jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Apr 28, 2014 12:43:00 GMT -5
This one a diamondback on a shorter pole. 5 inches jowl to jowl  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2014 13:37:27 GMT -5
Who needs venom? That thing could scare a person to death just by showing up in the back yard.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Apr 28, 2014 19:25:30 GMT -5
I think I prefer the risks of the Bay of Fundy tides compared to that Diamondback. The tides are on a predictable schedule and you can see them coming. As for the Diamondback, that would scare the SCHIST out of anyone.
Question - How many pairs of underwear do you pack when you go rock hounding?
Darryl.
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marinedad
freely admits to licking rocks
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Post by marinedad on Apr 28, 2014 19:39:27 GMT -5
holy cow! I worry about finding copperheads on my property, 22cal. snake shot might tick off a rattler that size.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Apr 28, 2014 22:36:19 GMT -5
I think I prefer the risks of the Bay of Fundy tides compared to that Diamondback. The tides are on a predictable schedule and you can see them coming. As for the Diamondback, that would scare the SCHIST out of anyone. Question - How many pairs of underwear do you pack when you go rock hounding? Darryl. We get stuck in boats going way up in flat tidal marshlands w/a 6 foot tide. Cannot imagine a 50 footer. Those snakes do not worry me in the forest w/clear understory. But brush land making visibility past your knees and waist is another story. Many people wear snake chaps in diamond back country when moving thru brush Darryl. |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Apr 28, 2014 22:38:20 GMT -5
holy cow! I worry about finding copperheads on my property, 22cal. snake shot might tick off a rattler that size. Perhaps the 12 gauge would be the weapon of choice. |
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Fossilman
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Post by Fossilman on Apr 28, 2014 22:42:49 GMT -5
Some good eating there.....
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Apr 28, 2014 23:13:55 GMT -5
Some good eating there..... Better get the jumbo grill out for this on Michael. |
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Sabre52
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Post by Sabre52 on Apr 28, 2014 23:31:56 GMT -5
Gets a bit interstin when a rattler is large enough it can strike half it's length and hit you in the face. Last time the wife and I were down at George West hunting pet wood, she found a rattler skeleton picked clean by the vultures that was about 7-8 inches across the rib cage at the widest point. I'm always glad to have my gem scoop to reach wood back in the bushes along those roads.....Mel
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Apr 29, 2014 8:24:17 GMT -5
Gets a bit interstin when a rattler is large enough it can strike half it's length and hit you in the face. Last time the wife and I were down at George West hunting pet wood, she found a rattler skeleton picked clean by the vultures that was about 7-8 inches across the rib cage at the widest point. I'm always glad to have my gem scoop to reach wood back in the bushes along those roads.....Mel Another large pit viper is the Bushmaster in Peru/Amazon. It may be the largest of the pit vipers. Not sure of it's aggressiveness but know that it is highly feared and surrounded by lore of the Amazon natives. I have heard those big rattlers can hit you on the leg and slice veins along their length and cause severe bleeding. As if the megadose of poison is not enough threat to life. |
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
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Post by panamark on Apr 29, 2014 8:50:49 GMT -5
Another large pit viper is the Bushmaster in Peru/Amazon. It may be the largest of the pit vipers. Not sure of it's aggressiveness but know that it is highly feared and surrounded by lore of the Amazon natives. I have heard those big rattlers can hit you on the leg and slice veins along their length and cause severe bleeding. As if the megadose of poison is not enough threat to life. I think the bushmaster is fairly! passive, but the fer de lance is really nasty/aggressive. At least to my knowledge. We have both around here. About every couple months someone around here has to kill one. That is why we keep the grass cut close around the houses. Both are really poisonous. The other nasty ones are some of the tree vipers and the coral snakes. Scott can amplify |
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Sabre52
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Post by Sabre52 on Apr 29, 2014 8:55:00 GMT -5
