Rattle Snake control recomendations?

[colossians323]

Its what I use

[jaymz]

I'd focus on educating the kids about what and where the buzzworms hang out and what they can do to you if bit.

[Lightstrider]

I've ran into a few and just let them passby.

Had one hiss at me in the greenhouse and I ran and got the .22 pump action and shot it in the head.

Another one lived under the cabin and between the step and door there is a gap and one was sitting there and hissed at me so I unholstered my 1911 and shot it in the head.

[Falstaff]

just bought a smith model 60 8 shot .22 for this very purpose. It looks to me like the buzzworms are going to have a great year, the gophers in my back field are massively over populating due to the heavy rains i guess, so i expect the snakes will too. My wife and daughter found snake skins in amongst an artificial christmas tree thats stored in a shipping container back in December so that was sobering...
BTW: snake shot is not illegal but its true that it won't cycle semi autos (i've tried CCI and old winchester shot shells in a p22, ruger mkiii and 10-22 and none would cycle.

[huntercf]

You can use .22 shot shells or just .22LR, you can stay far enough away that even if you miss you can shoot again and again.

We had the same problem when I was younger and would have to clear out the rock piles because the rattlers would bite the cows and make them sick. We just used a 7' long pole with a hook on the end and would pull them out and then nail them with an axe. If they are not coiled they can only strike about a foot or so.

[RedFord150]

If the family is tight on funds, I think the Heritage Rough Rider would be a great choice. It is a Single action .22LR/.22 Mag and can usually be found well under $200.00 new with a 6.5" barrel. It is cheap enough they will not get upset when it gets a little beat-up after being carried around the yard. Mine has a fiber optic front sight. I think I paid around $169.99 on sale at Turner's.

If they willing to spend more, the Ruger Single Six is a much better gun. It is also 3x the price. It is expensive enough that they might not be so quick to carry it everywhere in fear that it will get scratched up.

Both the Ruger and the Heritage have 2 cylinders. The option of using .22 magnum snake shot makes both of them a little more effective. I strongly recommend a longer barrel. At least the 5.5" or 6.5". The ballistics are better and the longer sight radius should improve accuracy.

The problem with Rifles and shotguns is they are not so convenient to carry around, especially when the parents are working on the property and looking after the kids. The long guns will probably be in the house when the snakes are a long ways off in the yard. A gun is useless if it is not readily available when the problem arises.

The Single Action Revolver will feed anything and the kids will not be able to cock the hammer for quite a few years. The Heritage also has a separate safety lever on the left side of the cylinder, opposite the loading gate. Yes, this is odd. I have never seen any other brand of Single action Revolver with a separate safety.

Good luck.

[ZirconJohn]

Its what I use

This ^^^ is all you really need ... that and a 5 gallon bucket with a good lid. Anyone who knows how to handle a rattlesnake will have NO problem safely securing them in a bucket for relocation. Darn rattlers are MORE afraid than you are of them, is a fact. I relocate rattlers to protect them form humans, not the other way around.

However, when you talking about around the yard with kids, pets, livestock and ladies ... handling them can be detrimental to the overall safety of those involved. So, unfortunately sometime dispatch of rattlesnake is the only safe alternative. Disclaimer: I've seen some ladies handle rattlesnakes better than any guy, so just depends on the knowledge and experience and not gender.

Just please when you are in their neighborhood, their habitat ... please let them be ... appreciate it very much.

Rattlesnakes: Don't Terminate - Relocate...!

I'd focus on educating the kids about what and where the buzzworms hang out and what they can do to you if bit.

This ^^^ is GREAT advice.

We teach our young firearm safety, I don't have to elaborate on the reasons why ... y'all know -- Well, same with don't run with sharp object in your hand, don't climb on dresser drawers and stuff like that. When they get older we teach them driver education; blinkers, emergency brake, flashers etc., etc.

