which gun should you use to kill a snake?

[Buck Snort]

I'm not going to wade through all the posts before responding to this nonsense. About 99.9% of the time it is absolutely NOT NECESSARY to kill a snake. If its a poisonous snake just step back and walk around. WHY KILL IT? What is this OBSESSION some people have with snakes? They are living creatures that have a place in the natural order of things. Now, there are, of course, exceptions to the rule. We have a bad situation in the Florida Everglades where an INVASIVE SPECIE of snake has taken hold and will upset the natural order there. Evidently some bozo let loose some Burmese pythons and their population has exploded exponentially. They should be wiped out, they are NOT a natural part of that environment. But when I'm walking in the Sierra Nevada mountains and I hear a rattlesnake sound off my first thought is for my own safety and THEN I find a way to get by the snake and on my way without doing one of nature's creatures any harm. Those ballyhood Texas rattlesnake hunts are, IMHO, the outgrowth of testosterone poisoning and amount to just so much macho BS. A rattlesnake resembles a game animal like a Big Mac resembles gourmet cooking! Men respond to snakes like women respond to mice, EEEEEEEK!! C'mon guys, give a snake a break!

 

[Buck Snort]

Mitch if a venomous snake is in the same area as my grandbabies that is MORE than enough of a threat for me to eliminate it. I personally know two people who were bitten by rattlesnakes as children. Both almost died from the bites. I visited one while he was in the hospital and saw the wound area. The entire top of his foot nearly rotted away. THAT is NOT going to happen to my grandbabies if I can prevent it.

Point well taken, we have to protect our little ones from ANY dangerous animal.

 

[Buck Snort]

Maybe we can create laws/legislation that makes the snakes to go away? lol

YEAH!! Lets start setting up "NO SNAKES" zones!!

 

[Buck Snort]

According to this site, 5 of the world's 10 deadliest snakes are found in Australia.

http://crikeymatemosaic.wordpress.com/2006/10/17/the-deadliest-snakes-in-the-world/

#2 The Eastern Brown Snake is common where I live.

I don't hesitate to use a 12g shotgun with birdshot (7 1/2) on any snake near the house - especially since we have young children. I found one in the bathroom once that I killed with a shovel since I didn't want to shoot the toilet but I prefer a shotgun.

You folks have a special situation down there on the underside of things and I'd favor killing OR removing any poisonous snakes found near civilization. I can't believe you Aussies have not developed a good "capture and relocate" program, giving the numbers of highly poisonous snakes you have there.

 

[Sport45]

What is this OBSESSION some people have with snakes?

Snakes have had a bad reputation since the time one was reported to have convinced Eve to eat the apple. That reputation isn't likely to go away any time soon.

I've dispatched quite a few snakes. Many in my youth when I didn't know better. None were killed with a firearm. They are really pretty fragile and can be dispatched with pretty much anything that's handy, be it a shovel, hoe, pipe wrench, or just a stick or rock.

 

[chevyforlife21]

a daisy bb gun works fine if you know how to shoot just shoot them in the head works most of the time, if you want a definite no miss kill use a shotgun of any sort

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Just this afternoon at dusk I was finihing up mowing the grass in the area where my grandbabies gun,tumble and play freely. As I'm dumping the wheelbarrow load of clipping down the bank a 2 foot copperhead come squirming out of the clipping very quickly. I was without a firearm and the only weapon was the rake about 20 feet behind me. There was no chance to dispatch it but I will be on patrol whenever my babies are out there for sure. I won't be caught unprepared again!

 

[Dr T]

For rattlesnakes on the Western Edge of the Edwards Plateau in Texas (and cotton mouths and copperheads):

If it is in a Juniper bush, I would prefer a 12 ga (or 20 ga. or 28 ga.) with #6 shot (I have found the .410 to be a bit light). If it is on a caliche road, on limestone caprock, or in the open I use a 22 lr or 22 wrm handgun. I DO NOT use 22 rat shot: it bounces back (and stings like heck when it hits you on the forehead).

I leave the rest of the snakes alone, especially bull snakes: They eat rattlers.

 

[Sport45]

the area where my grandbabies gun,tumble and play freely.

Sounds like the grandbabies should be able to take care of themselves.

 

[JShirley]

Enough.

Even if a snake has to be eliminated, most snakes have a very thin midsection and have no projectiles. This means a stick or firearm loaded with shot is the best choice if a snake is to be dispatched.

Take any desired discussion of the ethics or necessity of killing snakes to the hunting forum.