Snake season is coming next weekend. But i went up the mountian a month ago and found the den. 20 rattle snakes all within a 20ft circle had the adreniline pumping. Found a big rat snake as well
Big rat snake. Im 6ft tall so you can compare.
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj45/bigben8011/9266A314-ABFA-4599-A1CA-96A611B75AA0-290-000000121337F435_zps1e9b769b.jpg)
The biggest timber i seen a month ago. When he stretched out on the rocks he was easily a legal male. Foud a big yellow phase too.
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj45/bigben8011/1E189BC2-5488-4606-BC89-5A7D95ABA16B-279-0000001049D46674_zpsf81340b7.jpg)
And a little baby timber. He was prob only a foot and a half long.
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj45/bigben8011/1BD69DD0-011D-4C27-8821-0D6FBCE2DC2E-279-000000103340BAC5_zps5b1efc86.jpg)
Damn!
Snake season? What is that about?
If it is poisonous it is snake season any day around here
Ewww :sad3: The further away from those things the better I am
:sick2:
Quote from: Dave on May 31, 2013, 03:51:30 PM
Damn!
Snake season? What is that about?
.
There is actually a snake season in pa for poisonous snakes. It starts next saturday and goes till end of july.
This past weekend was the opener. A bit soggy but we still ended up finding some. My cousin jason also tagged this 49" 3lb 8oz black phase.
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj45/bigben8011/C6BD2B0E-AEF2-439B-8B9C-21594C4D2B97-156-00000003ED213DE8_zps5d7ec149.jpg)
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj45/bigben8011/387E4F2C-3209-4B78-A81E-686B7B002AC9-156-000000052E537430_zps61b71fea.jpg)
This is another just barely legal snake we found.
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj45/bigben8011/170BAEEF-46E7-429E-826C-D8F0FF4DD967-912-000000E1EA98E938_zps2e140538.jpg)
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj45/bigben8011/1D67E854-AAD9-415B-BFED-FF5DA3844AA1-912-000000E1F6682E4C_zps1cf2f78b.jpg)
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj45/bigben8011/18895ED9-9477-434E-82A3-D329895221CE-912-000000E20362BA69_zpsa206b5b5.jpg)
Look Ben. I really like ya & I think you're a knowledgeable & upstanding young man. Well up until you actually go looking for these critters. Then I think "WTF is going thru his mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" :alscalls: :alscalls:
I think it's cool you guys hunt those critters. Just don't ask me to go along with ya!! Nice catch you guys got there. :yoyo: :yoyo:
What do you do with the ones that you catch? Are they sold live for some reason or eaten?
Jerry
Actually i started doing this as a bucket list sort of thing. I had never see one out in the wild till i went looking for them. They are elisive critters and a interesting one at that. I also had a lull in my hunting seasons. Snakes filled the gap. Snakes are misunderstood and even though they are dangerous so is a lot of other things.
Once found we typically hande them in a safe manner then depending on if its legal you can keep it or just leave it go. We were in an organized hunt this past weekend. The one my cousin caught we turned in alive. The weighed measured it and put a micro chip in it. I believe he plans on getting it mounted tho but the idea is to set em loose at the same place ya caught em. Then in coming years the chip will tell em a bunch of information. Mostly i do it to get out and have fun. Call me crazy but its and interesting sport.
Quote from: bigben on June 10, 2013, 01:12:55 PM
They weighed, measured it and put a micro chip in it. Then in coming years the chip will tell em a bunch of information.
A bunch of information like, "stay the heck away from this area" :eyebrownod:
Kinda. Lol. They will record the weight length and location. Then if its caught again they can tell how big its got since its last capture. To be honest i had never seen a rattler till i looked for em. I do have couple goals this year. I would like to find the den site close to my uncles house. Hehas pregnant females at his house for the last couple years now basking. I have been told they will not travel further then 200 yds from the den site. So i got some looking to do.
That tells me to stay a minimum of 400 yards from the house :whew:
Leave it go ? Is that the same as let it go ? Either way your nuts ! Wouldn't it make more sense to just shoot the damn things ???Son you keep playing with dodo and you WILL get it on you. Always did enjoyed reading about your predator hunts.
I don't hunt them like those idiots from rattlesnake republic.
Ben, aren't you around the Harrisburg area? And would they be along where the Appalachian trail passes through there? My nephew caught one years back behind his house where the trail goes through Wind Gap. I don't mind snakes, as long as they're not poisonous. But I think I'll stay away from your area - and certainly wouldn't go looking for them . Reminds me of Jaws, when they need a bigger boat! (And you're like the mayor - "Everyone - it's safe to go in the water!!!") :noway:
I am in harrisburg area.
Im not sayin it isn't dangerous. Its not any different then skydiving or bungee jumping or rock climbing. I can at least see the danger here and I'm not trusting a rope or some inanimate piece of material with my life. Those idiots on rattlesnake republic. The way they handle em its surprising they dont get bit more often. .
I went up to my uncles house and he told me he seen one the other day down under some tarps. I picked a few up with the tongs and found this guy paying on top of an old engine block
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj45/bigben8011/FC823C68-9C52-47DD-AEC1-F34BAE88CC2F-1785-0000017FDFDEE304_zps7f9618f1.jpg)
Beautiful specimen! Eastern timber rattler?
:laf: I'd like to see the "American Picker" show when they lifted that tarp. :sad3: :sick2:
Love to have one of those skins for the wall to go with my prairie rattler!
Quote from: coyotehunter_1 on June 11, 2013, 08:49:22 PM
Beautiful specimen! Eastern timber rattler?
:laf: I'd like to see the "American Picker" show when they lifted that tarp. :sad3: :sick2:
They woulda dropped the tarp in a hurry Chet...thats a Chevrolet block :wink:
Ues chet its a eastern timber
I would love to live in an area where there is a possibility of finding a rattlesnake under a tarp. :rolleye: How about you Jim? Maybe we could move FnF over there and keep the computers under a tarp.
Jerry
:nono: Not happenin :sarcas3:
I noticed tonight that Larry the Cable Guy dont like snakes either. LOL
Found 6 females and possibly one legal male and three copperheads
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj45/bigben8011/55341007-DA31-42A2-8FA1-A3CB2FCC9A95-4750-000004B9D1DA7257_zpsd2c0a5e5.jpg)
I wonder what a Fiskars X27 would do to something like that. :innocentwhistle:
QuoteFiskars X27
Had to look that one up. Cool axe..
Took my second cousin danny up this morning. Found this nice looking yellow. But it was a female. She was long enough though.
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj45/bigben8011/24A197B9-5B47-49B1-B21A-DA74BDFA66B2-5579-00000570128A2BFD_zpsf0605080.jpg)
That snake stick doesn't look long enough to me. :eyebrownod:
I've accidentally come across water moccasins and copperheads over the years but never went intentionally looking for them. :nono:
Well me and danny went back upstate this weekend and after a 30 minute hunt we both tagged out. I wasnt planning on actually keeping a rattler unless it was a yellow phase that was decent looking and legal. Most are females and small. Well i found him which i have never found yet in the last three years looking. I really looked at this snake for a while and wasnt sure if i wanted him or not because he looked like a cross were they have a chestnut color. But i noticed a spot of freshly shed skin and it was bright yellow.
We had only walked about a 1/4 of what i wanted and we seen 5 rattlers. One was a baby and the other 4 were full size males. Thats a good day of snake hunting and we didnt look for long.
He was 48" long which isnt huge but not a little puppy either
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj45/bigben8011/570ECCB2-0DE1-4539-9D76-13CCA98D016C-13897-00000D4280252CE8_zpsccf651fc.jpg)
Him showing his bussiness end off
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj45/bigben8011/B4E8F068-103E-4835-8ADE-85388CB56F9F-13897-00000D426E92E09E_zpsc5147690.jpg)
Shot down the tube.
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj45/bigben8011/4651D0DE-86BF-4A2A-8DCE-4A3FA39CB748-13897-00000D428C6EE8F6_zps81270253.jpg)
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj45/bigben8011/88FFEA38-337D-40F9-8D3F-49E6E2888193-13914-00000D492C27E818_zps4d055127.jpg)
Here is dannys black phase
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj45/bigben8011/7EFFD880-4A29-4E6C-A683-3379695D08A4-13914-00000D493DCDE885_zpsf57a8e4e.jpg)
Y'all are Nuckin Futs! :confused:
I gotta ask. I've never seen a tube used before. How do you get its head in the tube? Looks like it might be a bit dicey to me. :confused: Might be a good youtube video project.
Is the tube made specifically for snake hunting?
The tube is a cover for flo lights to keep em from making a mess if they break. Getting them in depends on a lot of things. If the snake is warm it is dicey. If someone is makig too much movement then they get aggressive. Im still trying to get a good tubing technique down that is safe but i think i got i figured out. I lay the tube down with their head slightly in. Then lightly brush his back with a snake hook. Experienced guys use their hands and kinda tickle em in the tube. Im not that brave and prob never will. I keep striking distance in mind and stay further then that. Its a commitment tho once hes in ya gotta grab him and the tube. I might video it when we kill this one just to get aome more practice.
