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Started by HognitiveDissonance, July 20, 2011, 09:57:47 am

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Albert Einswine

Quote from: Sammich on August 10, 2011, 11:54:02 am
Yeah, good point.  But then again, can't blame a guy for standing more than just a few feet back from a venomous snake no matter what size he is!   ;D


Did some more checking and what you have there is without a doubt the Western Diamondback.  It's the "coon" tail that gives it away.

http://www.hsu.edu/pictures.aspx?id=1223
"Funny thing, I become a hell of a good fisherman when the trout decide to commit suicide." ~ John D. Voelker

Rzbakfromwaybak

Quote from: purplehog44 on August 10, 2011, 08:32:43 am
Are you sure? It doesnt look like a timber to me. I thought that the timbers had a black tail or "black velvet tail". I could be wrong, I dont consider myself a snake expert.



Well, not sure if its a Timber rattler or a Diamondback......

But it looks like a "Shooter" to me.............
Arkansas born, Arkansas bred, when I die I'll be a Razorback dead.

 

Sammich

Quote from: HognitiveDissonance on August 10, 2011, 12:30:31 pm
There shouldn't be any Western Diamondbacks in Arkansas. But this possibly could fall into the old argument 'there are no mountain lions in Arkansas'.

When you say The Ranch, are you talking about the Ranch in West LR on Hwy 10?

Exactly.  Sammich has VIP status out there....

Nah this is out in west Texas, close to Abilene. 

1highhog

August 13, 2011, 03:30:34 pm #103 Last Edit: August 13, 2011, 08:29:46 pm by 1highhog
Quote from: Albert Einswine on August 03, 2011, 11:51:18 pm
What I've always found strange is that non-venomous snakes are so much more eager to strike and bite you than venomous (cottonmouths excepted, they're pretty aggressive) ones are.  I've been bitten by all kinds of round eyed snakes from green snakes, garters, spotted kings, spread adders, black chicken, blue racers, common water snakes, etc...

Copperheads and rattlers are just really reluctant to strike in my experience.

You remind me of that blonde headed young fella named Willie on Swamp People that catches snakes sometimes to supplement his income.  He said on one show that in catching snakes your going to get bit everytime.  By the end of the night after catching quite a few he was getting pretty sick, only catching non-venomous snakes but after having been bitten so many times they had made him pretty woozy and vomited.  My Dad taught my two brothers and I how to catch and handle snakes from an early age, we still do, I don't fool with rattlers anymore since I've married, but rattlers and copperheads are easy snakes to handle, the worst snake to me to deal with is a Cottonmouth, I don't kill anything for spite, but if there is anything needing killing that will gladly try and kill you just for the heck of it, it's a CottonMouth, they will actually sneak from a good distance to get close enough to bite you.  An 18 1/2" 20 gauge works well in dispatching them though when they get to close.

In other words, why are you getting bit so much?  And why do you milk them?  Are you using the venom or what?

HogSophist

signature removed by Hogville staff. (but Erie's quote revived because I missed it)


In an era where there are over $70 trillion in future obligations, beyond the debt,   taking up practices in budgeting that are tantamount to saying 'And then in 2040, a magic dragon will sh*tpoopy $100 trillion and fix our problems'  simply isn't wise. --ErieHog

Albert Einswine

Quote from: 1highhog on August 13, 2011, 03:30:34 pm


In other words, why are you getting bit so much?  And why do you milk them?  Are you using the venom or what?


I haven't been bit much.  Just sayin' that over the course of my life and all the snakes I've caught (and there's no way to even put a number on it) I've been bitten by at least one each of the round eyed snakes I listed.  I don't take the same care catching non-venomous snakes that I do the pit vipers.  I leave little to chance with the fanged friends.

The only venomous snake I ever got bit by was a cottonmouth while swimming and it was a dry bite.

I don't always milk the venom, but I guess the reason is my dad showed me how when I was young and it's kinda fascinating. 
"Funny thing, I become a hell of a good fisherman when the trout decide to commit suicide." ~ John D. Voelker

Rzbakfromwaybak

Quote from: HognitiveDissonance on August 10, 2011, 12:30:31 pm
There shouldn't be any Western Diamondbacks in Arkansas. But this possibly could fall into the old argument 'there are no mountain lions in Arkansas'.

When you say The Ranch, are you talking about the Ranch in West LR on Hwy 10?

Believe you could be partially right about the Mountain Lion connection.  Story I heard.... is that most of the Western Diamondbacks in Arkansas......are believed to have been killed & eaten by Mtn. Lions & Black Panthers. They believe the Lions/Panthers don't bother Cottonmouths......too aggressive.
Arkansas born, Arkansas bred, when I die I'll be a Razorback dead.

