rabbit hunting/ herping

[looco1]

went hunting and found some other critters also!

[looco1]

sry these r with my cammera phone) my dad holding it

[brandi]

hey loco, nice find, but its hard to tell from the photos, that snake looks like a mojave (scutulatus). please, please, tell me you weren't holding a rattlesnake like that?

[snake-hunter]

cant tell but it kinda looks like a mad gophersnake!!!

[AMills]

Looks kinda fat to be a gopher. I think it is a mohave.

[looco1]

i just wanted to just take pics of it but my dad came over and picked it up after i left and came up to my brother to show it to him so i took a pic. ill try to post a better pic.

[snake-hunter]

yaaaa ya never told us what it was, but it certainly aint no gophersnake!!! ya im thinkin WDB or mojave

[brandi]

geez, honey i don't want to pee on anyone's parade (or hunting party, i'm a big hunter too, btw) but you dad got lucky. Rattlesnakes, unlike some, have independantly moveable maxillae. what that means is that they can move their jawbones independantly, and i don't mean just unhinging them to eat. I mean, they can rotate the bones (bearing the fangs) forward and backward. which means if you have your finger under the jaw, even if the mouth is closed, they can still rotate a fang forward and you can get tagged. if your dad really wants to pick up snakes in the field, get him a nice lightweight collapsible field hook to use instead of his hands. hope i don't sound scolding... but everytime someone gets bit, it causes immeasureable harm - to the individual, to his family, and eventually, to the snakes we love by fueling the fears of the public.

If your a hunter you should know how imporatnt good firearm safety is, same goes for herping. 'slike a loaded gun. in the right hands, it is safe, useful, and enjoyable. otherwise, it is dangerous. play safe hun, nobody wants to see anyone get hurt out there!

[Cmpyrrhus]

I think that hooks should be used over your hands. To risky to be just grabbing crotes like that. I can assure you that I have a lot more experience with this kinda stuff, and I use the hooks. Holding is strictly as needed only, not for show of any kind. Getting tagged is a day you will not want to come. I guarantee there is some luck evolved here.

As said before:
If your a hunter you should know how imporatnt good firearm safety is, same goes for herping. 'slike a loaded gun. in the right hands, it is safe, useful, and enjoyable. otherwise, it is dangerous. play safe hun, nobody wants to see anyone get hurt out there!

Be safe and smart! We really do not want to hear about any bites from reckless behavior, even if it was not meant in a bad way.

[HERPSKEEPER]

knowing what your doing has alot bigger role than luck when it comes to holding rattlers. Majority of the people getting bit are those that have to big of a ego and think there mocho(a.k.a BEING STUPID)



:Nana :Nana :Nana
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[brandi]

allright, no need for name calling. we just want people to be safe. that's all.

[looco1]

i personally dont handle rattlesnakes...however i cant tell my dad what to do but yes hooks are great i have a small one but failed to think to bring it. and you are all right and im gonna print it all out for him cuz i told him mostly the same thing but....any way yes it was a wdb and sry bout the pics they were from my phone.and it was a very good hunt got 7 cottontails between the 3 of us.

[HERPSKEEPER]

I do however reccomend that everyone have hooks/tongs when handling rattlers.


P.S.

I was not calling anybody names

[AMills]

Originally posted by brandi
but you dad got lucky. Rattlesnakes, unlike some, have independantly moveable maxillae. what that means is that they can move their jawbones independantly, and i don't mean just unhinging them to eat. I mean, they can rotate the bones (bearing the fangs) forward and backward. which means if you have your finger under the jaw, even if the mouth is closed, they can still rotate a fang forward and you can get tagged.
I am just wondering. There is a way to hold venomous snakes by the head right? I am not trying to say that I would hold one or anything, but just wondered if maybe looco1's dad knew how. The grip looks different, but I'm not sure someone would pick one up without training.

[Gila Kid]

It doesn't matter if his dad knows how to hold hots by the head, the question is, was there any reason to do so. He could have manipulated the snake without using tools or his hands if he wanted to show the other brother the snake. Bottom line is there really isn't any reason to hold a snake, any snake, like that unless it needs some kind of medical treatment and even then there are better ways. I don't want to rag on somebody here I just want to reiterate that there are better ways of doing things, and if you are really interested in the hots then get someone to train you to deal with them.

[moid1]

Why was there a need to pick up the snake? It seems to me that the only need was for your father to be macho and show how he can foolishly handle a snake. Pinning a snake is dangerous for both the snake and the person. A thick bodied snake can exert tremendous pressure trying to get free, which can reek havoc on its backbone.

I hope your father is not a member of the AHA, because it reflects poorly on the society and would show that he hasn't learned anything as a member.


Overall, I think it is a very disappointing post.



(Sorry that my name keeps changing, but loggin in to this site has required me to reregister each time).

[reptilist]

I admit...I've done it...I've done that three finger hold when I was young and dumb. I highly discourage the practice now that I am older and wiser though. In my opinion anyone who picks up a rattlesnake has no honest respect for venom! It can be a life changing event.
Think about it, that snake's lively hood depends on it's ability to sink it's fangs into flesh...It is foolish to challenge the snake at it's own game.

[AMills]

I'm not sure if i said something that offends you but i think i did by reading your post. The only reason that i said that was just out of cuiriosity. I'm sorry if my post came across the wrong way. I fully agree that a snake should not be held by the head. BTW, I have had training in dealing with hots and have kept them, but never held them by the head or would ever think that it was ok to.