James: I was on a field trip up near LLano with the local rock club a few years ago and a guy got hit by a rattler and it went clear through his boot with one fang. Even my snakeproofs only go to just below the knee and I've seen coiled rattlers here that are like a foot tall already when sitting coiled. The one good thing is they are not generally very aggressive. Most seem even more mellow than our California gold country rattlers used to be. Still, big as they are those snakeproof boots don't make you feel super safe....Mel
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Apr 29, 2014 10:35:44 GMT -5
James: I was on a field trip up near LLano with the local rock club a few years ago and a guy got hit by a rattler and it went clear through his boot with one fang. Even my snakeproofs only go to just below the knee and I've seen coiled rattlers here that are like a foot tall already when sitting coiled. The one good thing is they are not generally very aggressive. Most seem even more mellow than our California gold country rattlers used to be. Still, big as they are those snakeproof boots don't make you feel super safe....Mel I hear a lot of snake stories. But I have heard on more than one occasion of veins being sliced longitudinally in the calf muscle. The razor sharp backside of the hooked fangs is like a hooked skinning knife. And there jaws have somewhat flexible hinges to assist dragging those hooks toward each other. Quite effective. It is really not smart to walk w/shorts thru diamond back laden grasses and brush. They are not so aggressive but stepping on or near one is going to make him strike. The snake preachers don't like your western rattlers. Much more temperamental. I am thinking they should really increase their 'faith' when they handle a western ha. It was said on the snake preacher show that the western rattler has deadlier poison. any truth ? |
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Fossilman
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Post by Fossilman on Apr 29, 2014 10:45:16 GMT -5
Use to work "pipe line" in Montana while in the oilfield.....Had one area that was loaded with western diamond backs...We killed about four every day were were there!!!! killed one that was a four footer,I still have the rattlers.(12 and a button)...
Had a wrangler come out there and hunt them,he found over 75 rattlers in a five hour tour.....
Had a box full,he took them home with him.....Haven't a clue what he does with them....
I see a few when I fossil hunt,but its more open area and we just part ways,its easier that way...
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Fossilman
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Post by Fossilman on Apr 29, 2014 10:47:08 GMT -5
James: I was on a field trip up near LLano with the local rock club a few years ago and a guy got hit by a rattler and it went clear through his boot with one fang. Even my snakeproofs only go to just below the knee and I've seen coiled rattlers here that are like a foot tall already when sitting coiled. The one good thing is they are not generally very aggressive. Most seem even more mellow than our California gold country rattlers used to be. Still, big as they are those snakeproof boots don't make you feel super safe....Mel I hear a lot of snake stories. But I have heard on more than one occasion of veins being sliced longitudinally in the calf muscle. The razor sharp backside of the hooked fangs is like a hooked skinning knife. And there jaws have somewhat flexible hinges to assist dragging those hooks toward each other. Quite effective. It is really not smart to walk w/shorts thru diamond back laden grasses and brush. They are not so aggressive but stepping on or near one is going to make him strike. The snake preachers don't like your western rattlers. Much more temperamental. I am thinking they should really increase their 'faith' when they handle a western ha. It was said on the snake preacher show that the western rattler has deadlier poison. any truth ? One of those famous snake preachers was bit and killed by a snake last month...Don't know what kind of snake bit him...(it was on the national news)...(yuppers,a rattler) abcnews.go.com/US/snake-handling-pentecostal-pastor-dies-snake-bite/story?id=22551754 |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Apr 29, 2014 10:54:31 GMT -5
I think the bushmaster is fairly! passive, but the fer de lance is really nasty/aggressive. Read more: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/65459/another-big-rattler-south-land#ixzz30I5USy5KThe fer de lance would be another level. I'll take my chances w/big rattlers. Summer high boots for you Mark. Keep the grass cut ? hell yea The Ocala National forest is all sand. Gopher turtle holes(diamond back nests) are every where. Florida boys wear boots right up to the knee commonly. Typical boot :  |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Apr 29, 2014 11:04:37 GMT -5
