You are probably right. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. [emoji1]TheLBLman":yozyquc6 said:
Snake boots
- Thread starter hbg1
- Start date
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
IMO, many people fail to see snakes just like many people fail to find shed deer antlers. You develop an eye for them, or you don't. I love to point out the snakes within strike range to the person walking in front of me, who didn't see it. The best news is that most pit vipers will not strike a human just because he walks by within striking distance. Different story if you step on it or have movement inconsistent with just walking by.
Another thing, our turkey season is early enough that most snakes remain a bit "cold" and less aggressive than they'll become a month or so later. Similarly, much of our deer hunting is also once they've "cooled down" and/or gone into hibernation. Our bigger risks of being bitten may be during the summer months. But get any part of your body within strike distance whether April or October, and you have a fair chance of being struck.
Over a lifetime I've had many "close calls" with rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottomouths (the ones I personally "respect" most). Rattlesnakes may be the most "deadly" but they are generally the most docile, and will commonly move out of your way before you see them. Copperheads may be the most aggressive, but they're the least "deadly". But the cottonmouth is often both aggressive and deadly, plus often the hardest to notice in advance of his striking.
Having many times "stepped back" after almost stepping on a cottonmouth, I finally purchased some snake boots, believing they'd not only provide real protection, but would allow me to walk more freely and do more in a day afield. I also had concerns over rattlesnakes, but little about copperheads, since a true "snake" boot is not required to block their short fangs. Most my cottonmouth encounters have been in Obion & Lake Counties; most my rattlesnake encounters have been in Stewart Co.
Anyway, the one big cottonmouth that possibly could have killed me had I not been wearing snake boots, it was around noon on a beautifully sunny October day. I was well over 100 yards from the nearest water, and simply walking thru the woods, mainly scouting for fresh rubs. Didn't necessarily look like a "snaky" place at all. In this particular hardwood area, the ground was covered with lots of freshly fallen sycamore leaves. As I placed a step on what initially felt like an arm-sized fallen limb under the leaves, I realized I was placing my weight on a snake, and immediately jumped back. When I jumped back, the snake started moving, and I realized it was a large cottonmouth, only partially hidden by the large sycamore leaves.
My sense of relief almost immediately switched to new fear. As I stepped back, watching this big one slowly crawl towards the base of the nearest sycamore tree, his granddaddy struck me right above the ankle of my left foot. I had walked by the larger cottonmouth before stepping on just a big one. But stopping and backing up, he struck me. Got my attention almost like someone had just hit my foot with a hammer. They can hit harder than you might think, so I can see why their fangs could go thru regular leather boots.
After than one experience, I have since regularly worn snake boots afield between March and October. The boots are comfortable, and I typically see no reason NOT to wear them. They possibly saved my life on that particular otherwise beautiful October day about 15 years ago, as there was no cell service, was by myself over a mile from the truck, and certainly over an hour from the nearest emergency room.
Interestingly, my grandfather had almost died from the bite of a cottonmouth years earlier, and was told he would die if he didn't allow them to amputate his leg. He declined the amputation, and somehow survived anyway. At the time bitten, he was bitten on his big toe while fishing in the Obion River bottoms. He never even saw the snake that bit him.
I've also been struck in the lower calf by a big copperhead, but he failed to get his fangs in my flesh. Otherwise, just "almost" been struck several times by all varieties. My last "close" experience was last summer, mowing with a push mower, I walked right over a big rattler. Fortunately for me, he stuck his head up under the mowing deck just a second before I stepped on him. And I was also wearing snake boots
Another thing, our turkey season is early enough that most snakes remain a bit "cold" and less aggressive than they'll become a month or so later. Similarly, much of our deer hunting is also once they've "cooled down" and/or gone into hibernation. Our bigger risks of being bitten may be during the summer months. But get any part of your body within strike distance whether April or October, and you have a fair chance of being struck.
Over a lifetime I've had many "close calls" with rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottomouths (the ones I personally "respect" most). Rattlesnakes may be the most "deadly" but they are generally the most docile, and will commonly move out of your way before you see them. Copperheads may be the most aggressive, but they're the least "deadly". But the cottonmouth is often both aggressive and deadly, plus often the hardest to notice in advance of his striking.
Andy, not Jotahech, but thought you might benefit in hearing one particular experience I had with a BIG cottonmouth that absolutely NAILED me right above the ankle. Fortunately, this was at a time when I had just begun routinely wearing snake boots, mainly because of some close encounters with cottonmouths.Andy S.":lyx222e4 said:
Having many times "stepped back" after almost stepping on a cottonmouth, I finally purchased some snake boots, believing they'd not only provide real protection, but would allow me to walk more freely and do more in a day afield. I also had concerns over rattlesnakes, but little about copperheads, since a true "snake" boot is not required to block their short fangs. Most my cottonmouth encounters have been in Obion & Lake Counties; most my rattlesnake encounters have been in Stewart Co.
