Beware: Snakes & Prairie Dog Towns
- Thread starter basspow
- Start date
BritChaser
Well-known member
Prairie Dog Town = Rattlers
Rattlers thrive in prairie dog towns. Good advice, sir.
Rattlers thrive in prairie dog towns. Good advice, sir.
kansasbrittany
Banned
I ordered single digit temps w/ 4 inches of snow for the opener
instead of 80 and dry like many openers of latewhitewater
New member
Is it legal to shoot praire dogs year round up there? How open are farmers to folks coming up there to pop a few with .223s?
kansasbrittany
Banned
Yes, I believe you can shoot them all year long. You shouldn't have a problem getting permission to shoot them either. The prairie dog farms I'm familiar with don't seem to care who pulls up on the road and shoots em', but I recommend asking anyway.
Calisdad
New member
I ordered single digit temps w/ 4 inches of snow for the opener
I like that forecast. Can I put in an order too?
Regarding snakes- if you think you're headed into snake country find out where the nearest emergency vet clinic is that carries the antivenin and carry their phone number with you. I hope you don't need it but if you do time is critical.
I like that forecast. Can I put in an order too?
Regarding snakes- if you think you're headed into snake country find out where the nearest emergency vet clinic is that carries the antivenin and carry their phone number with you. I hope you don't need it but if you do time is critical.
snake vaccine might be a good idea as well...talk to your vet, takes a booster shot as well, to get some immunity.
Bilbo Baggins
Active member
I concur with KB, lots of rattlers near the prairie dogs. The weather forecast is perfect!
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BritChaser
Well-known member
I ordered single digit temps w/ 4 inches of snow for the opener
Thank you, sir. I hope whoever took your order had time to listen to you. LOL
Gove County Britts
New member
yea that sure would be nice to have but probly not going to happen nice thought though
M. R. Byrd
Well-known member
No prairie dog town, but one more rattler bit the dust at the ranch today.
FCSpringer
Moderator
OMG that would freek me out. Good luck avoiding those dam things guy's. We only have gardner's up here in da nort land ya no. No rattler snakes, just baby rattels round here.
just received this from a buddie who lives in Waco, Texas.
This is a forward...WB
-------------------------------------------------------
F Y I
>
> My fellow friends and family,
>
> We have killed 57 rattlesnakes on two separate ranches this year.
> 24 @Southbend & 33 @ Murray , since mid May.
> Not one has buzzed! We provoked one fair sized boy with a stick
> and he coiled & struck at the stick a couple of times before he buzzed up and
> rattled.
>
>
> The purpose of this explanation is that I have been hearing the same from fellow
> ranchers and hunters in regards to the lack of warning with rattlesnakes.
>
> I had lunch with a friend today and he offered a theory about the fact that
> these bugs aren't rattling anymore. He raised pigs for years and reported
> that when he would hear a rattlesnake buzzing in the sow pen, the sows
> would 'bee-line' to it and fight over the snake. For the uninformed, pigs love
> to eat rattlesnakes. Therefore, the theory is they are ceasing to rattle to
> avoid detection, since there are plenty of feral hogs roaming the Texas countryside.
>
> I have a neighbor ranching lady who was bitten 3 weeks ago 2 times by the
> same snake without any warning....she spent 5 days in ICU, after 22 vials of
> anti-venom she is back at the ranch and still may lose her foot or worse yet
> her lower leg.
>
> The days of perceived warning are over. Keep your boots on and use a light
> when out and about. A s you all know, one can pop up just about anywhere!
>
> You may wish to forward this to anyone that would be interested.
This is a forward...WB
-------------------------------------------------------
F Y I
>
> My fellow friends and family,
>
> We have killed 57 rattlesnakes on two separate ranches this year.
> 24 @Southbend & 33 @ Murray , since mid May.
> Not one has buzzed! We provoked one fair sized boy with a stick
> and he coiled & struck at the stick a couple of times before he buzzed up and
> rattled.
