OT Boot heel 1 Copperhead 0

JerryB · Post by **JerryB** » Thu May 01, 2008 9:51 pm

Well boys I reckon it is officially spingtime in the Ozarks. Today I had my first of many yearly encounters with 'ol brother copperhead.A couple of miles down the road from the house I passed a big 'ol copperhead so I backed up and ran over his tail. I got out to tell him I was sorry and the old cuss was just fighting mad and wouldn't take my apology so I just said to heck with it and put my Justin boot heel on his head. I was
going to put a .38 in his head but it was just easier to stomp him.I didn't have a camera with me but I reckon he was about the biggest I have ever done away with.
Now if there is anyone from the Arkansa Game and Fish here this whole tale is a BIG old tale.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Thu May 01, 2008 10:06 pm

I'd a sure liked to see a picture of that Copperhead! Don't try that with bare feet!

Bullard4075 · Post by **Bullard4075** » Thu May 01, 2008 10:11 pm

Ya can't kill a snake in your state ?????

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Thu May 01, 2008 10:15 pm

Bullard4075 wrote:Ya can't kill a snake in your state ?????

Shovel and shut up if you can't!

morgan in nm · Post by **morgan in nm** » Thu May 01, 2008 10:27 pm

I killed one once in the army the same way and got in trouble for it. The company commander said that I was endangering my life by doing so which would have been a waste of taxpayer money if I would have died. Only time I ever busted up laughing while at attention. To me, a copperhead is no different than a rattler and should die.

JerryB · Post by **JerryB** » Thu May 01, 2008 10:30 pm

Amen brother morgan, Amen.

Dewight · Post by **Dewight** » Thu May 01, 2008 11:58 pm

When I was at Ft. Jackson, before we started our 3 day field exercise we were told not to kill any copperheads or rattlers. One recruit did and he got to carry the corpse in his rucksack and sleep with it for the next three days.

Pisgah · Post by **Pisgah** » Fri May 02, 2008 6:44 am

Most people bitten are bitten while trying to kill the snake. Personally, I have nothing against them and don't kill them unless they are right up by the house, or happen to wander into my camp.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Fri May 02, 2008 7:31 am

Sorry, the only good copperhead is a dead copperhead. That goes for rattlers too..

brucew44guns · Post by **brucew44guns** » Fri May 02, 2008 7:53 am

I think I would hesitate stomping on the snake, that gets a little close to him and easy to maybe get bitten. But a big stick or gun or a spinning weed eater like I have would sure be put to use.

nemhed · Post by **nemhed** » Fri May 02, 2008 7:57 am

I can tell spring has finally sprung here in Indiana because I've had several encounters with our black rat snakes (non-poisonous). I like catching them to show the kids. The snakes like hang out in my storage shed, which is fine with me, better a couple snakes than mice chewing on the wires of my mower. I personally wouldn't kill any snake that wasn't intent on biting me,but I may feel differently if I had rattlers or copperheads close to my house.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Fri May 02, 2008 8:37 am

Jerry,

There out in central Arkansas as well. I got home night before last and my wife and daughter told me they ran over a big one down the road from our house. It's good to have others around that like take care of those critters when I ain't around.

I have tons of stories about copperhead, rattlers and water moccasins(sp).

Johnny

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Fri May 02, 2008 9:04 am

I would rather have snakes around than mice and gophers. I won't kill any non venomous snakes and will only kill venomous ones that want to hang around my house.

deerwhacker444 · Post by **deerwhacker444** » Fri May 02, 2008 9:10 am

Most all snakes are Rattle-Headed Copper Moccasins in my book.....

Dirty Dan · Post by **Dirty Dan** » Fri May 02, 2008 9:17 am

Killing all snakes anywhere and anytime you find them is just like shooting/killing any other animal, just because it's there. Why not take a shot at a deer or an eagle every time you see one? Makes about as much sense. I don't love em either. Don't want one in the house or right outside in the back yard. Don't want the dogs messin with one. I just take a shovel, pick em up and heave em over the fence. We'd be neck deep in rodents if not for snakes.