Hawgon

August 15, 2011, 09:25:13 am #107 Last Edit: August 15, 2011, 09:27:20 am by Hawgon
Quote from: HognitiveDissonance on August 10, 2011, 12:30:31 pm
There shouldn't be any Western Diamondbacks in Arkansas. But this possibly could fall into the old argument 'there are no mountain lions in Arkansas'.

When you say The Ranch, are you talking about the Ranch in West LR on Hwy 10?

All the diamond backs in Arkansas are most likely western diamond backs.  There may be a few eastern diamond backs, but the western diamond back is the prevalent diamond back rattler in Arkansas.

But that said, I've seen some that my dad killed that I am pretty sure were of the eatern variety.

Albert Einswine

Quote from: Hawgon on August 15, 2011, 09:25:13 am
All the diamond backs in Arkansas are most likely western diamond backs.  There may be a few eastern diamond backs, but the western diamond back is the prevalent diamond back rattler in Arkansas.

But that said, I've seen some that my dad killed that I am pretty sure were of the eatern variety.


According to every source I've ever found Eastern Diamondback range doesn't include Arkansas.  They don't make Arkansas' official list of venomous snakes.

http://www.uga.edu/srelherp/snakes/croada.htm

http://www.hsu.edu/pictures.aspx?id=1223
"Funny thing, I become a hell of a good fisherman when the trout decide to commit suicide." ~ John D. Voelker

Hawgon

Quote from: Albert Einswine on August 15, 2011, 09:31:50 am

According to every source I've ever found Eastern Diamondback range doesn't include Arkansas.  They don't make Arkansas' official list of venomous snakes.

http://www.uga.edu/srelherp/snakes/croada.htm

http://www.hsu.edu/pictures.aspx?id=1223

I think you'll find some in South Arkansas and all the way over to East Texas.  Yes, I know what the books say, but if you can point to one single difference between the climate, terrain, and habitat of South Arkansas or East Texas and that of Mississippi or Louisiana where all the books say there are Eastern Diamond Backs, then you've done something no one else can do. 

And since the terrain, climate, and habitat are exactly the same and there are no natural barriers, it would be unreasonable to assume they are in one place and not in another identical place a few miles to the west.

Albert Einswine

Quote from: Hawgon on August 15, 2011, 10:51:16 am
I think you'll find some in South Arkansas and all the way over to East Texas.  Yes, I know what the books say, but if you can point to one single difference between the climate, terrain, and habitat of South Arkansas or East Texas and that of Mississippi or Louisiana where all the books say there are Eastern Diamond Backs, then you've done something no one else can do. 

And since the terrain, climate, and habitat are exactly the same and there are no natural barriers, it would be unreasonable to assume they are in one place and not in another identical place a few miles to the west.


Family lore has it that my great uncle killed one on Hatchie Coon Island squirrel hunting with my granddad back in the '50s that measured over 6 feet long.  But there's no way to verify it.

I've never seen one.
"Funny thing, I become a hell of a good fisherman when the trout decide to commit suicide." ~ John D. Voelker

Hawgon

Quote from: Albert Einswine on August 15, 2011, 10:59:44 am

Family lore has it that my great uncle killed one on Hatchie Coon Island squirrel hunting with my granddad back in the '50s that measured over 6 feet long.  But there's no way to verify it.

I've never seen one.

My dad is outside on our place all day every year.  He usually kills four or five rattlesnakes every summer and fall, sometimes more.  He has killed both eastern and western diamond backs within a couple days of each other.  You could see the difference.  He usually kills at least a couple every year in the 5 1/2 to 6 foot range.

pigture perfect

Do you eat the meat of those your dad kills? I've had rattler before at some wild game dinners and it's pretty good.
The 2 biggest fools in the world: He who has an answer for everything and he who argues with him.  - original.<br /> <br />The first thing I'm going to ask a lawyer (when I might need one) is, "You don't post on Hogville do you?"

 

Hawgon

Quote from: pigture perfect on August 15, 2011, 11:34:58 am
Do you eat the meat of those your dad kills? I've had rattler before at some wild game dinners and it's pretty good.

Nope

pigture perfect

Do you at least skin 'em? A good skin goes for about a dollar an inch.
The 2 biggest fools in the world: He who has an answer for everything and he who argues with him.  - original.<br /> <br />The first thing I'm going to ask a lawyer (when I might need one) is, "You don't post on Hogville do you?"

