This weather!

[V-John]

67 yesterday, I hear that they could call for snow though by Sunday.

I've had two very close calls with dogs and snakes. Snakes scare the hell out of me for the dogs sake. I figure, if I get bit, it's going to hurt a lot, but I'll survive.

But if I lose a dog to getting bit, it's going to hurt a lot worse.

 

[kansasbrittany]

And who's been rattled at? I have three times: Once each in Nevada, Nebraska, and Kansas. Never been struck.

I have twice, both times in KS. The most scary was in some tall weeds by a creek here in Wabaunsee county. I'd mowed an access path for fishing. Apparently the snakes appreciated my doing so as they seemed to be near that path all summer (lesson learned). Anyway, my family and I were leaving our spot when we heard the rattle. My youngest son was leading the way. I saw the snake less that 2ft. from his leg when I scanned for the noise. The boy ran on since he had already passed the snake. My wife and my younger son backed up about 10ft. and tried pounding on the ground, singing, just making noise in general to try to persuade the snake to leave. After about 5 minutes I walked back to the location alone and he/she started rattling again. Her body was as big around as a Pringles can and she must have been 4 or 5 feet long. She'd probably just finished eating something or maybe she was having babies to be that big around. Point is, most snakes leave when you make noise, but this one wasn't. We'd invaded it's territory and it was ready to strike. Luckily none of us were close enough to her for that to happen!! A few days later a neighbor showed me one he'd killed in his yard that was every bit as big. He held it up by his chin and the tail touched the top of his shoe They say there aren't timber rattlers in KS but I don't believe it. These snakes were too big to be prairie rattlers IMO.

BTW, we got "around" the snake by swimming across to the other side of the creek.

 

[BritChaser]

That is frightening. Yep, the snakes liked that mown area -- easy to see birds and rodents.

 

[OKIEGunner]

I'm taking notes Sir, thank you

The drought this year should have taken a heavey toll on the snake population. If not, here is a simple solution for "Rattle-Snakes"!


Oklahoma Rattlesnake Chili
1 large onion, chopped
3 large garlic cloves, minced
1 red bell pepper, chopped
3 jalapeno peppers, chopped
1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 15 oz. can tomato paste
1 28 oz. can chili beans
1/4 cup chili powder
2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper

2 lb. rattlesnake meat
juice from 1/2 lemon

Simmer rattlesnake in water and lemon juice for 1 hour, remove and separate meat from bones.

Combine de-boned meat with the rest of the ingredients in a crockpot and slow-cook for 6-8 hours, or bring to boil in large cooking pot and simmer for 2 hours.
:10sign:

 

[westksbowhunter]

I really don't see where temperatures effect pheasant hunting. I think it has a bigger effect on the hunter and the dogs than it does pheasants. I kill just as many in 60 degree weather as I do 20 degree weather.

 

[Spence]

I really don't see where temperatures effect pheasant hunting. I think it has a bigger effect on the hunter and the dogs than it does pheasants. I kill just as many in 60 degree weather as I do 20 degree weather.

I agree... the comment about birds flushing super wild with this weather and being late in the year I believe is bogus as well. we had birds flying out the the other end of fields the day before the season opened when were checking some places out.

Of course when it does get damn cold they do bunch up and i may see more birds all at once. But other than that I don't see too much of a change in numbers of birds bagged.

 

[Spence]

so of course I'll be out on Sunday! :thumbsup:

 

[Phil V.]

Just checked wikipedia and some other sites about timber rattlers. They can grow to 5 feet in length and weigh more than 5 lbs. and their range includes Kansas.

 

[westksbowhunter]

Personally, I think they tend to be a little more spooky with snow on the ground. Especially when it gets crunchy. I much prefer a day in the 50's with a little wind to walk into. I find they are much easier to slip up on with a little wind to cover noise. We NEVER talk when we hunt. When I hear guys yelling "Roster" I just laugh and think about the dozen that just ran out of the field. Oh, by the way, I would never hunt with someone who felt the need to yell "Roster" after every flush.

 

[westksbowhunter]

No cottonmouths in Kansas. But plenty of rattlesnakes and copperheads.

 

[SDJIM]

And who's been rattled at? I have three times: Once each in Nevada, Nebraska, and Kansas. Never been struck.

I once walked into a den area in early Oct while sneaking up on a pond full of ducks in SD. It was a hillside with a southern esposure and when the 1st one rattled at me I stoped to acess the situtation, much to my horror I had walked within 5 ft of at least a dozen snakes and there were a LOT more around. I VERY carefully picked my way out or there, I mean there were still ducks to be had--LOL

We stoped back at the farm where we had gotten the ok to hunt the pond and the landowner asked if we would help clean up the area a bit---we had a bit of a snake shoot.