>
>
> The purpose of this explanation is that I have been hearing the same from fellow
> ranchers and hunters in regards to the lack of warning with rattlesnakes.
>
> I had lunch with a friend today and he offered a theory about the fact that
> these bugs aren't rattling anymore. He raised pigs for years and reported
> that when he would hear a rattlesnake buzzing in the sow pen, the sows
> would 'bee-line' to it and fight over the snake. For the uninformed, pigs love
> to eat rattlesnakes. Therefore, the theory is they are ceasing to rattle to
> avoid detection, since there are plenty of feral hogs roaming the Texas countryside.
>
> I have a neighbor ranching lady who was bitten 3 weeks ago 2 times by the
> same snake without any warning....she spent 5 days in ICU, after 22 vials of
> anti-venom she is back at the ranch and still may lose her foot or worse yet
> her lower leg.
>
> The days of perceived warning are over. Keep your boots on and use a light
> when out and about. A s you all know, one can pop up just about anywhere!
>
> You may wish to forward this to anyone that would be interested.
FCSpringer
Moderator
Hmmm thats just not right right there. I think I would have crotch high leathers on. And a bullet proof body suit for the dogs.
Bilbo Baggins
Active member
Hunter94, thanks for the article. You don't want to play around with rattlesnakes, that's for SURE.
KATroutman13
Member
I have seen one rattlesnake while hunting Kansas. It was a little one, about 16 inches long. I was stepping over a small coulee and just happened to look down and see it in time to jump over the guy. He was coiled up and did not rattle until I poked him with the gun. It didn't scare me at the time because I saw the snake.
In Montana we ran into several big prairie rattlers. One rattled from far enough away for the guy to hear him and stop. It was a scary situation.
I don't think about the rattlers in KS much because we are out there in mid-November. I can honestly say that I have never seen a rattlesnake in KS later than September and then, only the one despite many a miles on dirt roads and wearing out boot leather.
If you worry about every danger out there hunting, you'd never go. And if you'd never go, you'd be miserable. Hell, I've had a dog point a badger and get very close to a pack of coyotes. We can't protect ourselves against everything.
Be aware of your surroundings and don't do something stupid when encountered with a dangerous situation.
In Montana we ran into several big prairie rattlers. One rattled from far enough away for the guy to hear him and stop. It was a scary situation.
I don't think about the rattlers in KS much because we are out there in mid-November. I can honestly say that I have never seen a rattlesnake in KS later than September and then, only the one despite many a miles on dirt roads and wearing out boot leather.
If you worry about every danger out there hunting, you'd never go. And if you'd never go, you'd be miserable. Hell, I've had a dog point a badger and get very close to a pack of coyotes. We can't protect ourselves against everything.
Be aware of your surroundings and don't do something stupid when encountered with a dangerous situation.
Calisdad
New member
Thanks for the post H94
That's an interesting theory. I've heard turkeys are not gobbling as much due to being hunted. Who knows? I do know that the snake that bit my dog last March didn't sound off until after he bit. The small ones are the worst as the release all their toxin at once while the older ones respond to the level of threat.
Don't let it keep you inside but don't go reaching in a ground squirrel hole after a wounded rooster either.
Had a lengthy conversation with my vet last week about the vaccine. Seems there are auto immune issues cropping up so UC Davis isn't recommending it. Red Rock, the company that makes it, isn't forthcoming with much information.
We lasted this long. Just use your head and enjoy the hunt.
That's an interesting theory. I've heard turkeys are not gobbling as much due to being hunted. Who knows? I do know that the snake that bit my dog last March didn't sound off until after he bit. The small ones are the worst as the release all their toxin at once while the older ones respond to the level of threat.
Don't let it keep you inside but don't go reaching in a ground squirrel hole after a wounded rooster either.
Had a lengthy conversation with my vet last week about the vaccine. Seems there are auto immune issues cropping up so UC Davis isn't recommending it. Red Rock, the company that makes it, isn't forthcoming with much information.
We lasted this long. Just use your head and enjoy the hunt.