Instead of waisting turkey loads on snakes while hunting....

[woodsman04]

I let them be. Ain't worried about no rattle snake miles away from my kids. Plus don't want to shoot to spook turkeys.
I always bring a couple of dove loads though. Just for whatever may be needed.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

If you've already seen a snake, and have time to draw a gun and shoot it, you could much more easily just take two steps to the side and—voilà—no more danger of being bitten. They're not grizzlies. They don't "attack" people. If you shoot a snake your not shooting it in self defense. If I see a poisonous snake by my pond or in my yard where my kids fish and play I'll kill it. Other than that, I just give them their space and carry on.

 

[ghostfive]

I don't bother them it's easy to just step aside. We are playing in their living room but it doesn't mean I don't keep an eye out I don't want to get bitten. I will say there are no poisonous snakes in Tennessee, you can eat all of them you want except for the illegal to kill part. There are venomous snakes which is different. Poisonous you bite it, venomous it bites you.

 

[KPH]

Know one has mentioned that it's not even legal to kill snakes in TN.

that was my thought

 

[Chickenrig]

I'm not a gigantic puss and admire them as I move on my way. This ridiculous fear from grown arse men over snakes is comical. I see them, I respect them, and am not the least bit afraid.

The same guy who is terrified and must kill every snake does nothing to worry about mountain dew, fast food, and being an overweight health nightmare. Explain that to me? All of those are guaranteed to shorten your life yet a snake which you Have minuscule chances of being bitten by is the the grim reaper.

I have seen only one rattlesnake this year and am still in awe of how big, concealed and cool it was.

Now this guy has it right !!! It's amazing how many big strong outdoorsman are in the woods and are terrified of a snake that they can easily just walk away from !! Great post setterman

 

[gladesman60]

Do any of y'all carry a snake killer Incase one gets to close?

I have always found that just walking around them works best.

 

[rifle02]

I normally don't encounter snakes much and I normally don't kill them when I do. But as for my preferred snake killer load the only time I used it was when sneaking along the base of a hardwood ridge in North Georgia and I came to a "beech spring". I noticed an unusual amount of chipmunks there which should have tipped me off. The trail crossed the little creek coming out of the spring which was only about three feet wide. I naturally jumped across the creek and came down on the biggest Copperhead I've ever seen. I instantly jumped a foot off the ground. The snake struck the side of my shoe so hard it nearly caused my foot to go out from under me. I spun around and instinctively and compulsively employed my preferred snake killer load. 90 grains of black powder topped with a 370 grain T/C Maxi ball. I've had a half dozen or so close calls since that time I have avoided stepping on any more snakes. If I do in the future I will have to again employ my preferred snake killer load which would be 280 Ackley improved.

 

[Ol Fart]

The Communist snakes in Washington DC are the ones you better be paying attention to.

 

[Knightonjd76]

Here he is, a really nice one and thankful to have seen him.

That's a beaut!! I 100% agree - not near my house or kids so no reason to get around it. Give it the respect it's due and a wide birth. Now I fall into a den of 'em, that's a different story!

 

[PDenn381]

How about letting the snakes live. Or do you believe the myth about them being evil.

 

[Huntaholic]

Ive been away for a week, actually chasing and killing turkeys instead of being a keyboard warrior so this thread has got a lot of attention evidently. I live, hunt, and work in the woods and Im sorry if it hurts your wittle feewings, but I will kill every poisonous snake I see. I don't have to use a shotgun or carry a sidearm just for that purpose either. A good switch or stick does the job nicely and doesn't make any noise. TWRA can write my ass up for killing a grand total of TWO. The first was coiled up ready to strike my 10yr old son at the time, I shot that one with my single six right between his feet. The 2nd one was on my 4 wheeler and crawled up across the gas tank of my 4 wheeler as I was riding it. Both of those met their maker, Satan, and I don't care who knows it. The rest, I plead the 5th on.

 

[RodneyO]

Uhh... It's illegal in TN to kill any snake.

 

[Rakkin6]

Uhh... It's illegal in TN to kill any snake.

Well that's nice but I am not leaving a copperhead or cottonmouth around my house.

 

[catman529]

If you've already seen a snake, and have time to draw a gun and shoot it, you could much more easily just take two steps to the side and—voilà—no more danger of being bitten. They're not grizzlies. They don't "attack" people. If you shoot a snake your not shooting it in self defense. If I see a poisonous snake by my pond or in my yard where my kids fish and play I'll kill it. Other than that, I just give them their space and carry on.

Common sense goes a long way

 

[FTG-05]

Uhh... It's illegal in TN to kill any snake.

Don't care: If this had been me, I'd have gone full-auto on it just for scaring the living shi! out of me. Then I would spent the next 6 months cleaning my shorts.

 

[Grill-n-man]

Carry a judge public defender loaded with 2 410 #7.5 for the snakes that crawl an 3 different ones for ones that walk. Scared ain't got nothing to do with it it's being prepared in case either of the snakes decides to be stupid. Can't control stupid but can stop it if need be. Some call it scared I call it a plan to go home to the family when I'm done.

 

[PossumSlayer]

How about letting the snakes live. Or do you believe the myth about them being evil.

They're cats without feet

 

[PossumSlayer]

Uhh... It's illegal in TN to kill any snake.

So is left lane driving.

 

[dralarms]

As far as the "it's illegal to kill a snake" crowd. Sorry but if it's in my yard and appears to look like it's striking it's toast. If it's a big black snake it gets a pass, in the woods thats their territory and I err on the side of I'm the trespasser and I steer clear.

 

[SwampChicken]

I've stepped right over many a cottonmouth, copperhead & rattlesnake and have never had one try to strike at me. I do wear snake boots due to the fact that I hunt some pretty remote and rugged places but I damn sure ain't letting a round fly at a snake while in pursuit of a turkey. Never understood the fear that some folks have over serpents...