Me and a friend go turkey hunting in Western Md.I came across a diamond back a few years back.My friend saw a copperhead last year.We are thinking we should be wearing some kind of snake proof gear.For you guys who have experience with that sort of stuff,what would you recommend?We want good stuff but dont want to waste our money trying to figure out what works for us.Lots of walking,some through wet areas...so,waterproof snake proof boots?Gaiters? We dont have that many biters,but we want one more thing not to have to worry about.

6" stove pipe

My knee-high ones were sold by Cabela's a decade ago.

Not sure they will ever be needed....but personal mental comfort sure makes the trips more enjoyable.

In Texas, 16 inch.

referring to diameter not length

My son and I just bought Rocky Snake boots this year. He got slip ons, I got laceups. Very comfortable..

Yeah, tff. Im not talking fist.

Sorry eh, we got big fuggIn snakes.

Wear leather boots and get some chaps. That way you can use the chaps for briars and stuff too.

never worried about it.

justin ropers

Been there, done that back when I lived in FL. Our snakes here in OR are on the East side of the Cascades and even then they would not make a snack for your Texas snakes.

Somewhere in my stuff I has a mason jar about a third of the way full of rattles. Never used anything but a short stick and a boot to hold one down and my knife to remove it's head.

Texas earthworms are a fact of life in South Texas and usually do not cause problems unless stepped on inadvertently, which is why I wear snake boots 100% of the time. Justin snake boots are most comfortable to me, although they come with a smooth sole which should be replaced with a Vibram sole. Chippewa is popular also. Justin is better for a high instep, Chippewa is better for flatter feet.

Pretty typical sighting, they are heading for cover if given a chance.




Very typical and easy to miss seeing them until things are too close:



Close up of a good size rattle.



Unfortunately, these two were in a place with people traffic and one was aggressive, so had to deal with them. From La Salle County.



Another that was hanging out by a heavily used gate, so unfortunately had to be dealt with. I really do not like killing them.

Close up of a head. Something about the eyes really gives me a chill.




Kind of hard to be bitten by one of these, but the odds are poor if so. Almost stepped on this little fella last year doing a bird survey. Took a pic before he went and hid and I stepped around and went on my way. Sure made me think twice about sitting down for a water break.



Just make sure to shake the boots out before putting them on. This one came up a drain while brushing my teeth early one morning before going out hunting.

[img]http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k55/jeffbird2/MBRSept262009009.jpg[/img]

If you are going to make snake-boots, I'd suggest starting with a 30' Anaconda for leather...

we have some big, as in 8Ft+ Eastern Diamond Backs here in North Florida. Big Moccasins as well.
Couple of years back, while walking across a partially flooded clear cut in the Osceola NF, a large cottonmouth struck my foot. Felt like a hammer blow. Before he could move away, or strike again, I nailed him with my walking stick, holding him while I cut his head off.
I was wearing high top, zip side, Rocky waterproof snake boots. Worth their weight in gold that day.

I bought several pairs last year trying to find the perfect ones. The ones I ended up with were the Cabelas brand lace up model. They are extremely light, waterproof (unlike many others that make that claim) and very comfortable. They are just as comfortable as my tennis shoes - I love them and have thought about buying a second pair in case they stop making them.

I have two pair but prefer my pull on rubber LaCross boots which go to the knee. The Redhead leather zip up boots are not as tall. I called Bass Pro after I got them and asked a phone lady if they had ever tested them, she said "we have not gotten a single complaint about them" I said that could be interpreted in two ways.

I wore Rocky's for years and they gave good service. The current ones are made in China, and have a problem with the soles coming apart. I wear LaCrosse boots now with the zipper up the side. Much more comfortable and waterproof so far. 3rd season with them and they are holding up well.

i guess the lacross toes are protected but they sure don't feel as stiff as the sides!

