Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors 2019- a new year and...

I was asked to post names so here’s who’s coming.

Jay Roote
Joe Brady
Joe Brady Jr
Gary
Joe Martin
Keith Nystrom
Doug Armstrong
Dale K
Dave Manseau
Ray Emel
Tim Doherty
Wayde Squires
Ted Pocono Jack
Jerry Old Otter
Roy Fireball
Dave Sheldrick
Ryan Emery
Vince Bartusik
Steve Vorhees and brother. Steve 99 i believe
Greg Yocum
Joshua Brady
Kurt Schroyer
Charles Wood

I may not make it. Work just dumped a week long training on me in Lebanon Pa. Ends at noon on that Friday. Just too much to drive home to western Pa. and back to eastern Pa to meet you all. There's a chance I may not have to do the training, but...

Dale

Well that sucks. Hope its cancelled. Lol

Joe

Dale run those dogs to the pound and show up!

I was hoping you'd be there. Really wanting to say hello.

If someone would be kind enough to post the link, I can email articles from local newspapers featuring the Rattlesnake Roundup that was held in Noxen this past weekend.

Just wondering did they get many rattlers?

Hope they got them ALL!

I heard there was one they couldn't catch, a big one, like, 8 feet long with 3" fangs. As it slithered into the woods it could be heard whispering "psst, psst, Roy, you out there?"

Nah, Roy, never any snakes in evidence. Besides, what chance would one have around a dozen guys armed to the teeth? Trust me, if there were rattlers around that building I wouldn't go within 5 miles of the place.

That's a good thing to know about when traveling in the hot arid areas on the West side of the Rockies ; just the right time to have a pistol handy.

A friend reached down for something on his patio and got popped on the finger by a young rattler. Drove to the hospital. Arm swelled up to his shoulder...very painful.

I grew up in rattler country and he is the only person I've know that has been bit.

A friend at work told me he got nailed when he was a teenager.He was a dispatcher so we were talking on the phone. He told me to come to the office the next day and he would show me. It looked like someone took a chainsaw to the back of his hand. You could see the fang marks and all the meat around the bite that had died. Wicked scar.

Results of the Roundup

39 timber rattlesnakes
- largest dark phase rattlesnake at 53 inches
- largest light phase rattlesnake at 52 inches
- heaviest rattlesnake 4 lbs. 6 oz.
- rattlesnake with the most rattles - 16
7 copperheads
25 nonvenomous snakes
- largest was a black rat snake that measured 74 1/2 inches

ALL of the snakes were returned to the wild in the exact area where they were found.

WTH? Sure the non venomous ones, but the rattlesnakes? People are crazy!

Per the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission website:

Timber Rattlesnake: A Candidate for Threatened and Endangered Species in Pennsylvania.

The Timber Rattlesnake is listed on Pennsylvania’s Wildlife Action Plan as a species of immediate concern. It is one of seven reptiles in this highest priority tier. It is therefore protected under specific regulations by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

The timber rattlesnake is a protected in PA. Taking (killing, injuring, harassing) of timber rattlesnakes without a permit is prohibited.

Ok, I get all that. I really do. But I'll warrant you that if there was one species I wouldn't mind seeing going extinct it would be the rattlesnake. Copperheads a close second. I'll take my chances with a few more chipmunks, mice, and frogs in the wild in exchange for the loss of venomous snakes. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (or Maryland DNR which has a similar policy) notwithstanding, when I see a venomous snake and I have gun in hand so I don't have to get too close to it, it's bye-bye Mr. Snake.

I was nailed by a copperhead once. Luckily I was wearing rubber hip waders so it was merely a close call, but I flailed it with a $400 graphite fly rod nonetheless. I personally know of two dogs owned by close friends, who were bitten and both died. Heck, many years ago my Mom suffered a nasty infected bite on her hand incurred while weeding a flower bed, eventual loss of the hand was a real possibility- and that was from a dam*ed black snake.

God, I hate snakes.

If I rember right last year Joe or his Brother in Law Jay said to keep an eye open for rattle snakes, I did even know that PA had rattle snakes! Gee I wish I was going!

Ima bring some firepower.

What gnoahhh said. A very small one struck the top of my penny loafers when I was about 13 and left venom and parallel scratch marks on the top of my shoe. I hate them and if I don't have a gun I will find a long stick and beat them to death. Or in the case of one on a dirt road I locked the brakes on my Father's '56 Chevy carryall and scrambled the SOB. We don't have poisonous snakes here and I am thankful for that. I hate them!

I have never seen one at the cabin but i know they are there.

I've been working and recreating outdoors my whole life. I've had many encounters with all kinds of snakes. Black rat snakes, Copperheads,Timber rattlers, Red rat snakes, Water moccasins, big old water snakes, you name it. I've actually stepped squarely on very big black snakes on several occasions and not one of them has bitten me although they could have easily if they wanted to. Scared the be Jesus out of me though.

My snake policy is live and let live, until I get bitten.

Just me.