Post by **Hobie** » Fri May 02, 2008 9:19 am

I moved a couple of black rat snakes out of Mom's woodpile this week. They don't bother me and I like that they eat the field mice and such. But rattlesnakes and copperheads aren't allowed around the house and showing up there is a death sentence for them.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri May 02, 2008 11:12 am

We don't have poisonous snakes on this side of the Mountain where I'm at......I'd love to see more snakes around the house as I have problems with mice at times.......My old Terrier, Oreo, would kill anything critter-wise that he found in the yard....snakes and rodents alike.

hfcable · Post by **hfcable** » Fri May 02, 2008 12:28 pm

we only have the nearly extinct arctic python, which is white and has scales that resemble the fur on a polar bear; they are very hard to see in the snow.
i have stumbled over them while skiing of walking but they are always gone by the time you get up and look for them.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri May 02, 2008 2:12 pm

I've killed two rattle snakes, maybe three in my life time.

The first one was curled up in my moms flower bed right besides the steps to our house in the desert. Way too close for safety.

The second was to test out a Broncho 410/.22 that I couldn't hit anything with. I honestly felt bad about that. There was no excuse for my actions.

I think the third was a snake I ran over. Couldn't do anything about that one.

I do not understand people, and I mean many of you on this forum, that simply kill to be killing. It makes no sense. There is no excuse for it. Snakes are part of the eco system that God created, and play a major part in the overall scheme of things. Indiscriminate killing of them is wrong. When you're out in the boonies pay attention to what you're doing and you won't run cross wise of a upset off rattle snake, cotton mouth, or copper head.

I was once out in the AZ desert with a friend of mine and a guy I worked with. The co worker was one of those who would shoot and kill anything that moved just for the hell of it. We came across a huge desert lizard and he shot it. No cause, no reason other than he wanted to kill something. But he didn't kill it right off, just mutilated the stuff out of it.
I had to tell him to go kill it and put it out of it's misery. He was enjoying watching the poor thing writhe in agony. He never went with us again.

Off my soap box now.

Joe

alnitak · Post by **alnitak** » Fri May 02, 2008 2:24 pm

J Miller wrote: I do not understand people, and I mean many of you on this forum, that simply kill to be killing. It makes no sense. There is no excuse for it. Snakes are part of the eco system that God created, and play a major part in the overall scheme of things. Indiscriminate killing of them is wrong. When you're out in the boonies pay attention to what you're doing and you won't run cross wise of a upset off rattle snake, cotton mouth, or copper head.

+1

meanc · Post by **meanc** » Fri May 02, 2008 4:09 pm

Growing up in Alabama, I bet I killed upwards of a hundred diamondback rattlers.

Ain't nothing like going out first thing in the morning to pick watermelons, tomatoes, or beans and have one come at you.

But I didn't kill them just to kill them. I killed them because they were where they could kill one of us.

JerryB · Post by **JerryB** » Fri May 02, 2008 7:54 pm

I don't really see a need to respond to ya'll that condem me for killing a copperhead, I just want to say that if the day should come when you have kin folk or a close friend hit by one then write and tell me how you feel. And that's all I got to say about that.

PaperPatch · Post by **PaperPatch** » Fri May 02, 2008 8:15 pm

J Miller wrote: Snakes are part of the eco system that God created, and play a major part in the overall scheme of things.
Joe

When God instructs me to stop dispatching venomous serpents...I'll humbly comply.

Until then.............