Anyway, the one big cottonmouth that possibly could have killed me had I not been wearing snake boots, it was around noon on a beautifully sunny October day. I was well over 100 yards from the nearest water, and simply walking thru the woods, mainly scouting for fresh rubs. Didn't necessarily look like a "snaky" place at all. In this particular hardwood area, the ground was covered with lots of freshly fallen sycamore leaves. As I placed a step on what initially felt like an arm-sized fallen limb under the leaves, I realized I was placing my weight on a snake, and immediately jumped back. When I jumped back, the snake started moving, and I realized it was a large cottonmouth, only partially hidden by the large sycamore leaves.
My sense of relief almost immediately switched to new fear. As I stepped back, watching this big one slowly crawl towards the base of the nearest sycamore tree, his granddaddy struck me right above the ankle of my left foot. I had walked by the larger cottonmouth before stepping on just a big one. But stopping and backing up, he struck me. Got my attention almost like someone had just hit my foot with a hammer. They can hit harder than you might think, so I can see why their fangs could go thru regular leather boots.
After than one experience, I have since regularly worn snake boots afield between March and October. The boots are comfortable, and I typically see no reason NOT to wear them. They possibly saved my life on that particular otherwise beautiful October day about 15 years ago, as there was no cell service, was by myself over a mile from the truck, and certainly over an hour from the nearest emergency room.
Interestingly, my grandfather had almost died from the bite of a cottonmouth years earlier, and was told he would die if he didn't allow them to amputate his leg. He declined the amputation, and somehow survived anyway. At the time bitten, he was bitten on his big toe while fishing in the Obion River bottoms. He never even saw the snake that bit him.
I've also been struck in the lower calf by a big copperhead, but he failed to get his fangs in my flesh. Otherwise, just "almost" been struck several times by all varieties. My last "close" experience was last summer, mowing with a push mower, I walked right over a big rattler. Fortunately for me, he stuck his head up under the mowing deck just a second before I stepped on him. And I was also wearing snake boots
I find snake boots to be uncomfortable. Are their any videos or studies showing snakes penetrating leather boots. Just curious.
Woodsman10
Well-Known Member
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I have a pair of the Irish setter vaperteck and the Danner pronghorn. Both leaked walking through heavy dew grass in tge mornings thier first season.
This is with me treating them too.
I've heard all of them leak. So I just tough it out and hope I don't have to walk through a pasture.
Other than that, both are great, like wearing tennis shoes
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This is with me treating them too.
I've heard all of them leak. So I just tough it out and hope I don't have to walk through a pasture.
Other than that, both are great, like wearing tennis shoes
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Woodsman10
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2015
- Messages
- 313
And in my opinion, it ain't just snake protection, it's comfort and light weight. If it's in the 50s or 60s and I'm bow hunting deer or if I'm out working, I wear the snake boots. They triple as good hiking boots as well as fencing.
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TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
True.Woodsman10":2vh5z3bc said:
By wearing scouting, squirrel hunting, quail/rabbit hunting, atv thru briars, you name it,
I can get away with wearing thinner (better for walking) pants, and often don't need "brush" pants and/or "brush chaps" to wade the knee high briars. The key is to get a good fit, then you'll typically find them more comfortable (and much more rip-proof) than any rubber boots. Much of my activities will quickly destroy "Muck" style rubber boots.
I've had pretty good luck with all I've tried being about as waterproof as any other Gore-Tex lined leather boots.
I also have some rubber snake boots that I wear with stockingfoot waders. I just allow a little water to get inside, but it's not much issue, since I only do this during warmer weather, typically early bowhunting in swampy areas, but sometimes fishing.
Setterman
Well-Known Member
Chigger protection and tick prevention are both big benefits as well.
Those saying they're not worried about getting bit or don't take precautions, need to go look through photos of snake bites as they "heal". It might change your tune....
Those saying they're not worried about getting bit or don't take precautions, need to go look through photos of snake bites as they "heal". It might change your tune....
catman529
Well-Known Member
You aren't going to get a real good pair of boots that are affordable. You get what you pay for with footwear
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It had nothing to do with turkey hunting. I was 14 and wade fishing one of the tributaries (creeks) on Lake Ouachita. Had a stringer of fish tied to my jean shorts. He got me on the back of the knee. Young and careless like most boys at that time. I look at most snakes like they are poisonous. I let the spotted and green ones go. I know some let others go, I'm not one of them. My eyes aren't that good in the dark and lights are not an option during the spring. Plenty of close calls frogging, fishing and hunting. Not wanting to ruin a hunt fooling with Mr. No Shoulders.
