FarArcher Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 Even if you never had to use the thing you would probably feel a whole lot better hiking around in snake country if you had it along. I hate to carry the crap I have in my field pack but sure enough if I don't have it with me, I will get stuck out someplace for the night and spend a really miserable night. Better have some crap you might never use than die from something preventable. The thing is, yes, it makes you sick, but man, losing tissue and the weeks of pain and debilitation are bad. Eight somewhat painful pops, and you're DONE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Reddage05 Posted April 30, 2016 Share Posted April 30, 2016 Geez, you are making me worry , now. Was going to hike out near Fredricksburg next week. Are you out that way, Bigtex? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigtex Posted April 30, 2016 Author Share Posted April 30, 2016 I'm not too far, about an hour or so away. Starting my hikes around 4 to 6PM now, not as many snakes moving in the heat, watch your steps out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigtex Posted May 6, 2016 Author Share Posted May 6, 2016 Here are some pictures for the week.......all of the rain we have had makes for perfect print conditions, plus a bounty of food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigtex Posted May 23, 2016 Author Share Posted May 23, 2016 Not much hiking of late, but a lot of needed rain, plus I want to let the snakes get settled.......snake incidents & bites are way up in Texas this year due to all the flooding. Here's a huge Black Rat Snake I ran across, and guessing around 6 feet. These are very mean snakes, and I caught him so he could play with my Ridgeback to teach him NOT to mess with snakes.......got tagged myself in the process. My other dogs know to stay away from snakes, so need to teach him on the none-venomous types. Sure'nuf......Duncan got bit a few times, ran off yelping, and the snake unharmed:) Also found this what appears to be a very cool fish trap, can't imagine who built this......it's definitely out there in a remote area. And a few interesting prints from yesterday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigTreeWalker Posted May 23, 2016 Share Posted May 23, 2016 Hope you took good care of that. Reminds me of Cryptic Megafauna talking about grabbing a cougar by the scuff of the neck. Big snake that. The placement of those rocks does look almost intentional. Looks like you got some new shoes. Be careful out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelX Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 Yeeowch! Looks like that was a painful lesson for both you and your pooch Bigtex! But yeah, I see your wisdom in letting him learn that lesson by way of one that's not venomous. Interesting pics, especially the fish trap, thanks for sharing those. And like BTW said, be careful out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigtex Posted May 24, 2016 Author Share Posted May 24, 2016 Thanks Michaelx.......I hardly noticed any bite pain, but for some reason, snake bites seem to bleed a lot with just a few holes, has anyone else ever noticed that? Yeah, I watched too much Crocodile Hunter years ago, and he was always grabbing snakes by their tail, and El Rat snake came around pretty quick and held on, so was easy to grab him behind the neck when he's hanging off your hand.....hear Dunky Boy:) The fish trap was definitely made by someone, and within the last 6 months, hadn't been there before because of the recent drought. This is going a few posts back, but have been doing some research on electroshock treatment for venomous snake bites, and this seems to be the best, requires no batteries, and easy to use on yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zman1967 Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 I used to have a pet python when I was in college. I had fed her earlier in the day and someone wanted me to get it out of the cage. When I reached in she bit me. Instinctively I pulled my hand back and yanked her free, but she got me again as I did. I had 2 semi circular rows of bite marks, one on the base of my thumb and hand into the palm, and a 2nd row midway up my thumb from when she bit down the second time as I was pulling free. They bled like crazy, mostly from the tears in the skin since the teeth are hooked and not straight. But actually they did not hurt a whole lot and healed fine. You have to watch for bacteria from snakes. I got the snake at 16"-18" and sold her back to the store when she was around 6'. She was fine when handling her, but I would set her on my bed when cleaning the cage and she struck at me a couple of times as I walked by. She was getting a bit too aggressive for me so it was time to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigtex Posted May 24, 2016 Author Share Posted May 24, 2016 I've never been much of a snake guy, but like their 4 legged cousins. Here's a really cool lizard, and they can really bite hard, always draws blood......the Texas Alligator Lizard, which is basically a lizard half-way evolving into a snake; short weak legs, tongue flicker, strikes his prey like a snake, slithers more than it walks, and has a prehensile tail.......can hang from it like a snake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarArcher Posted May 25, 2016 Share Posted May 25, 2016 Thanks Michaelx.......I hardly noticed any bite pain, but for some reason, snake bites seem to bleed a lot with just a few holes, has anyone else ever noticed that? Yeah, I watched too much Crocodile Hunter years ago, and he was always grabbing snakes by their tail, and El Rat snake came around pretty quick and held on, so was easy to grab him behind the neck when he's hanging off your hand.....hear Dunky Boy:) The fish trap was definitely made by someone, and within the last 6 months, hadn't been there before because of the recent drought. This is going a few posts back, but have been doing some research on electroshock treatment for venomous snake bites, and this seems to be the best, requires no batteries, and easy to use on yourself. Good job, Tex. That would be an ideal, portable snake bite kit. But just in case, one can use the "pen" probe and an alligator clip on the other end hooked up to a small engine spark plug wire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigtex Posted May 26, 2016 Author Share Posted May 26, 2016 Several of the recent print photos are coming from a swampy area that has been bone dry for many years, and now swampy again with all the rain. I've been going down there for months now checking for prints. The other day a perfectly good living tree fell or was pushed over, and blocked my normal path down there......coincidence? I am thinking a deliberate act of something, no other surrounding tree damage, and the one pushed over appeared healthy otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWWASAS Posted May 26, 2016 BFF Patron Share Posted May 26, 2016 Big winds lately? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigtex Posted May 26, 2016 Author Share Posted May 26, 2016 This is in a low area, and no sign of any damage to the other trees......guess a tornado coulda touched down on that spot, and lifted before damaging the other trees, anything is possible......it is still green too:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigtex Posted June 6, 2016 Author Share Posted June 6, 2016 Crazy cool weather, not sure I've ever experienced gorgeous 82 degree days in Texas June, and great for hiking. After so many years of drought, and no water in the creeks & pools, I spent the last 3 days playing & swimming with the pups.....great fun! Went over to one of my stake-out camps, found disturbances & possible juvie prints in the area where I conceal myself. I was over there the day before, and it wasn't there......it's close to a large pool, and I hang there quite a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts