Two of my dogs were snake bit and have had the vaccine. My buddies dogs have not and had huge ulcers from the bite. My dogs did not, so it "seems" to work. Our vet uses it on his own dogs and swears by it. Says there no science to prove it because not enough vets have tried it. I also know a vet that say's antivenom is too expensive ( I paid $800/dose a few years ago) and say's he just gives penicillin for infection, benadryl, manages pain and keeps him hydrated. Said large dogs don't "usually" die. I love my dogs too much to take that chance.

I did try birdshot in a 22LR pistol. Works good. Still too loud and I don't want to lose my 2nd amendment rights or CCW if someone calls 911. So rocks it is. Someone actually called the parks commissioner on me for killing a snake. Guy screamed at me. Long story. But, afterward, people that witnessed it said thanks and please don't stop. Two of my dogs, my buddies dog, a black lab on the ball field, a little boy got bit playing on the splash pad and my grand daughter slid down the slide and got one buzzing. All at the same park. Out in the wilderness is one thing. In our kids park, ball field and splash pad, snakes often die of head injuries. I lost count how many.

 

Glad we do not have that kind of snakes around here. You could geht passend by a barly 2ft. Adder, if you look very hard for one out in the wilds. They are moderately poisonious. My dad‘s German Shepard once found one when out on patrol and went crazy about it. Consequently, it bit the stupid police dog in the nose. The dog fainted away and slept about 24 hrs and was unfit for service for a while.

 

So, all of these rattlesnake stories, including the killing, and nobody has eaten one?

The meat is actually pretty good, if you prepare it right. It can be stir-fried, broiled, baked, grilled, or cooked into chili. Most people in the south bread/batter it and fry it. (Like they do most anything else.)

 

They’re quite plentiful around here. I’ve started carrying a 22 revolver with me loaded with 22 long rifle bird shot rounds. I’ve killed 2 copperheads with it this summer so far. They work well. Has a spread of about 8 inches at 6-8 feet distance. It puts their lights out.

 

I have eaten it fried, it is tasty. I wouldn't skin and clean one, I don't even like touching them.
Mark

 

I usually use a .22mag revolver with shot shells. It does a good job on snakes. I have even used it on a rattlesnake in the shop. I'm not much of a cat person, but I had a shop cat for a couple of years and didn't see any snakes. She contacted Bobcat Fever last spring and the Vet couldn't save her. I need to get another.
Mark

 

Thanks Jim! It is good to be driving it again.
Mark

 

Thanks, Abe! I am still doing PT at home, so I am slowly getting my strength back. I wasn't able to use my shoulders, so I lost most of the muscle tone in my arms, but I can drive again.
Mark

 

You can keep your snakes! I dont care for them much....

I see a few rattle snakes here in Utah mostly along the foothills and lower elevations of the mountains. (Usually fairly small to medium ones.)Usually while out surveying. I really hate startling them, its much better when they hear me coming long before im close. Shudder.

Here is a little guy my employees found last week in a yard.

 

I've been living here in northern New Hampshire for over 20 years now. I can count the number of snakes I've seen of any kind on one hand...and they were all very small!

 

I've only seen one rattler, a huge out West. Was walking through sage and pasture along a river. Scared the bejeezus out of me, because I didn't see it till I about stepped on it. My conscious self didn't recognize it, my lizard-brain did though. Their Camo is excellent, the colors. It never hardly moved or rattled or anything. I gave it a wide berth.

Years ago in Cambodia (long story) two locals (that's how big it was) traipsed into our camp carrying a huge python or some damn thing. Looked like a scene out of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. One of our crew wanted a snake skin, said he was going to make boots or something, he skinned it and salted it and mounted the skin flat on a long board. I will say the meat roasted over a fire was excellent.

 

sounds like bubba Gump shrimp recipe lol

 

Our Boy Scout Troop sold fried rattlesnake at local events... it was a great fund raiser for the scouts.
My brother killed and skinned them and fried them... other guys caught them. My parents weren't into
raising snowflakes as they had plenty of boys.

My brother did step on one out jogging at Philmont (New Mexico Boy Scout Ranch). His lower calf turned black and as hard as concrete.
He has an "air pocket" where the rest of us have calf muscle.

Ben in Austin
1950 F1