I agree somewhat, but my 6 year old cousin was bit a few years ago on a camping trip on the Sabine River by a Cotton Mouth Moc and lost half of his foot. I have been around snakes for long enough to tell the difference in a water snake and a moc and I will continue to kill all the mocs I cross paths with. So am I stupid for killing them? I bet if a youngster close to you got bit and lost a leg and there life was changed forever because of a snake you might think differently.

I'm not trying to say I wouldn't kill a poisonous snake if I knew it was around an area I or my family was in, but to rationalize killing every snake poisonous or not you come in contact with is what I don't get. It's a free country and you can do what you want, but there are other ways of handling a situation other than just killing it. I'm sure your cousin's accident was tramatic, but it's still an accident and the snake didn't seak him out to bite him. It was just that, an accident. Much like cutting yourself or something of that nature. I've been around people who've been bitten and heard the horror stories. I've caught and handled copperheads and it's no big deal.

I can't believe you guys are showing sympathy for snakes. A snake will bite anybody, I don't give a **** if he is aggressive or not. Good Job born for killing the snake and please continue to kill more. How do you control the snake population, if nobody kills them? I noticed most of you say snakes eat rodents, cats do the same job. I noticed most you say the snakes are harmless because they are not poisonious, hack I still don't want to get bit. I guess the bite feel good, if the snake is not releasing poison. Again, Good Job Born.

barndoor

I killed a copperhead this morning and have seen 3 or 4 dead on the dirt road down from my house this week. Killed 1 last week that was inside the rung of the aluminum ladder i was about to pick up, just saw the head sticking out, when i realized what it was i buried it with the remington.

Who's showing sympathy? I've killed them too, but not every single snake I see? I don't care for spiders, but I don't kill every one I see. There here for a reason, same as snakes and same as you and me. I know a snake will bite anybody. You'd be stupid not to agree with that. But it won't hunt you down like so many people think. Snakes and cat's aren't comparable because snakes eat the rodents cats can't get to. I don't see how saying me saying something is harmless is indicating that I want to get bit by it then. Where did you read that?

This is what I mean Bassking. There is no such thing as a harmless snake. I guess dogs are harmless as long as they don't have rabies.

barndoor

ya i agree,all snakes are dead snakes to me, and yes i have seen a rattle snake swim on tv, in salt water, the rattler was enormous

Kill all of them!
http://2coolfishing.com/ttmbforum/showthread.php?t=24396

kill the indigo and save a 100 rattlers.. that's a plan...

A lot of posts in here show irrational fear and a lack of understanding of the importance of a balanced ecosystem. My parents live in the country near Palestine. They encounter tons of snakes. Very often, they are copperheads in their flowerbeds or mocassins (verified ones) in their ponds. Dad quickly dispatches these with his .410, as they are a danger to his grandchildren and to my mother and him. However, when he sees a rat snake, a coachwhip, or a harmless watersnake, he lets them go on their way. It is a simple matter of educating yourself on what species are what and the benefits of having nonvenemous species. I realize one post here won't change a lifetime of developing a fear of snakes, but I simply wish more folks could see them for the useful, amazing creatures they are. As for the comment that no snakes are harmless, neither are dogs, cats, squirrels, rats, mice, bees, wasps, deer, etc. The difference is that most people have been programmed by mom, dad, grandpa, etc. from childhood that the pup with the long canines that might get the idea to bite your hand is okay, because he is to cute, but a snake is creepy. You have the right to kill snakes--they are not protected species, but, if you really, honestly examine why you do it, can you say it is absolutely necessary or good for the environment? One poster said it was necessary to control snake populations. Snakes have many predators, and nature takes care of that very well. I'm not trying to anger anyone, just to offer a different point of view.

"they are not protected species, but, if you really, honestly examine ..."

well actually the Texas Indigo IS a protected species...

We don't all have to agree on the disposition of snakes 'cause I know that ain't gonna happen. All that really needs to be said is that most snakes won't hurt you, and those that can, would rather not. We're too damn big to eat! Distance is all that's needed to keep from having a personal problem with a snake. My biggest run in with a Mocassin was because I wasn't paying attention to where I was stepping and I got really lucky. Truth be told, I actually shot and killed it, but only because I couldn't navigate around him. If you are careful there are very rare intances that require the killing of any snake. Self preservation and protection of loved ones are the only reasons I would kill one today. As for snakes in the food chain, over the years I have watched many a hawk pounce on them with deadly accuracy. Even more wind up under our Goodyears. They are under control.

I have been taught all my life that killing anything that wasn't a threat to you or you didn't intend to eat or use was a crime against nature and a sin . I've been float tubing for well over 20 years and have seen all manner of snakes and had them come right up to my tube or come within inches of me and gone about their buisness as soon as they knew I wasn't a threat and not worth trying to eat.
Having said that I'll throw in some wisdom from someone far better versed in the subject of nature, right and wrong ...


"The old Lakota was wise. He knew that man's heart away from nature becomes hard; he knew that lack of respect for growing, living things soon led to lack of respect for humans too. So he kept his youth close to its softening influence."
"Luther Standing Bear, Oglala Sioux Chief

So I take that to mean that you go around shooting every dog you encounter, since you're applying the same logic to them.

Anyone else feel like they are defending a loss cause? I guess I thought a board that is here to share your experiences has a few that cant help keep their mouth shut over a snake. I got an idea no one's getting their point accross here so let's start a whole new thread. The point of the forum is to be informative and share a few good times, but like anything else there's a point where you just gotta let it go.

and yes I shoot every dog that wants to bite me or my family but no need to change the subject from the snake. Maybe you like it but I dont....

Thank you TXbowhunter. You beat me to the punch line.