HuntinHog

Quote from: Rzbakfromwaybak on August 15, 2011, 01:26:04 am
Believe you could be partially right about the Mountain Lion connection.  Story I heard.... is that most of the Western Diamondbacks in Arkansas......are believed to have been killed & eaten by Mtn. Lions & Black Panthers. They believe the Lions/Panthers don't bother Cottonmouths......too aggressive.

That's ridiculous. 








It was the chupacabras. 

cal34

I take pictures of Cottonmouths all the time and they never get aggressive with me and Im either laying in front of them or in my kayak really close.  Ive had one show his mouth when I almost stepped on him but then he left.  Check out some of my snake and Arkansas deer pics here. http://www.capturearkansas.com/photos/256825




Rzbakfromwaybak

August 16, 2011, 12:09:44 am #117 Last Edit: August 16, 2011, 12:47:08 am by Rzbakfromwaybak
Quote from: HuntinHog on August 15, 2011, 03:26:51 pm
That's ridiculous. 








It was the chupacabras.

LOL......yeah, them too.  After most of the Diamondbacks were gone, the food supply ran out for the Mtn Lions & chupacabras.  That's why they all but disappeared here in Arkansas...... but I think they are all making a comeback.....

Wonder how long it will be before a Chupacabra mates with a Mtn. Lion/ Black Panther??  Man, that would sure be interesting to see how the AGFC would regulate those dudes.
Arkansas born, Arkansas bred, when I die I'll be a Razorback dead.

Verge

Quote from: cal34 on August 15, 2011, 06:57:25 pm
I take pictures of Cottonmouths all the time and they never get aggressive with me and Im either laying in front of them or in my kayak really close.  Ive had one show his mouth when I almost stepped on him but then he left.  Check out some of my snake and Arkansas deer pics here. http://www.capturearkansas.com/photos/256825

Some great pictures in there!

Albert Einswine

Quote from: cal34 on August 15, 2011, 06:57:25 pm
I take pictures of Cottonmouths all the time and they never get aggressive with me and Im either laying in front of them or in my kayak really close.  Ive had one show his mouth when I almost stepped on him but then he left.  Check out some of my snake and Arkansas deer pics here. http://www.capturearkansas.com/photos/256825







Excellent camera work in there.  Kudos to you!
"Funny thing, I become a hell of a good fisherman when the trout decide to commit suicide." ~ John D. Voelker

southeasthog

Quote from: 1990sHogBallChild on March 04, 2023, 04:08:32 pmWe have peaked... lucked his way to two elite 8s by getting the most favorable draws in tourney history. Beat the most over-rated 1 seed in the history of college basketball in Gonzaga who would be a 6 seed if they played in a real conference. Then Muss's other 5 tourney wins are against an average of a 12 seed. A few dozen coaches could have done that. Two losing records in SEC play is as much as MA had in 8 years.

Whiskey River

I've seen a couple of cottonmouths this week. I've been on the look out for rattlers while bowhunting. Here's one of the one's that I got to smile for me a few days ago.  ;)

This species has amused itself to death...

HognitiveDissonance

Quote from: Whiskey River on October 11, 2011, 10:30:21 pm
I've seen a couple of cottonmouths this week. I've been on the look out for rattlers while bowhunting. Here's one of the one's that I got to smile for me a few days ago.  ;)



How did you get it to 'smile'? How far away were you?

Whiskey River

Quote from: HognitiveDissonance on October 13, 2011, 10:06:28 am
How did you get it to 'smile'? How far away were you?

Taken with my camera phone with no zoom, so I was pretty close...maybe 2-3ft.  Just walked up, stuck my phone in it's face, and it smiled for me.
This species has amused itself to death...

 

HognitiveDissonance

Quote from: Whiskey River on October 13, 2011, 04:11:16 pm
Taken with my camera phone with no zoom, so I was pretty close...maybe 2-3ft.  Just walked up, stuck my phone in it's face, and it smiled for me.

I've been that close to copperheads, goofing around, but I would never do that with a cottonmouth. You're braver than I am.

IronHog

Quote from: cal34 on August 15, 2011, 06:57:25 pm
I take pictures of Cottonmouths all the time and they never get aggressive with me and Im either laying in front of them or in my kayak really close.  Ive had one show his mouth when I almost stepped on him but then he left.  Check out some of my snake and Arkansas deer pics here. http://www.capturearkansas.com/photos/256825





Don't try that when its hot.


People who haven't seen an aggressive cotton mouth just haven't run into the right snake yet.
Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.

IronHog

Quote from: Whiskey River on October 11, 2011, 10:30:21 pm
I've seen a couple of cottonmouths this week. I've been on the look out for rattlers while bowhunting. Here's one of the one's that I got to smile for me a few days ago.  ;)




Figured those big Hogs would eat all yall's snakes!
Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.

