I like higher protection than gaiters afford, and wear chaps. Though it is rare I have known of two instances where big snakes hit the leg above the knee, in the back of the thigh. Both men died quickly, apparently to the bigger snake's longer fangs hitting an artery.
I have two pair. One is the Filson Single Tin cloth chaps and the other is Dan's Snake Protector chaps. The latter is made up of three layers of 1000 denier Cordura. They are stiff and don't bend easily at the knees, unlike the Filson's which bend easily, but offer much greater snake protection in the earlier season warmer weather. Where Gil and I hunt there is a very real possibility of walking into a bunch of wild hogs, too. You can't see far in the switchcane and sometimes you just hear them grunting and running off.
A younger friend of mine who bow hunts deer wears snake chaps. The archery season is early here and snakes are out and active. Twice he has been struck on the leg by rattlers in the swamps. He was protected from the bites both times, but each time the snake's fangs were hung in the chaps and he beat them off with his bow.
https://danshuntinggear.com/chaps-snake-protector.html
