I was hunting alone in Grenn Swamp this weekend and because it's been pretty dry you can really get back into some areas. A couple of the areas you can actually see the water line stained into the tree trunks and had I been there at some earlier time I'd be hunting under water.

So here I am walking very quitely through one area that has about an inch or two of water over grass and before I take another step I look down just to make sure I'm not going to snap a big twig or anything and low and behold under my foot is a snake with it's head up like it's leaning back looking at me. I ease my foot back and very slowly take two steps to the rear and just watch the snake for a minute. Up north I've ocasionally run into very small snakes but usually it's when they're moving away quickly. But this snake just sat there watching me and it was maybe 20 - 25 inches long and a fair size snake in my book. Dark brown back with stripes and spots running vertical every so often under it. Cool snake I thought....until I came in today and looked up pictures of Florida snakes on the net, COTTON MOUTH!

No more 12 inch boots for this dude, snake chaps or the 17 inch boots from here on out!

As an old Mossy-Back Floridian I can tell you to forget the higher boots, unless they are real snake-proof! What you really need is a pair of snake chaps---take them off we you are not needing them....a lot cooler! By the way, The cotten-mouth and rattlesnake can bit righr through regular leather boots...........James

Speaking of Florida snakes.........James

Speaking of Florida snakes.........James

We have rattlesnakes in Wyoming, but I've never seen anything like that. Mostly by choice, I know very little about snakes. How could so many snakes be in one location? Are they using the culvert as a den? I guess I was under the impression that, because of the warm weather, snakes don't den up in Florida.

You can bet that the weather gets cold enough to cause the snakes to den up! Here in Northwest Florida it gets below 32 quite often.
Then on the other hand, if we have a mid-winter warm spell (like now) they will come out. You learn real quick to watch the turtles in the road ditches.....if they are out, put your snake chaps on!
By the way.....a good idea will wild hog hunting is to wear your snake chaps! It will stop a tusker's cut.....mught bruise but your could still make children!........James

Speaking of reptiles!........James

Elkloco, I have "herd"that the snakes that we have in North America cannot put their fangs through a boot made out of 1000 denier Cordura nylon. I probably believe this but certinly can't prove it one way or another. To me it's not worth the risk. As James said,the snake protection that you choose to wear will help you in other ways. It will(does) ward off the berry vines,bamboo vines,and "Wait-a-Minute" vines,that will tear your arms to pieces. Also it is great protection for that (hopefully) once in a lifetime charge or passing cut from a big,nasty hog. Of course chaps would be the best,but I find them very uncomfortable probably because I end up walking a very long distance during a days hunt. Plus bending and stretching gettin' in and out of a boat 10-20 times in a day. I wear snakeproof gaiters. Kinda pricy,but they are very comfortable and very high tech. Take a look at >>> www.turtleskin.com The problem that someone that is wearing gaiters could have is,a snake could already be up off the ground. On a stump,blowdown,low branch,etc. The extra height of snake chaps would be very beneficial for situations such as that. Also if your walking in knee deep water and/or muck then the snake is already above your protection. I have "played" with a rather large Cottonmouth and they can put a full coil strike on something that is 24" off the ground.Probably 30"(but have not seen this). Also the Cottonmouth is one of the most agressive snakes in the world. The only full strike that I have taken was 2 years ago.It was in Dec.and the WX had been fairly cold but it warmed into the low 70's around noon. I was walking down a hog trail through the thick Palmettos and was struck just above the right ankle. The Cottonmouth was one of the biggest that I had ever seen. I was wearing my Rocky brand 16" snake boots. The strike was so hard that it kinda hurt. When i looked down he had just finished his recoil to strike again. Boy oh boy,Ill tell ya---you'll get your boot off pretty darn quick to take a look. Then I took pity on the poor snake---and killed him fast.----GOOD HUNTIN'--pruhdlr

Thanks pruhdlr, this turtleskin site is sweet.

pruhdlr,

What a great site.

Thanks,

Dave :cool: