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Joined: Jul 2001
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Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,172 |
I am considering buying either some boots or gaiters that will presumably prevent snake bites. I go out walking and bird watching in areas that likely have venomous snakes (I haven't seen one yet since moving to Arkansas though) and since I am often looking for birds up in the trees instead of watching the ground I obviously increase my risk of being bitten.
Should I buy full on snake proof boots or will gaiters suffice? I assume most snake bites are on the lower leg but am not sure about that. I suspect that some bite the foot and therefore gaiters that only cover the lower leg and not the top of the foot might not be adequate. I don't know if the leather of the boot itself would prevent the penetration of the fangs.
Looking for guidance from you all.
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Joined: Sep 2011
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 60,818 |
These premises insured by a Sheltie in Training ,--- and Cooey.o
"May the Good Lord take a likin' to you"
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Joined: Sep 2007
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2007
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Holy Christ! lol Come clean already!
The deer hunter does not notice the mountains
"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve" - Isoroku Yamamoto
There sure are a lot of America haters that want to live here...
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,678
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,678 |
I am considering buying either some boots or gaiters that will presumably prevent snake bites. I go out walking and bird watching in areas that likely have venomous snakes (I haven't seen one yet since moving to Arkansas though) and since I am often looking for birds up in the trees instead of watching the ground I obviously increase my risk of being bitten.
Should I buy full on snake proof boots or will gaiters suffice? I assume most snake bites are on the lower leg but am not sure about that. I suspect that some bite the foot and therefore gaiters that only cover the lower leg and not the top of the foot might not be adequate. I don't know if the leather of the boot itself would prevent the penetration of the fangs.
Looking for guidance from you all. I would buy everything snake proof they offered.
The deer hunter does not notice the mountains
"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve" - Isoroku Yamamoto
There sure are a lot of America haters that want to live here...
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,678
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,678 |
Wabi is worried about that gardner snake sleeping under his tomato plant. hahha
The deer hunter does not notice the mountains
"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve" - Isoroku Yamamoto
There sure are a lot of America haters that want to live here...
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,492
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,492 |
I have a pair of Chippewas in the classifieds....
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Joined: Jan 2010
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 13,155 |
Yukon Jack
Rose’s lime juice
Filtered over ice into a chilled up glass
Have a ride home handy
P
Obey lawful commands. Video interactions. Hold bad cops accountable. Problem solved.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
Member #547
Join date 3/09/2001
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,217
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2011
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I bought a pair of rattler brand hip leggings back in the day. Damn they are HOT! But I wore them when I needed to.
I picked a set of wrap around armadillo kind of things off of a member here that I wear now. They come just below the knee. I’m depending on my leather boots for my feet.
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Joined: Jun 2016
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2016
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When I started prairie dog shooting in the west I chose gaiters. They always seemed to be a pain to fool with & wondered if my exposed hiking boots were sufficient.
After a few trips I broke down & bought a nice lightweight pair of knee high snake proof boots. One of those palm to head smacks, why didn't I do this sooner? So much more comfortable & comforting.
If I lived full time amongst poisonous snakes, was active in their area in their season & had concerns I'd buy the nicest most comfortable pair of boots I could find.
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Joined: Jan 2007
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
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There are so few people bitten on the legs by snakes that it's not even worth worrying about. Just don't stick your hands in places you can't see well.
Last edited by Triggernosis; 03/10/24.
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,083
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2007
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In Aus I have some lightweight gaiters more for burrs etc. I have snake gaiters but too damn hot and heavy. Although most Australian snakes are relatively short fanged so reasonable long pants usually suffice. And carrying a compression bandage snake kit.
I understand many snakes in the USA don’t respond to compression bandages.
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 12,505
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2009
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I understand many snakes in the USA don’t respond to compression bandages. They respond, alright. They'll bite the crap outta you if ya try and put a compression bandage on em.
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 2,686
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 2,686 |
I stepped on a copperhead once while we were confirming a wetland delineation. That sumbitch wrapped itself up around my ankle and calf, and seeing as how I was standing on it's body, it was NOT happy. Loose pants kept me from getting bitten by that lanky SOB.
Buy the boots if you are going to be in areas of concern. You aren't a chickensçhitt if you do, you are just being cautious.
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 15,666
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 15,666 |
From what I understand the number one reason people get bitten by snakes is when they try to kill it.
NRA Life,Endowment,Patron or Benefactor since '72.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
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I routinely walk through waist or higher grass at our ranch in south TX. I’ve yet to walk up on a venomous snake out there. Of the rattlers I have bumped into, they are usually away from heavy cover, oddly enough.
My dog and my parents’ dog both got bit by rattlers on their back concrete patio. Two separate occasions. Turns out the snakes enjoy that patio in the spring and fall since it tends to retain a little heat in the evening.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 45,132 |
Probably gonna jinx myself and get bit this year once they come out....................but here goes. Heading rapidly toward my 8th decade on this planet, and having run around an awful lot of snaky places in about 6.5 of those decades, I've never found the need for special snake boots or gaiters. That's just me. As someone else pointed out, get 'em if you feel the need. Here's some info on Arkansas though, take it with however many grains of salt you see fitting (my bold) https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/venomous-snakes-12879/In Arkansas, statistics documented between 1960 and 2007 by the Arkansas Department of Health noted that only three Arkansans died from snakebites from native species, with all three occurring in the 1960s. One death in 1960 was from a rattlesnake (unknown species) bite, while the other two, in 1964 and 1965, were from bites from an unspecified snake species. Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock (Pulaski County) typically sees twenty to twenty-five snakebites a year, but some of these might be from nonvenomous snakes.
When compared to other states, North Carolina had the most people who suffered venomous snakebites in a single year (nineteen percent of all venomous snakebites), followed by Arkansas with seventeen percent, and Texas with fifteen percent. Half of all bites occur in the age group eighteen to twenty-eight years, with more men being bitten than women.
Humans have a much better statistical chance of being killed from an automobile accident, a lightning strike, an incidence of drowning, a hunting accident, a bee/wasp sting, or an arachnid bite than being killed by a bite from a venomous snake.
The desert is a true treasure for him who seeks refuge from men and the evil of men.
In it is contentment
In it is death and all you seek
(Quoted from "The Bleeding of the Stone" Ibrahim Al-Koni)
member of the cabal of dysfunctional squirrels?
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,238
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,238 |
I grew up in and still hunt in Arkansas. There are a lot of venomous snakes. I hunt with snake boots even on cool mornings because when it warms up they will come out and sun themselves. I almost stepped on a cottonmouth twenty something years ago on one such day.
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,172
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,172 |
I suspected that many snake bites are on the hand but that is not really what I am concerned about with my activities. I am more concerned about my feet and legs. I have a couple pair of Russell Mocassin boots but they aren't their snake boots. I think they would most likely prevent a fang from penetrating but am not sure.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 56,129
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 56,129 |
Dust the snake bites with cornmeal and fry. Yummy!
I am..........disturbed.
Concerning the difference between man and the jackass: some observers hold that there isn't any. But this wrongs the jackass. -Twain
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Joined: Feb 2004
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,031 |
seems like every fall I walk up on a rattle snake out here in West TX. I am always in my knee high snake boots when I cross the gate on to the lease.
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