Use to work "pipe line" in Montana while in the oilfield.....Had one area that was loaded with western diamond backs...We killed about four every day were were there!!!! killed one that was a four footer,I still have the rattlers.(12 and a button)... Had a wrangler come out there and hunt them,he found over 75 rattlers in a five hour tour..... Had a box full,he took them home with him.....Haven't a clue what he does with them.... I see a few when I fossil hunt,but its more open area and we just part ways,its easier that way... a friend was building a concrete form for a large tunnel for diverting flood water for a TVA dam. He said they had to send men it there to clear the water snakes every morning before work could commence. Probably not moccasins, just water snakes guessing. Here in Georgia about every fat snake in the water is a water snake. Quite the opposite in Florida. Moccasins very common there. And they have a curious way of coming to you thinking you are a perch if you are in the water. As far as the preacher getting bit, I have little sympathy. I am all for Bible believing churches until they manipulate scripture to such an extreme. Interesting to watch their antics though. |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Apr 29, 2014 11:32:29 GMT -5
You know @shotgunner is going to call y'all wimps, lol! He likes to wander about in dangerous territory looking for the dang things in shorts and tennis shoes (with orange laces  ). I usually wear tennies, too, but not shorts in the boondooks - too many prickly things poking me. Also don't care too much for poison oak.
Largest rattler I've seen in the wild was in Alabama. It was a good four and a half feet long, even missing the head (I did not kill it, it was killed by a rancher's hand that didn't want it near the cattle) and about as big around as my upper arm. I skinned it, though, and it became a harmless hatband. Largest I've seen in captivity was at SDSU (San Diego State Univ), in their herpetology department. Went there on a field trip with the herp society years ago. This animal was a long time captive. I can't remember exactly how old he was, but something like 29 years! I'll have to see if I have an info on that still...
EDIT to update - Aha, found the photo I was looking for! The field trip to the SDSU herp dept was on April, 26, 1986. I can't believe that was 28 years ago, another lifetime! Anyway, the rattler was a Western Diamondback, Crotalus atrox (may be called something different by now, the way they like to change the names around ). I can't say for sure, but I believe they acquired him when he was full grown. They called him Clarence, and when I saw him in 1986, they had already had him for 25 years! Wonder if he's in one of the Slavens inventories... Don't know if I still have my copy or not. |
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ash
spending too much on rocks
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Post by ash on Apr 29, 2014 11:37:18 GMT -5
That is a huge rattlesnake! I bet the fangs on that guy are gigantic. The guys that design those snakeproof clothing items probably don't anticipate someone coming in contact with a Mesozoic sized critter! lol I do hate to see it dead though, shame, but I'm not judging.
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Apr 29, 2014 12:42:31 GMT -5
I think the bushmaster is fairly! passive, but the fer de lance is really nasty/aggressive. I'm an archaeology buff and several years ago I was able to take a "dream" trip to the ancient Mayan cities of Caracol in Belize and Tikal in Guatemala. A member of our group was an Audobon Society official. At Tikal she arranged a guided "bird-watching walk" through the jungle. We were all wearing athletic shoes and light clothing. Before we set off our guide sat us down for a lecture on dangerous critters we might encounter. He opened up his pack and showed us his anti-venom treatments for snake bites including corals, rattlesnakes and fer de lance. "Don't step on any 'sticks' in the path," he warned us. "They might move." I didn't need that warning. The trail was very narrow so we formed a 7-person queue. The guide was in the lead and I joked that he was safe because he'd wake the snakes up and they'd bite the second person. I brought up the rear and he responded that the last in line was jaguar bait. It was a great tour with no bad incidents and we saw many wonderful birds and other wildlife. |
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). I usually wear tennies, too, but not shorts in the boondooks - too many prickly things poking me. Also don't care too much for poison oak.
Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