Whiskey River

Quote from: IronHog on October 13, 2011, 09:41:46 pm

Figured those big Hogs would eat all yall's snakes!

That theory is complete bs! We are over run with both hogs and snakes every year. I've even seen snakes coiled up in hog wallows before.
This species has amused itself to death...

kaptainkory

March 10, 2012, 06:35:47 pm #128 Last Edit: March 10, 2012, 06:43:46 pm by kaptainkory
Hey, who knew hogvillians liked to talk snakes.  :)

I am webmaster of the Herps of Arkansas website.  With spring upcoming, I am here to answer your snake questions.

This is one of the most commonly misIDed snakes people ask me about:


Juvenile Texas Ratsnake by kaptainkory, on Flickr

Whiskey River

I've seen a few snakes in the past few weeks...

Walked up on this huge timber rattler while squirrel hunting Feb 16th


Then a few rat snakes and water snakes lately...








This species has amused itself to death...

ATU HOG

Yall are crazy lol, this thread gives me chills just reading the stories and looking at the pics. 

pigture perfect

I don't think we're crazy necessarily. Snakes are facinating to me, don't know why.
The 2 biggest fools in the world: He who has an answer for everything and he who argues with him.  - original.<br /> <br />The first thing I'm going to ask a lawyer (when I might need one) is, "You don't post on Hogville do you?"

HuntinHog

Quote from: ATU HOG on March 11, 2012, 07:56:41 pm
Yall are crazy lol, this thread gives me chills just reading the stories and looking at the pics.

This right here.

Tim Harris

Quote from: ATU HOG on March 11, 2012, 07:56:41 pm
Yall are crazy lol, this thread gives me chills just reading the stories and looking at the pics. 

I agree.  Wish I hadn't found this thread.  There is a good chance I won't sleep for a week after seeing those pictures.

bxw21

Quote from: IronHog on July 20, 2011, 02:29:13 pm
I've seen some rattlers around here that were eating up the biggest part of the width of one lane.

They claim timber rattlers don't get that big, but these were long snakes.
I saw one in St. Paul several years back.  One lane road and the snake nearly stretched the entire width.  It was also about as fat as the barrel of a baseball bat.

1highhog

My Boxer unfortunately killed a nice rat snake Monday afternoon right beside my garage.  I have a 24' planter growing alongside my garage filled with monkeygrass and it gives them good coverage to get in, plus I live right up against the woods on 2 sides.  I like to keep King snakes and ratsnakes around, I have my share of copperheads, they are going to be removed, and have had to remove a few big timber rattlers that would put the hurt on somebody.  I have one that measured out at 6' 11 1/4", and had 17 rattles, another was 5' 8 3/4", with 13 rattles.  They were nice skins and tasted great.

HognitiveDissonance

Mount Magazine has a healthy population of rattlesnakes. Have seen several up there after dark, including one that stretched across the road lane.

ErieHog

Neat picture of a 7 foot 3 inch diamondback caught in Florida:



Lots of nonsense out there about it being 8 or even 15 feet on the interwebs, but it's officially only 7'3"
No cause, ever, in the history of all mankind, has produced more cold-blooded tyrants, more slaughtered innocents, and more orphans than socialism with power. It surpassed, exponentially, all other systems of production in turning out the dead. The bodies are all around us. And here is the problem: No one talks about them. No one honors them. No one does penance for them. No one has committed suicide for having been an apologist for those who did this to them. No one pays for them. No one is hunted down to account for them. It is exactly what Solzhenitsyn foresaw in The Gulag Archipelago: "No, no one would have to answer. No one would be looked into." Until that happens, there is no "after socialism."

HognitiveDissonance

Quote from: ErieHog on March 14, 2012, 07:21:57 pm
Neat picture of a 7 foot 3 inch diamondback caught in Florida:



Lots of nonsense out there about it being 8 or even 15 feet on the interwebs, but it's officially only 7'3"

Scary. That thing is thicker than a speed bump.

HogSophist

signature removed by Hogville staff. (but Erie's quote revived because I missed it)


In an era where there are over $70 trillion in future obligations, beyond the debt,   taking up practices in budgeting that are tantamount to saying 'And then in 2040, a magic dragon will sh*tpoopy $100 trillion and fix our problems'  simply isn't wise. --ErieHog

kaptainkory

Any of you guys ever see these species in AR, please contact me:

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (AKA "coontail rattler")

2008 AHS Spring Field Trip - Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Breeding Pair Series by kaptainkory, on Flickr

Texas Coralsnake

Texas Coral Snake by kaptainkory, on Flickr

Bullsnake

Bullsnake by kaptainkory, on Flickr

Hellbender

Ozark Hellbender Research by kaptainkory, on Flickr

kaptainkory

Quote from: HognitiveDissonance on March 13, 2012, 05:56:01 pm
Mount Magazine has a healthy population of rattlesnakes. Have seen several up there after dark, including one that stretched across the road lane.