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Fri May 02, 2008 8:18 pm

thats why I have taken to carrying a Bond derringer Snake Slayer, with 3" .410 #9.

gak · Post by **gak** » Fri May 02, 2008 8:29 pm

Dirty Dan wrote:Killing all snakes anywhere and anytime you find them is just like shooting/killing any other animal, just because it's there. Why not take a shot at a deer or an eagle every time you see one? Makes about as much sense. I don't love em either. Don't want one in the house or right outside in the back yard. Don't want the dogs messin with one. I just take a shovel, pick em up and heave em over the fence. We'd be neck deep in rodents if not for snakes.

I'm sorry and don't mean disrespect to you or others espousing this belief, but I'll have to go with those that say the fanged ones gotta go....Have you ever heard of non-venomous snakes performing the same housekeeping function you're concerned about? Any venemous snake anywhere near your property and loved ones -- especially concerning those of your family smaller of stature and including your dogs and cats -- is a snake that will be IN your close proximity one day sooner than you'd like to think and causing trouble. You have a rodent problem? - import a couple of king or bull snakes...Works here in Arizona, will work where you are too....and they'll also help keep the fanged ones away also.
Case in point: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nirMaaLb2XE

Later EDIT: as to some earlier posts, I'm not talking "indiscriminate killing" or shooting lizards or anything else reasonably harmless - but ridding of fanged ones within and near your normal "public" rights-of-way--including camping spots, regardless of whether they were there first. I would like to see you explain to your wife or sister in law that their late little son, Johnny, should've known better than to go wandering behind the back fence, take a pee back behind the tent, or that they deserved to lose a loved one (or at the least go through enormous pain) 'cause they were unobservant and careless parents. You're absolutely right, don't understand some people...

Bigahh · Post by **Bigahh** » Fri May 02, 2008 8:45 pm

We don't have many snakes to speak of up here. If I were to run into one I would probably High Tail it out of the county. I don't like being around Snakes,Rats, or Bats. I have a Family of Racoon's living in my wood shed. Maybe the Mother keeps the snakes away, if so I will give her more fish to keep her around. My wife tosses her a slice of bacon, or a Smelt now and again when she gets close to the porch in the evening. They have been buddies for quite some time.

sore shoulder · Post by **sore shoulder** » Fri May 02, 2008 11:01 pm

hfcable wrote:we only have the nearly extinct arctic python, which is white and has scales that resemble the fur on a polar bear; they are very hard to see in the snow.
i have stumbled over them while skiing of walking but they are always gone by the time you get up and look for them.

Warhawk · Post by **Warhawk** » Sat May 03, 2008 2:04 am

Dirty Dan wrote:Killing all snakes anywhere and anytime you find them is just like shooting/killing any other animal, just because it's there. Why not take a shot at a deer or an eagle every time you see one? Makes about as much sense. I don't love em either. Don't want one in the house or right outside in the back yard. Don't want the dogs messin with one. I just take a shovel, pick em up and heave em over the fence. We'd be neck deep in rodents if not for snakes.

If I shot every deer I saw, I wouldn't expect to keep seeing deer.

This is why I kill every snake I encounter.

If there are mice and rats in the yard, the wife's 2 cats aren't doing their job and she's about to get some new cats.

20cows · Post by **20cows** » Sat May 03, 2008 6:45 am

A neighbor lost a horse to a snake bite across the street from the elementary school. The last one I killed was at my horse barn. I kill one if I see it where there is livestock or people. That's pretty much everywhere I go.

I ain't apologizin'.

rangerider7 · Post by **rangerider7** » Sat May 03, 2008 7:05 am

I'll jump in on this. What's out in the boonies? If there are livestock that I have paid for, grand-kids, family, dogs in other words anything domesticated, then Rattlers, copperheads, coral, and moccasins have to go. I have hunted for years and walked around rattlers in areas were there was no domesticated animals. I don't kill anything unless it is harmful to what I'm trying to keep alive. We are at the top of the chain of predators. Moccasins are the worse around a tank. They have killed many a cow or calf biting them as they drink. The cow survives most of the time. They are the most aggressive snake I know of. That's my 2 cents.