose and took them to town, selling them to the local shoe repair and leather goods shop for $1.50 - $3.25 each hide, depending on length and coloring (he used them to make hatbands and belts), and picked up the previous week's boards. Made $8.00 - $15.00 a week that way, a pretty terrific income for a twelve year old kid in the mid 1950s supplementing a 25 cents a week allowance. 8)