I wear Chippewa snake boots that are leather lined, uninsulated and not water proof. To me, waterproof snake boots are hot as hell and miserable. IT is very warm here during the early deer season, especially in the afternoons. YMMV, because we are all different and conditions are different. Try a pair of the waterproof ones on in the store and if your feet start sweating immediately, you will know what you are in for.

If you do a lot of walking, I would look long and hard at wearing gaiters and regular hunting boots.

RJY66, you don't say where you are, but I seriously doubt that your location is any more wet or hot than Florida. Snake boots that are NOT waterproof are, for me, a waste of money, since virtually everyplace I hunt, hike and camp is surrounded by puddles, creeks, lakes and swamps.

If you came across a Diamondback in Maryland, you'd better get snake boots, chaps, and a tin foil hat.

I hunt in the SC low country for deer starting in August, though I don't usually get serious till mid September. It is not hotter than Florida but hot enough that I cannot deal with lined boots. My feet will be either be wet from sweat or wet from water coming from the outside and without the lining my feet can at least breathe.....and no, I do not have to walk through water as a rule where I hunt.

I am a hot natured person and that is why I told the guy that "his mileage may vary" because we are all different and conditions are different. The guy asked for "experiences" and I gave him mine.

hehehe, just what are you trying to say?

I have Irish Setter (Redwing) snake boots.

Do not wear them a much as I should.
Cannot say how good they are cause have never been bitten.

Saw a recall by Rocky for their Silent Hunter snake boots because they failed a bite test

Ha! No joke, I had a buddy that used to go Rattler hunting, made himself a set of medieval armour looking leggings, complete with hinged foot guard out of stove pipe!
He and his cousin would head to the foothills and hunt the Chinese rock walls/fences.

I stand corrected.....was a timber rattler....tin foil not needed

Roger is tougher than the rest of us! I only get within 12 ga range of Rattlers, and that's as close as I'm gonna get.

In my experience, the really big ones, say 5 feet or more in length are the most agressive!
Couple of years ago I had real 6 footer chase me out of the barn. Bastards are hard to hit with a Glock 32 while running backwards! I guarantee he had muzzle and powder burns!

Several of the guys around here that work and play in wet, snaky areas wear jungle boots plus either gaiters or chaps. The idea being your feet are going to get wet anyway, so wear something that fits and lets the water out. Switch to rubber knee or hip boots in winter.

Wife picked up a live coral snake the other day to keep for me, then realized while I was coming back from a fire call I got an ems page for CPR, and a medivac flight so she didn't want it to escape in the meantime so she took a rock and made it a permanent resident.

I asked her when I got home, you sure that was ok? Yep, had my leather gloves on and they only chew mostly, instead of fangs, I wouldn't have grabbed a cottonmouth or copperhead unless I'd have had a snake stick..

Ok then.

If you're afeared of snakes, you be better off staying at the house, cause you're going to be looking more for snakes and nothing else..

Boots for snakes, what'll they think of, next?


I've never seen a snake wearing boots. It's hard for them to do, since they don't have feets!

I'm sure he meant rattler. Right?

No, he fixt it. He meant Timber rattler.

I kinda zinged that one in because all types of snakes are the most mis-identified creatures. I wish I had a nickel for every harmless snake I saw killed cause somebody thought it was a rattler, moccasin, or copperhead.

we have copperheadedrattlemockassins. Worst of the bunch.

I don't think snakes need boots. They don't even have feet. ... just sayin'.

I had a pair of snake boots for a while, a sort of Wellington design. I would warn you against them if I could remember what brand they were. I have size 9 feet. I bought size 10 boots. They were not big enough ... fine once I got them on but the ankles were too tight and I couldn't slide my feet into them someetimes.

I would look at either the zip-up boots or at gaiters.

Tom

Would a regular pair , of say red wing steel toe works boots stop a snake bite?

http://www.wsbtv.com/videos/news/camera-captures-mans-close-encounter-with-a-snake/vDSxK2/

Would stop a snake bite on the toe.