SNAKES
I LIVE IN ARKANSAS,WE HAVE LOTS OF SNAKES INCLUDING THE COTTONMOUTH WATER MOCCASSIN WHICH IS ITS TRUE NAME.I CANOE AND WADE FISH SMALL RIVERS AND ENCOUNTER THEM EVERY TIME I GO OUT.I HAVE HAD AGGRESSIVE SNAKES COME AFTER ME WHEN I GOT TOO CLOSE TO AN AREA THEY CLAIMED AND HAVE HAD TO SHOOT A FEW.I DON’T SHOOT THEM UNLESS THEY DO.
A COTTON MOUTH SWIMS ON TOP OF THE WATER AND IS A SHORT BUT THICK SNAKE WHILE A WATER SNAKE CAN BE A VERY LONG SNAKE AND USUALY SWIMS WITH JUST HIS HEAD OUT AND HIS BODY A FEW INCHES UNDER.YOU WILL SEE TEN TIMES MORE HARMLESS WATER SNAKES(EVEN THOUGH THEY CAN BE BIG AND MEAN LOOKING) THAN COTTONMOUTHS. BUT THEY ARE BOTH WATER SNAKES AND CAN BOTH SWIM SUBMERGED WHEN THEY WANT TO.IF YOU CHOOSE TO CARRY A PISTOL,USE A REVOLVER LOADED WITH CCI BRAND SHOT SHELLS AND ONLY SHOOT THE SNAKE AT CLOSE RANGE IE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO AND BECAUSE SHOT SHELLS WON’T KILL IT AT ANY DISTANCE(ALWAYS SHOOT THE HEAD). BUY AN OLD MILITARY OR POLICE .357 MAG OR.38 SPECIAL REVOLVER. THEY BOTH SHOOT THE SAME SHOTSHELLS.JUST REMEMBER THE BOAT YOU ARE IN LOOKS LIKE A LOG TO A SNAKE. MOST OF THE TIME HE’S JUST LOOKING FOR A RESTING SPOT AND IS NOT ATTACKING.
MOST OF THE TIME…
snakes
I mhave used plastic rat shot to shoot snakes in the past. I was far enough away that the snake just went in the other direction. I could not see that it harmed the snake, but couldn’t watch it for long afterwards.
Re: correction
No insult intended but I've seen many a moccosin on deadfalls (over a half-dozen on one deadfall is common) that I've had to scrunch/paddle under and pole vault over (Seventeen Runs and Cypress Creek, Hillsborough River). I've also seen them fairly high in the trees doing their best to escape floodwaters (Blackwater Creek, same river). Being born and raised in the swamps of central FL I also know the difference between a banded water snake and a cottonmouth and these were definitely water moccosins. Not knowing the difference at an early age would've guarranteed I wouldn't be living to 54 years of age.
I saw two
baby snakes last year, didn’t matter what they were, they went one way, I the other.
A wasp or hornets nest hanging over a creek is what really scares heck out of me. It could be too late and then what do you do? I don’t think hesitation to wet exit would be a problem unless you had just seen a snake in the water:)
Multiple stings could cause an emergency situation even for those not allergic.
snake!
twenty plus years ago,two fishing buddies went out in a canoe in florida. looking to get some better fishing in, as they paddled under some tree branches,a large snake deceided to fall in to the canoe,so the story goes.i guess it was pretty exciting- ill never forget how big his eyes became after repeating the story monday at work.they never went out in that canoe again!see you on the water -Bert