Nsghunter
Well-Known Member
Setterman":2207uj0v said:
Do you hunt on public or private land? if its public which WMA?
Nsghunter
Well-Known Member
It's your health men. I see all sorts of injuries in the ER and in the hospital. If one were to get bitten and need a fasciotomy ( opening of the muscle to relieve pressure) you would probably be out all season possibly all year long. Never mind that you may lose your leg to infection or the compression syndrome caused by the bite. You would be forced to miss some work if not quite a bit. If you were to die all your loved ones would be without you. Most of us joke like that doesn't matter, it really does. We all matter to someone whether we like it or not and most of us matter to a whole lot of people.
Back to business, I wear a pair or Rocky, non-zippered ( my calves are HUGE and I didn't trust a zipper to hold up to them) snake boots and like them a lot. I have got "moist feet" in them once but it could've been my feet sweating profusely and holding the moisture in. I wear a pair of knee length liner socks and knee length lightweight wool socks to help with the moisture control and have never had a problem since. I would recommend them to an average hunter like myself. I wear them 10-15 times a season. IF I planned on wearing them ALOT I would invest in a better pair and would by them from somewhere that would allow for a return if the boot failed within the first year.
Someone mentioned ( I think it was Catman) that there is no bargain footwear, you get what you pay for. This is almost always true, sometimes you pay high price and receive low quality. The good thing about leather is that its treatable and durable. I would say a good pair of snake boots would last at least 3 years or so if you wore them the entire snake season and didn't force them to fail by getting them damaged afield.
Back to cost, if you paid $250 out the door for a GOOD/GREAT pair of snake boots and wore them for 3 years that would still be $83.33 per year for the boots. They are going to last longer than that, especially if you start with a good boot. Use a cobbler to work on them if they become worn and then re-apply the DWP every year ( this is what I do to all of my boots. I take a certain week near the start of the season and treat all mine and my boys hunting boots. First I do a deep cleaning and then I apply two coats of the DWP. IT takes three days total to clean, then dry then treat and dry twice.) I like it a lot because I feel like it helps the boots last longer.
I would recommend Gore-Tex, I just like the stuff.
A trip to the ER costs at least a $750. That's if you don't even stay overnight. There ain't a snake-boot that isn't worth the money.
Lastly, if you are on a budget, there is a used/refurbished shoe store called liz and Marty's in west Knoxville ( google it) They always have snake boots for sale. They have a 30 day guarantee, so buy your snake boots then take them wading around. If they fail return them. I buy lots of shoes here and have only had one bad pair, to the date I've saved nearly $400 on boots for my boys and I.
Back to business, I wear a pair or Rocky, non-zippered ( my calves are HUGE and I didn't trust a zipper to hold up to them) snake boots and like them a lot. I have got "moist feet" in them once but it could've been my feet sweating profusely and holding the moisture in. I wear a pair of knee length liner socks and knee length lightweight wool socks to help with the moisture control and have never had a problem since. I would recommend them to an average hunter like myself. I wear them 10-15 times a season. IF I planned on wearing them ALOT I would invest in a better pair and would by them from somewhere that would allow for a return if the boot failed within the first year.
Someone mentioned ( I think it was Catman) that there is no bargain footwear, you get what you pay for. This is almost always true, sometimes you pay high price and receive low quality. The good thing about leather is that its treatable and durable. I would say a good pair of snake boots would last at least 3 years or so if you wore them the entire snake season and didn't force them to fail by getting them damaged afield.
Back to cost, if you paid $250 out the door for a GOOD/GREAT pair of snake boots and wore them for 3 years that would still be $83.33 per year for the boots. They are going to last longer than that, especially if you start with a good boot. Use a cobbler to work on them if they become worn and then re-apply the DWP every year ( this is what I do to all of my boots. I take a certain week near the start of the season and treat all mine and my boys hunting boots. First I do a deep cleaning and then I apply two coats of the DWP. IT takes three days total to clean, then dry then treat and dry twice.) I like it a lot because I feel like it helps the boots last longer.
I would recommend Gore-Tex, I just like the stuff.
A trip to the ER costs at least a $750. That's if you don't even stay overnight. There ain't a snake-boot that isn't worth the money.
Lastly, if you are on a budget, there is a used/refurbished shoe store called liz and Marty's in west Knoxville ( google it) They always have snake boots for sale. They have a 30 day guarantee, so buy your snake boots then take them wading around. If they fail return them. I buy lots of shoes here and have only had one bad pair, to the date I've saved nearly $400 on boots for my boys and I.
