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I have a friend who manages a wild quail plantation on the GA/FL line. His personal string of dogs is over 20 Llewellins which he uses to guide hunters on "dogless" plantations in his locale. I asked him what he wore for snake protection and his answer was "None. My dogs can't wear them so I don't either" but he is most careful of air temps when he hunts and won't take his dogs hunting when temps are snake friendly. Gil

The cooler it is the less likely a snake will strike even if feeling threatened. I encountered a cottonmouth one day in the swamp during a December deer drive with dogs. It would hardly move when poked with a stick. I really think it was incapable of striking. I couldn't make it strike.

What brand gaiters and boots are you tearing through? I've been up and down Colorado 14ers in basic Asolos, Merrells, and a few times in tennis shoes when I was a kid. Perhaps you need chainmail gaiters. ORs and the others listed work for us mere mortals.

Good substitute are LaCrosse Grange tall 18" green rubber boots. ("Since 1957") Maybe not many try or wear them; they're godsend for mixed field harsh scrub and wet(ter) climes. Super-light. I dislike removing thorns and burrs from laces. I've several Russell Moc. but they see more mall and street wear than hunting and never bought gaitors to help. I wear tall rubber boots about 90%. Surprisingly very comfortable. About Gators, walking about in two feet murky water moving point A-B, I’ve disturbed unseen lying alligators which thrash and run off (they thrash and rise and disappear quick). That’s when the Ruger GP comes out the holster. I used to cut through many knee-deep-ish water holes and potspots in paths and areas, but with wisdom decided that's likely not best, though too often unavoidable. If you see the guy hunting alone looking all the more like an action Movie Poster with a revolver in one hand and shottie in the other, it's me - say Hi.

Sounds like me in bear country walking a mile or two to my stand in pitch black night. Nothing will scare the hell out of you more than something busting out a few yards in front of you. But back to the gaitors.

Thanks to all for the suggestions. Mostly what I'm seeing are heavy material, usually a canvas outer, that zings on every step. Need a heavy duty 'soft' outer liner. Perhaps an oxymoron.

Filson is going to be as close as it comes to that for you, methinks. Double or single tin cloth? They soften up, Cordura doesn't..

Another vote for Turtle Skins.

!

I saw this video of a local man who hunts areas that I typically hunt. I don't know him, but I've known of him for a few decades as he is a traditional bowhunter for hogs and deer. He frequents the woods year round and has run into a pile of venomous snakes and has been bitten on the boot over a half dozen times according to him. Worth watching:

oh, an hear ah wuz thinkin you was referrin to them U of Florida Gators who sometimes git duh prvie ledge to git der asses whooped by...them Florida State Seminoles...