Why you should ALWAYS keep a pistol loaded with shot when in the woods!

[Badgersmilk]

Took my dog, and daughter for a hike today.  Got about a mile into the woods, the dog jumps back at me, and my daughter yells from behind "SNAKE!".

A little over 3' long stretched out I'd guess.

First Rattler I've come that close to in my 39 years (about 2 feet away!).  Dog actually stepped on it!

Without anything more threatening than my pocket knife in my ALICE pack (yep, you heard right Tom! )  We decided Mr. Snake had right of way and turned back (VERY narrow trail!).

Stopped at a creek to let the dog get a drink, and...  The dog jumps back, my daughter yells from behind me SNAKE!

From where we were standing we could see no less than THREE black snakes!

WTF!!!

You have NO IDEA how bad I wanted my little Berreta Bobcat with some shot shells in it!!!

[1Buckshot]

When my Wife and I take the dogs down to the river for a swim, we always load our revolvers with shot rounds in the first two chambers, (Wife's Rossi 357mag and my S&W 44mag). There are plenty of rattlers around there. We not only have Snakes but now we have Wolfs that use that area. Better safe than sorry.

[Timothy]

It's an Eastern Massasauga Rattler and darn rare to see in the state of MI.  They are slow moving and generaly won't strike unless provoked.  It's the only venomous snake found in Michigan.

Please don't shoot it just for the sake of killing it and the black rat snakes are harmless unless your a small rodent.

[Texas_Bryan]

Two feet's awfully close, specially for a little one.  I agree with Timothy, but if you get bit, kill it that way when you roll up to the ER, you can drop it on the triage desk and say, 'I got bit by this, gimme my shot so I can go.'

I hate snakes, specially the rattlers, they got a habit of running around on the local playgrounds.  How am I supposed to enjoy the damn slide and swings with the snakes running around.  If you worried about, invest in some snake guards for you shins and ankles, if not for you than the little one, just tell her she's accessorizing.

[Rastus]

............
Please don't shoot it just for the sake of killing it and the black rat snakes are harmless unless your a small rodent.

One of them danged snake lovers, eh?  

Well, fer your information, I got me a pair of dem' whitesnake boots and no, it is not one on the endangered species list, it was the last one.  

[Sponsor]

[Badgersmilk]

First rattler I've seen in this state in the 12 years we've been here!  My wife would NOT have been happy if I got her dog killed today.  ME she probably wouldnt have minded so much .  If the dog had jump OVER the snake instead of back at me I was only about a step away from tromping on the rattler myself  (we were watching a giant heron flying over).  GOOD DOG!  We werent sure if she'd gotten bit (Mr. Snake was NOT in a good mood, and made NO efforts to get away), but figured a little Jack Russel wouldnt likely still be with us even a few minutes later if she had gotten bit.  Where the saying "LUCKY DOG" comes from I guess!

HERO OF THE DAY:  Note my German Short Hair's have taught her to point!   

[Texas_Bryan]

Make sure you dog gets a nice steak.  I've never seen a rattler run, around here they just get into a defensive posture and wait for you to leave.  Roll up to the local 7-11 and tell the cashier, 'My dog wants to buy a half dozen quick picks.'

[Timothy]

I'm not a snake lover at all but the state of Michigan has one friggin viper that ain't bothering anyone.  Maybe 50 people a year see them, they are that rare.  Badger should feel privilaged to have actually seen one!

In Oklahoma, you got the things running roughshod all over the place.  I'd have a pair of boots myself!

Let me make myself clear here fellas.....if it interferes or endangers human life, KILL IT.  Otherwise, leave it alone and pay closer attention to the trail and not the blue birdy.  I see blue Heron every day, I've never seen a rattle snake in my life other than at a zoo and I've been to 44 different states.  We have the Eastern Diamondback and the Copperhead in New England so when I'm in the woods, especially with my kid, I'm watching were I step.

[Rob10ring]

Two feet's awfully close, specially for a little one.  I agree with Timothy, but if you get bit, kill it that way when you roll up to the ER, you can drop it on the triage desk and say, 'I got bit by this, gimme my shot so I can go.'

I hate snakes, specially the rattlers, they got a habit of running around on the local playgrounds.  How am I supposed to enjoy the damn slide and swings with the snakes running around.  If you worried about, invest in some snake guards for you shins and ankles, if not for you than the little one, just tell her she's accessorizing.

Anyone I know around here that has ever been bit by a rattlesnake had to go through a lot more than a shot. Pretty bad if you get bit by a brown recluse spider too.

[Texas_Bryan]

Anyone I know around here that has ever been bit by a rattlesnake had to go through a lot more than a shot. Pretty bad if you get bit by a brown recluse  spider too.

I just don't want to sick around the hospital so they can make sure I don't stop breathing and drain the swelling.  Up north around Dallas we didn't have rattle snakes, so I don't know any one that's been bit.  We just had cotton mouths, copper heads, and various others.  I don't like spiders either, I'm scared enough already, so lets not bring them into the conversation.