It was an experience I NEVER want to repeat--SCARRY

 

[kansasbrittany]

I really don't see where temperatures effect pheasant hunting. I think it has a bigger effect on the hunter and the dogs than it does pheasants. I kill just as many in 60 degree weather as I do 20 degree weather.

Warm temperatures negatively impact my attitude when pheasant hunting and of course the dogs don't last as long.

I agree that the birds don't behave much differently when comparing 60 degrees to 20. 20 isn't cold to those birds. Now a -10 wind chill on a 2 degree day is a different story IME. The temperature does affect them then. This time of year a guy should be able to count on some single-digit/negative temperature days. That's the reason I started taking time off in January to hunt.

If it were 28 degrees for a high Sunday, I'd still make the assumption that most of the birds seen are flushing at a distance this late in the season. Bird behavior does change a bit as the season progresses, though I know some will flush wild even before season starts.

 

[kansasbrittany]

Personally, I think they tend to be a little more spooky with snow on the ground. Especially when it gets crunchy. I much prefer a day in the 50's with a little wind to walk into. I find they are much easier to slip up on with a little wind to cover noise. QUOTE]

Crunchy snow is the worst possible condition I've experienced. It is nearly useless unless you're using blockers. I'd rather hunt in the heat than in crunchy snow.

Agreed about wind.....a little wind really helps get closer to the birds.

 

[kansasbrittany]

I once walked into a den area in early Oct while sneaking up on a pond full of ducks in SD. It was a hillside with a southern esposure and when the 1st one rattled at me I stoped to acess the situtation, much to my horror I had walked within 5 ft of at least a dozen snakes and there were a LOT more around. I VERY carefully picked my way out or there, I mean there were still ducks to be had--LOL

We stoped back at the farm where we had gotten the ok to hunt the pond and the landowner asked if we would help clean up the area a bit---we had a bit of a snake shoot.

It was an experience I NEVER want to repeat--SCARRY

This is the stuff my nightmares are made of

 

[kansasbrittany]

so of course I'll be out on Sunday! :thumbsup:

Good luck Sunday. There a chance of some precipition in different parts of the state. Someday maybe you can make a "how to hunt pheasants in the heat" video and I'll buy the first copy I wasn't suggesting a guy can't kill pheasants when it is warm, just that the late season WIHA birds are spooky enough as it is and to be honest, I just don't enjoy being out much when it is warm. I wouldn't know how they sit when it is 70 degrees b/c by the time the temp reaches 70, I've put my guns away for the day and I'm :cheers:

 

[carptom1]

Just checked wikipedia and some other sites about timber rattlers. They can grow to 5 feet in length and weigh more than 5 lbs. and their range includes Kansas.

Well i know that to be true. Some years ago on my uncles property in Tonganoxie we killed a 5+ footer with about a 3.5 inch rattle. He was in a pile of rubble on the edge of a pond we were working on in his woods. It was funny cause i asked him about seeing snakes out there and he said " There aint no snakes in this pile" about that time we heard that ominous sound. We were able to root him out and dispatch him. I'm not one to just randomly kill, but we felt he was not one we should keep around.

 

[carptom1]

Warm temperatures negatively impact my attitude when pheasant hunting and of course the dogs don't last as long.

I agree that the birds don't behave much differently when comparing 60 degrees to 20. 20 isn't cold to those birds. Now a -10 wind chill on a 2 degree day is a different story IME. The temperature does affect them then. This time of year a guy should be able to count on some single-digit/negative temperature days. That's the reason I started taking time off in January to hunt.

If it were 28 degrees for a high Sunday, I'd still make the assumption that most of the birds seen are flushing at a distance this late in the season. Bird behavior does change a bit as the season progresses, though I know some will flush wild even before season starts.

I do agree about temps negatively impacting my attitude. If you were a fat out of shape Phucker like me, we get cranky when we get hot. I kinda like those cold assed, snot freezing days for hunting. Makes me feel alive.

 

[Dave&Midge]

For me without a doubt and 30 years of hunting there is a big difference in pheasant hunting and temps outside. More than once went on a hunts in 50Deg weather not to even get a shot in 3 days or even hardly see a pheasant. In 4 different cases went back to same area when highs was 20 deg or less and shot limits everyday . But I don't know bout opening weekend cause I never hunt then. Dave

 

[Uncle Buck]

I do agree about temps negatively impacting my attitude. If you were a fat out of shape Phucker like me, we get cranky when we get hot. I kinda like those cold assed, snot freezing days for hunting. Makes me feel alive.

Ditto Carptom, tho I am not quite as robustly built as you are. You would really like a normal winter in SD, ND!!!!