Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations snakes

Well I guess I'm a convert now towards eradicating the snakes. My wife's input is pro-termination also.

As these snakes are typically on or around rocks, I thought I would just attach a machete to a long stick and ace 'em that way.

But is there a type of ammo that would be safe when basically shooting at rocks?

Man!! see if you can run across some King snakes some where ad stock them!! Really, I here that these things can put a beating to rattle snakes and water moccosines....I heard of farmers using these beasts to get rid of poisnous snakes.....

I tell you the truth, if one of these poisnous snakes bites one of your kids!! you will take a WHOLE nother view on this pond and lake management thing...I tell you..

If king snake bites, no harm done at all...even the biggest of king snakes are absolutly harmless..

I have been skeered of snakes since I can remember. It is all I can do not to blast a blacksnake. Any snakes I don't recognize or recognize as poisonous become slithering skeet targets for s SS 410. Rattlesnakes are considered endangered in Indiana (I don't even know anyone who has ever seen on in the state) but if one ever comes on my property (and I see it) I will have some rattles to hang over my outdoor bar. "shoot first, identify later"!!

As far as ammo for snakes, the best idea is snake or rat shot in pistol loads. I've seen them in .22, .38, and .45, and I'm sure they come in others. On rocks, anything will (not might) riochett and may put a hurtin' on YOU or someone around you. I have also seen .410 Derringers (really small pistols) at gun shows that would be handy for snakes. At a minimum, wear some sort of safety glasses (many quality sunglasses are polycarbonate.) Solid shot (.22, .38, or .30-30) should not be fired around rocks.

Interesting side note, I saw a 4' snake (king, I think) climb a tree practically straight up, with one small kink in bark, to a limb 4.5' off the ground. I was impressed.

Ain't it amazing the interest in snakes!(yuk) They are, however a part of nature and ya gotta deal with em! The best and safest way to deal with snakes on rocks is probably "rat shot" it comes in a varitey of calibers, from .22 - .44 mag. Always wear shooting/safety glasses when using it around rocks because it to will ricochet even though it has a limited range (5-10 yards)is my rough estimate. I mostly use it at 5-10 feet along soft shorelines. If the snakes are as agressive as you say, they can be caught using a small hook and one of your dead shiners. Just dangle it in front of them, let them bite, give them some line, and then wait, just like worm fishing for bass. Have someone stand by with a shovel handle, and when you pull the snake out give him a liberal dose of oak !!!!! Use to do this when we were kids on the rice farm, just for fun!! Go Get Um!!!

Thanks guys.

I'll have to get some of that "rat shot."

And James, you're right on. These snakes will take a shiner on a hook.

I found a low risk method for catching and disposing of snakes around my pond. Noticed a few about 3 feet long and wanted to find out, like you, if they were moc's or not. They weren't. I used a minnow trap - the one with 2 funnel entrances pointing inward. I put it right at water's edge, so the snake would have to go around it as it cruised the shallows. I placed a small frog inside and a day or so later I had one really mad snake inside. Inside the trap, it's safe to examine it. Mine was a water snake, so he lived. I would think that a Moc would fall for the same bait, but not sure. If so, you can drown it by sinking it for a while, or whatever method you like. Worked for me.
Dave

Yep, I caught three water moc's in one of those little minnow traps once. I whacked em with a stick for a while, then shot them with a 22. Then the Lord called them home.

Or maybe the devil did.

PS
Looks like we have a shortage of the bleeding heart, let them live, they deserve to live types here.

Well Nick, all I'll say is ... some things ya just gotta take in stride.

Since we are going to be doin' a lot of shootin', may I offer that now would be a really good time to get a kid and a shotgun or 22 together? Using all of the commonsence gun safety rules, Let's go shoot! Lots of good things come from this - most important - spending time with them, then working on accuracy, and at the end of it all, a biology lesson on the anatomy of that legless lizard. Great for taking the scaryness out of snakes - makes them an animal just like everthing else and not some monster...even though it is in a way...

Good lord, an aggressive snake is so easy to deal with. Just take a fishing rod with 8-10 lb test line and make a slip knot in the end of it leaving a loop large enough to fit over the snake's head. You can easily snare them with this (or any reptile for that matter)since snakes just don't pay any attention to the fishing line. Then just dump him in a bag cut off the line and take him off somewhere and release him. All the drama with the gun stuff is overkill.

Layton Runkle