Will the tube fit over the barrel of a shotgun :sneer:
Quote from: FinsnFur on June 25, 2013, 05:30:45 AM
Will the tube fit over the barrel of a shotgun :sneer:
That's pretty funny. :alscalls: :alscalls: They scare the crap put of me. :sad3:
Pat
Yep, I'll ditto that the tube project sounds a great idea for a You Tube video. Keep the You in you tube when it comes to putting a rattlesnake in the tube!
I've hunted rattlesnakes a few times. I always wind up jumpy and dreaming about them for the next few nights.
It's ridiculous that there are that many in PA - tagged out and seen 5 of em in 30 minutes.
How the heck did they end up here in the mountains, anyway? :mad3: Shouldn't they be in the desert in the S.E. where they belong?
I used to think it was kind of cool to have them here in PA, but just not that many where you might stumble into one.
I'll see what i can do as far as the tubing video
I got the video hes to ownry to handle killing and cleaning him till tommarrow when i get help.
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj45/bigben8011/tube_zpsc69cc855.mp4
That's crazy Ben! :sad3: Thanks for posting.
Pat
Im not gonna lie to ya it took me 6 mins to get him to do that but this seems to be the less dangerous way for both the snake and handler.
Great video, Ben! Thanks for posting that. It looked like it was really wanting to turn around and come back out of that tube.
Hes not small enough to turn around to come out. But you can see hes opening his mouth.
Well i killed and skinned him tonight. I plan on tanning him next week.
(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj45/bigben8011/E4E9C2BF-5DF5-48C9-A4B9-BAB8FD3ABA90-2591-0000024F6FC935CA_zps50729297.jpg)
What kind of tan do you use?
Quote from: FinsnFur on June 26, 2013, 10:03:34 PM
What kind of tan do you use?
I'm guessing the stuff they use on "GOOD" snakes Jim. Well now that he's a "GOOD" snake that is. :biggrin: :biggrin:
I still felt I was a little too close to that critter while I watched that video. Thanks for sharing Ben!!
50/50 glycerin and denatured alchol
Did you ever tan a snake
Im with Glenn, the video just reminded me of how much I do not want to be around these things. :sad3:
You havent tanned one before jim? I was going to buy a tanning kit but have heard the solution i posted works well
Nope never did get into amphibians or reptiles. The chemicals and process is completely different then fur bearers.
I think your methanol and glycerin method will work, put it on once a day for like four days, but it's not really tanning the skin, it's simply curing it so it doesnt decay. Which would be alright for a wall hanger or something if you kept it out of the sun.
If you want to make something out of it, you should tan it though. Then it'll be converted to a leather, be pliable and last.
See thats te thing. This rattler is going to be put on a piece of felt with a picture hanging close by but the copperhead i want to make a hat band out of it. So do you happen to know of a tanning solution to tan it?
Thanks for the video of the tube snake. (That just sounds bad, doesn't it?) I wondered how you would convince a snake to stick his head in an enclosed area like that. (That sounds all most as bad.) Now that my curiosity has been satisfied I will continue to NOT want to put a snake in a tube. (That isn't really true for a particular snake and tube.)
Jerry
:eyebrownod:
Quote from: Hawks Feather on June 28, 2013, 11:52:32 AM
Thanks for the video of the tube snake. (That just sounds bad, doesn't it?)
It sure does! :alscalls: :alscalls:
Quote from: bigben on June 28, 2013, 10:30:28 AM
See thats te thing. This rattler is going to be put on a piece of felt with a picture hanging close by but the copperhead i want to make a hat band out of it. So do you happen to know of a tanning solution to tan it?
Well, having never done a snake, I'm going to go with my gut and recommend Rittel's.
When I was in business I bought every chemical I ever used right from Bruce Rittel in Taunton Massachusetts. Founder and Owner of Rittels Tanning Supplies. He eventually began selling his products through large taxidermy outfits, like McKenzie, Van Dykes, Wasco, etc.
And I've been told he sold out years later to Rhineharts, which is a taxidermy supply and school.
Here's a link to the kit they have posted;
http://www.taxidermyarts.com/p-3055-snakeskin-tanning-kit.aspx
Quote from: Hawks Feather on June 28, 2013, 11:52:32 AM
Thanks for the video of the tube snake. (That just sounds bad, doesn't it?) I wondered how you would convince a snake to stick his head in an enclosed area like that. (That sounds all most as bad.) Now that my curiosity has been satisfied I will continue to NOT want to put a snake in a tube. (That isn't really true for a particular snake and tube.)
Jerry
:alscalls: :alscalls: :alscalls: :alscalls: