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Scioto

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Ok try not to laugh. Grew up hunting Northern OH and we didn't have venomous snakes. Only really big deer. Ticks weren't an issue come November. Since then hunting central MO and northern Blue Ridge VA never thought about snakes. New to TN and have seen mentions of copperheads.

Have seen posts about ticks and what to do (permanone, etc). Should I be taking taking precautions for ticks come ML Nov 3?

I hate snakes and the thread about using flashlights has me a little freaked out. As a kid I would catch those things (snakes; didnt have poisonous snakes in N OH) but now I hate them. How concerned should I be walking on public land trying to find a tree for my climber in the dark? The WMA is Yanahli and now I'm seeing copperheads slithering all over that river land. I know it's irrational but better to be safe than sorry.

Thanks.
 
just speaking from my experience. I know that during ML season its not as cold as it might be in N OH, but I don't ever recall seeing a snake during ML season. It usually gets cool enough during the day and cold enough at night to make snakes go dormant as they are cold blooded reptiles and go into hiding when it gets good and cool or cold outside.
 
The Sabre-tooth copper moccasins are terrible in November. Be careful!

Just kidding.

I've been hunting middle Tennessee for decades and have never seen a copperhead while hunting. I have never seen any snake at night.

Ticks - depends on where you hunt. If you hunt around cattle, I would still use permethrin until after the first hard frost. Otherwise, you are probably OK without.
 
I am with u i hate snakes but i have never seen one during m.l season but i did 3days ago step on a snake coming out at dark i didnt even no i did till my girlfriend started yelling snake as she was walking behind me. So they are still out so now its got me to watching my step
 
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I have seen copperheads out on warm days in January but they were very sluggish and couldnt do much. I havent seen a rattler out past late September though. Good thing is the dog days of late August into September are over.I havent been concerned with ticks in November but have picked just a few off of me during that time on those warm days, just not enough to amount to anything.
 
I would still take tick precautions during the ML. One thing to look out for as well with the ticks is if you kill a deer that is infested with ticks, they will start dropping off as the deer's body temperature drops and the blood stops flowing. If you have him inside a vehicle you may have a bunch of ticks seeking fresh meat in there.

I stay on the lookout for snakes until the temps get in the forties for more than a few hours at a time. Yanahli likely has timber rattlers (and perhaps a cottonmouth or two)as well as copperheads, so I would watch where I put my hands and feet (and other select body parts) until it cools down a little more.

And, with some of the public land idiots out there, you couldn't pay me enough to walk around during a firearms hunt on a public WMA in the dark without a light.
 
I saw a nice timber rattlesnake in yanahli this spring. All coiled up waiting to be stepped on. :D never seen a copperhead there. Maybe you are seeing a midland water snake, some other type of snake? Sure there are copperheads but I've never seen one so there can't be many. Most of the snakes you see won't hurt, might bite, but not venomous. Caught a real nice black racer on yanahli while turkey hunting this spring (let it go of course) snakes don't bother me, only the thought of stepping on a rattlesnake in some of those rocky areas.
 
i go digging ginsang every year and let me tell you....its very very rare to see a timber rattler or coppers in the woods. most people encounter them in the heat of summer near water source. i ran into this copperhead in sept. this year and the first one in the woods.....didnt even see it till i went to grab my walking stick. and the timber rattler a few years ago.

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I've seen a few snakes out during ML season,even 1 or 2 on warm days in Dec,actually sat down right beside a big black snake once.LOL I got up rather quickly and re located. As for ticks,if its a warm day,you need to check yourself.But the seed ticks will be long gone come muzzleloader.That is my main beef,I hate big ticks,but seed ticks I mega loathe them with a passion!! Atleast I can see the big ones to pick off..
 
They's sum big ole vipiridades in them woods, but them slitherin'-type creatures round hear is plumb scairt of peoples on account they's afeared of gettin' caught up by them snake-handling folk up in yonder hollars. Ya'll be jest fine.


In all seriousness, you'll rarely seen snakes in the woods this time of year, unless you get near a den. Snakes generally hide or run away when larger animals come blundering through the woods. I did see 5 copperheads last sept at a den, and about stepped on a big black snake at yuchi this year, but thats just 6 snakes in nearly 20 deer seasons.