BTW, please remember that it is illegal to kill any snake in AR unless it is posing an immediate danger to you or property (like a pet).

I know places like Mt. Magazine seemingly have healthy populations of snakes, but they take a massive hit on the roads up there.  Being that it's state park property, we have a collective responsibility to leave things well enough alone as much as possible.  So if you're swerving your car, it better be to miss a snake rather than intentionally hit it.  :)

kaptainkory


dagnamit

Quote from: kaptainkory on March 16, 2012, 09:08:46 pm
BTW, please remember that it is illegal to kill any snake in AR unless it is posing an immediate danger to you or property (like a pet).

I know places like Mt. Magazine seemingly have healthy populations of snakes, but they take a massive hit on the roads up there.  Being that it's state park property, we have a collective responsibility to leave things well enough alone as much as possible.  So if you're swerving your car, it better be to miss a snake rather than intentionally hit it.  :)
yes... lets save the snakes.

FaytownHog

Quote from: kaptainkory on March 16, 2012, 09:08:46 pm
BTW, please remember that it is illegal to kill any snake in AR unless it is posing an immediate danger to you or property (like a pet).

I know places like Mt. Magazine seemingly have healthy populations of snakes, but they take a massive hit on the roads up there.  Being that it's state park property, we have a collective responsibility to leave things well enough alone as much as possible.  So if you're swerving your car, it better be to miss a snake rather than intentionally hit it.  :)
I'm not putting me or my family that's in the car's life in sake, swerving on or off the road to miss a snake. If he's in the road then it's natures course. We're higher on the food chain. Circle of life or however you'd like to look at it. That's natural enough for me.

kaptainkory

Quote from: FaytownHog on March 16, 2012, 10:08:40 pm
I'm not putting me or my family that's in the car's life in sake, swerving on or off the road to miss a snake. If he's in the road then it's natures course. We're higher on the food chain. Circle of life or however you'd like to look at it. That's natural enough for me.

I get downright giddy when carloads of people swerve off the road, fly off a cliff, and crash in a fiery inferno to avoid hitting wildlife.  I absolutely love it.  The more women and children in the car the better.

Seriously.  Speaking of missing something...  Looks like you did.

FaytownHog

Quote from: kaptainkory on March 16, 2012, 10:47:46 pm
I get downright giddy when carloads of people swerve off the road, fly off a cliff, and crash in a fiery inferno to avoid hitting wildlife.  I absolutely love it.  The more women and children in the car the better.

Seriously.  Speaking of missing something...  Looks like you did.
I saw the smiley. Its not so much a response to you as the people who represent the thought you were talking about.

Rzbakfromwaybak

March 17, 2012, 02:52:31 am #147 Last Edit: March 17, 2012, 03:17:28 am by Rzbakfromwaybak
Quote from: kaptainkory on March 16, 2012, 09:08:46 pm
BTW, please remember that it is illegal to kill any snake in AR unless it is posing an immediate danger to you or property (like a pet).

I know places like Mt. Magazine seemingly have healthy populations of snakes, but they take a massive hit on the roads up there.  Being that it's state park property, we have a collective responsibility to leave things well enough alone as much as possible.  So if you're swerving your car, it better be to miss a snake rather than intentionally hit it.  :)

Yes, I agree about swerving the car being dangerous, that is why I am very careful.  I slowly pull over to the side of the road, make sure no other cars are coming,  get out of the car.......& shoot them with my .357 with snake shot........I feel that I am saving the rattlesnakes from being run over by cars.....any snake I dispatch, was in my opinion...posing an immediate danger to someone, somehow......
Arkansas born, Arkansas bred, when I die I'll be a Razorback dead.

Whiskey River

I saw these three Thursday...





This species has amused itself to death...

Albert Einswine

Quote from: Whiskey River on March 17, 2012, 06:03:03 am
I saw these three Thursday...








Venomous snakes are the best!  Absolutely beautiful!!  I don't understand the irrational fear of snakes that the majority of people have, of course I was raised not to fear them and most are raised to hate them.

Most hatred is born of ignorance.
"Funny thing, I become a hell of a good fisherman when the trout decide to commit suicide." ~ John D. Voelker