Correction I looked up the snake and it was a rat snake

yup, went for some night fishing last night, as soon as i ge tout there was a 22"-24" water moccasin right in the middle of the path. i tried to shoo it with the net and he snapped at it.. i got back in the truck and left..

im really tempted to get a suppressor for my .22 so i can take care of these buggers without people getting angry about firearms..
i take my kids down there, i wont take the chance that they want to "get away" as opposed to striking and killing my children. no thanks bunny huggers, they are gunna die LOL.

you guys think rat shot should be fine for most small snakes right?
biggest snakes around here are 6ft black rat snakes, they can live. the moccasins only get up to 2.5 ft around here i believe.

As soon as I moved to texas I went to bass pro and got some snake boots! I'm not used to water snakes just rattlers and have had my fair share of run ins with them in the 6 years I've been here. Peace of mind is a good thing while I'm out fishing and walking the banks, I also carry a Co2 BB gun pistol with me as well in case they get to close for comfort and chase at me! One shot to the head with that bb gun and he's done! Plus it has 14 shots in case I miss! lol usually I will leave them alone but I have run into some with an attitude problem, then I shoot them and continue fishing. Be careful fellas, GOOD FISHING

OMG, too funny!!!!!

i kept a .410 with birdshot by the front door. that should be fine. and if it aint shoot that SOB one mroe time hahahaha

Copperheads generally are not aggressive snakes, no doubt about it. Water moccasins are another matter but, frankly, most people confuse water moccasins with water snakes, which look very similar. I used to think you could tell if it was a water moccasin by its aggressiveness but have since learned that water snakes are aggressive as well.

410 Snake Charmer (410 shotgun pistol basically, single shot) That gets the job done for all the snakes I see out at the ranch which are generally water moccasins and the occasional rat snake because they were eating the turkey eggs

Where is your ranch Trent,most people mistake the various Nerodia (Water snake) species for moccasins. Also, lots of snakes will eat eggs.

This is a general statement/question directed at everyone and no one in particular....

Don't we as outdoors men have a responsibility to preserving nature as best we can? I mean all of nature, not just the parts we like. Snakes, venomous or otherwise provide a very serious benefit to the environments here in Texas and elsewhere, primarily through rodent and other pest control. Some snakes even eat other snakes.

Shouldn't we do our best to familiarize ourselves with the creatures we may encounter in the field so we know how to logically and rationally deal with them instead of the knee-jerk schoolgirl reaction of "It's a snake, KILL IT!!!"? I can completely understand relocating if capable or killing a venomous snake in your yard or neighborhood, especially if their are kids/pets that may be bitten. But randomly killing every snake you see does no one any good. Know your species, just like duck hunters have to be able to identify ducks on the wing, and know which ones really pose a risk.

I think most of you who have this irrational fear of snakes will soon discover that the majority of snakes you come across are harmless.

Personally, I am deathly afraid of spiders, irrationally so, just cannot stand 'em. But I don't kill em. Only recluses and widows get my stompin' boot.... others get shooed or flicked away with a little whining, but they get to live. I know it's MY FEAR I have to manage and not any threat they pose.

/rant over

kill all snakes
if we haven't wiped out whitetsils, we havent even put s speck in the snake population

I grew up around ponds and pastures where there were plenty of snakes of all kinds (native to the area) and somehow, as an adult was still deathly afraid of them. I moved to my house about 100 yards off of the Trinity about 2 years ago and have had way too many encounters with them for my liking. Nothing like blowing a pile of leaves away to see that there are several leaves that are still there and slithering!

Well, after two years (it drives my wife crazy) I have become much more comfortable with them. Even handling the ones that are non-venomous and relocating them to the bushes. My thought is that if it is poisonous and in/near my yard, it loses it's head. If I am in his yard, i.e. the river or the banks, he gets a pass, so long as he is not a threat to me. Just my .02.

What type of snake is this?

http://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-mc9VNg4/1/O/i-mc9VNg4.jpg

A big ol' goodun!

OK Seriously.

"When in water,cottonmouths usually swim and rest with the whole body floating buoyantly and head and neck held above the
surface whereas water snakes tend to swim with only their head resting on the surface and the remainder of the body
at or slightly beneath the water surface."

Source: The Venomous Snakes of Texas Health Service Region 6/5S: - Edward J. Wozniak DVM, PhD, William M. Niederhofer ACO & John Wisser MS.

Now look at this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO8pyZ5CvRc&feature=related

Should help I hope.

That snake was swimming across the lake when I took the pic.