I know LED flashlights make snakes easy to spot at night, but what thread are you referring to?
 
Last year during one especially warm afternoon on a gun hunt, I was doing a bit of scouting and happened to kick over a big rotten log. Low and behold, there was a copperhead hiding out in the thing. I think that generally you will be ok but just dont stick your feet or hands in any snaky looking area. If you are just walking then you are fine unless you step on one but that is very rare. However, brush piles, hollowed out logs, rocky crevices, and other such areas should warrant closer attention. Dont let the idea of the things keep you out of the woods though or run any hunts. Lord knows i've come outta the woods before light because of Bigfoot sounding sounds lol.
 
I saw a snake crossing the road last Wednesday(10-17-12). Saw a garter snake last Monday(10-15-12) while cutting grass. Several years ago I saw two copperheads attached at the tail on opening weekend of MZ.
 
Seeing a poisonous snake does not scare me. It's NOT seeing them that scares me! Those animals have the best camo ever invented.
 
Snakes will and do come out of their dens after a few days of warm weather.
I've seen them during rifle season in November. Not trying to freak you out, just be aware.
 
bigtex said:
Snakes will and do come out of their dens after a few days of warm weather.
I've seen them during rifle season in November. Not trying to freak you out, just be aware.
Click to expand...

Yup. Although I've had close calls in the summer, the only time I've actually been struck by a poisonous snake was in early January! A sudden warm spell had them out sunning themselves, and I stepped a little too close.
 
I hunt in southern Michigan and in Tennessee. In Michigan I've never seen a tick or a poisonous snake. But, I grew up in WV and TN so saw plenty of both.

Here's what you do...get yourself a pair of 16" snake boots from Cabelas, tuck your pant leg into the boot...During turkey season and sometimes mz season I also spray unscented deep woods off with the higher deet count on my boots and pants and give my hat and neck and spray or two. I've never had a problem with snakes or ticks. I also use a thermocell during bow season.
 
Kinda off topic, but last year durring mzl opening day I walked into the woods at about day break. I came up on 2 racoons doing the deed. They got all pissed off and I thought they were going to attack me. I had my handgun out just incase. The female climbed the tree hissing and the male arched his back and started hissing. I just sat down about 45 feet away and they left about 15 mins later.
 
Bears HA! Go hunt elk or mulies in WY/MT outside Yellowstone and see how the grizzly population has recovered. Now those are bears! ;)
 
Get some snake boots and dont worry about them. I almost stepped on a rattler a couple weeks ago. I was only wearing crocks at the camp and my dad literally pushed out the way from stepping on it. This was in October and I never imagined they were still out.
 
Football Hunter said:
Snakes and ticks HA! Go hunt in SC where I grew up and throw Gators in the mix.Bears too in certain places.
Click to expand...
Reminds me of the time I was hunting in south Alabama, we were walking knee deep in a swamp and I asked the guy [who lived there] Aren't you afraid of water moccasins? He replied, "not as scared of the moccasins as I am the gators" Kinda ruined my hunt. :(
 
Urban_Hunter said:
Weird. I've seen what a coon does to a dog and I can say I want no part of them toe for toe. Surprised they didn't just run off.
Click to expand...

I was too. That is why I just sat down and figured they would. it took a full 15 mins for them to.
 
bigtex said:
Football Hunter said:
Snakes and ticks HA! Go hunt in SC where I grew up and throw Gators in the mix.Bears too in certain places.
Click to expand...
Reminds me of the time I was hunting in south Alabama, we were walking knee deep in a swamp and I asked the guy [who lived there] Aren't you afraid of water moccasins? He replied, "not as scared of the moccasins as I am the gators" Kinda ruined my hunt. :(
Click to expand...

Now, that's cold!
 
I had a coon charge me a couple years ago when I walked up to a white oak they were feeding on. It was still dark so I had my headlamp on (thank goodness).

The only reason it didn't get ahold of me is that I gave it my best nine iron swing with my bow and rolled it down the hill when it was about a foot from my leg. Never saw it again, but its buddy hung around while I put my climber on a nearby tree and climbed up. It was kinda creepy. I kept expecting that coon to jump on my head when I bent over to pick something up.
 

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