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Doverham and Adam, I assume those are Eastern Diamondbacks? NOT a snake you want to bite you or your dog.....

Adam, I wonder if that's a quail in the middle of that diamondback. That's a dog-killer for sure. Doverham's canebrake or timber rattler is bad enough, but that EDB is one bad dude. Gil

In my experience eastern diamondbacks are less aggressive than canebrakes. When one coils up at your feet and you freeze or step away, it will usually back away itself by lifting one coil over another until it feels a safe distance away from the threat, then uncoil and crawl away.

Of course they're big and carry a lethal load of hemotoxin but unless attacked by a dog are not as sure of striking as the canebrake. Water moccasins on the other hand are always bad news...Geo

What was the old saying about the lethality of three species of snakes? One sent you home, one sent you to the hospital and one sent you to your Maker - or something like that?

In any event, snake gaiters next year.

The Greener awakens.

Tobin snack
I actually shoot more than just geese.

George, I'd hate to know the number of snakes I've walked by while hunting and not been aware of their presence. In the past 3 years I've attended 4 snake breaking clinics with my Brittany. Dr. Calderwood has 3 snakes, a canebrake, a huge EDB and a large cottonmouth. The EDB buzzes in a pile and doesn't strike. The cottonmouth holds its head high like a cobra and is prone to run. I watched the canebrake strike at several dogs. The strike is a blur. Good thing his major fangs are broken off and its mouth is taped shut. Ornery bastard. Gil

Gil I too have taken my dog to class with dr calderwood. I need to my younger dog now.

I simply won't hunt when it's hot.... Just not worth it to me. I don't know what I'd do if I lost a dog to a snake!

Adam

Adam, he now comes to Savannah for classes at the gun club. My 6 months old Willa was too young for the September class. He said to wait until May. He wants his serpents' fangs to regrow so they can feed this winter. Abby has had 3 "refresher" courses since going three years ago. She won't go near the snakes and in fact bolts away when she senses them. It's worthwhile to have a dog broke from snakes. I assume it was Rusty that had the "class". Gil

I see quite a few snakes each year when hunting. I was a land surveyor for twenty years and saw far more in those days than I do now. I had quite a collection of skins from diamondbacks before I decided to stop killing them. In that environment they were no threat to my dog and I couldn't justify it. Now I let a venomous snake's attitude determine its fate. Every time I hunt I see snake skeletons that have been picked clean. I took a number of pictures of this cottonmouth. It was out on exposed lake bottom where a bird could easily get it. I have never seen one with such a dehydrated or malnourished look that it's spine was so prominent. It took some effort from me to get it to strike a menacing pose. Because of its attitude that snake was given a pardon. The next cottonmouth I saw wasn't as lucky.