White men CAN jump!

[Arnold Ziffle]

Craig's recent posting about Boudreaux brought to mind a recent and somewhat unnerving experience of mine:

I was chain sawing a bunch of Chinese Tallow trees that were growing in a boggy and tall grassy area that was still pretty wet from all the recent rain. As I hurried along, not really paying much attention to the ground, out of the corner of an eye I caught sight of a big, fat cottonmouth VERY near my feet. I have seen many snakes on my place over the years, mostly harmless rat snakes and such. But in this case it took my brain about a nanosecond to tell my legs "hey boy, that ain't no rat snake!!" (with my apologies to you grammarians). I immediately jumped about five feet into the air and to the side and am happy to say that I didn't get popped. For the first year or two after buying my place, when chain sawing in the woods I always wore a pair of cordura snake-proof chaps due to concerns about copperheads. However, I have long since quit wearing the chaps since almost all the snakes I saw were harmless, and in really hot weather the chaps certainly add to the discomfort level --- but I may have to re-think that decision.

To TexasHart and others in rattler country (or to all those that get out and about in snake country, especially down south and out west) : $50 spent on a pair of snake-proof chaps would be money well spent.

 

[Craig-TX]

I'm in rattler country sure enough. Among the many other types of snakes we have are prairie runners. They get well over six feet and can look like a rattler at first glance, especially in poor light or heavy cover. Like the old boy said, they won't hurt you but they sure can make you hurt yourself!

Craig-TX

 

[J Baxter]

Your lucky Arnold.

In Arkansas it is against the law to kill snakes. I'm a law abiding citizen for most part, but I've broken the law about a dozen times this spring alone due to those cottermocassins. I'd rather fight a bear than deal with a hidden cottonmouth.

JB

 

[Campground Cattle]

Timber Rattlers are the worst of the lot they lay there not moving no warning . They will let you step right in the middle of them.

 

[DRB]

sure wish i hadn't read these accounts...I'll see snakes everywhere I step tomorrow...

 

[Anonymous]

was riding with friend of dad's when a kid, He was in charge of a FED waterfowl area. slammed on brakes jumped out of truck(with the agency stickers on the doors) and bashed a moccasin with a shovel in the middle of the gravel road. seemed real sensible to me.