Same with rattlesnake awareness ... ESPECIALLY if you live in rattlesnake territory. Remember, we are moving into their domain, their living area ... we NEED to learn about them, not the other way around. Humans are the intelligent ones, KNOWLEDGE is POWER and that way kids DON'T get bit!

Here is a really great VIDEO and ARTICLE ---► http://www.azcentral.com/story/enter...ips/80204088/#

[NYT]

as most people have stated, 22lr with shot:



.410 isnt overkill imo but a 410 is typically a lot larger in size than a 22lr rifle repeater.

i wouldnt shoot larger snakes with a 22 revolver or short barrel, it tends to just piss them off.

_______________________

my advice though if you have some property and little ones, is to buy some pygmy goats:

http://www.griffithspygmies.com/

i had several growing up and we played on property daily. rock piles were a plenty but rattlers were kept to a minimum because the goats will run them off.

[Win231]

This ^^^ is all you really need ... that and a 5 gallon bucket with a good lid. Anyone who knows how to handle a rattlesnake will have NO problem safely securing them in a bucket for relocation. Darn rattlers are MORE afraid than you are of them, is a fact. I relocate rattlers to protect them form humans, not the other way around.

However, when you talking about around the yard with kids, pets, livestock and ladies ... handling them can be detrimental to the overall safety of those involved. So, unfortunately sometime dispatch of rattlesnake is the only safe alternative. Disclaimer: I've seen some ladies handle rattlesnakes better than any guy, so just depends on the knowledge and experience and not gender.

Just please when you are in their neighborhood, their habitat ... please let them be ... appreciate it very much.

Rattlesnakes: Don't Terminate - Relocate...!



This ^^^ is GREAT advice.

We teach our young firearm safety, I don't have to elaborate on the reasons why ... y'all know -- Well, same with don't run with sharp object in your hand, don't climb on dresser drawers and stuff like that. When they get older we teach them driver education; blinkers, emergency brake, flashers etc., etc.

Same with rattlesnake awareness ... ESPECIALLY if you live in rattlesnake territory. Remember, we are moving into their domain, their living area ... we NEED to learn about them, not the other way around. Humans are the intelligent ones, KNOWLEDGE is POWER and that way kids DON'T get bit!

Here is a really great VIDEO and ARTICLE ---► http://www.azcentral.com/story/enter...ips/80204088/#

Until I saw that video, I never knew there was an advantage to having a prosthetic leg over a real one. Poor snake....he never knew he was biting for nothing.

[ZirconJohn]

Ya ha That's (video) ONE way to never get bit hack both legs and install prosthetic

[gorn5150]

.22, .38sp, and 9mm shot shells have always done the job for me. Well, those and an occasional shovel.

[johnthomas]

The kid next door got hit by a baby rattler a few yrs back. Local hospital couldn't handle it. Had to fly him from here to Children's Hosp in Oakland. Arm swelled up to the size of his thigh. Evidently, he was chasing a geko into a small bush, and that's when he got tagged. He didn't realize it, and thought he was poked by a sharp twig/branch. He told hid Granny 45 min later. He was 9. He was also very lucky.
Ck the place out and look for sign- usually old skins, etc. Babies venom is the worst. Bite kits dont work well, but get a first aid book or other info for field treatment and keep it handy there. Suggest a Taurus "Judge"- a revolver that handles both 410 and 45LC. It'll take care of more than one kind of snake.....

You have to jump through hoops to buy a Taurus Judge in California if you can at all. You can buy the Circuit Judge, a carbine that shoots 410 or 45LC.
Whatever shotgun you have with bird shot will do or 22 snake shot. I have shot snake shot in my 22 revolver and 22 bolt action rifle.

[edgerly779]

.410 or 20 gauge blank devastating when put within a foot of snakes head.

[Calif Hunter]

The .410 is fine if it is legal, as are most snake shot loads from handguns. I would prefer the added rage of the .410, but have used .22 LR shotshells and larger revolver shotshells. All worked at close range - 10 feet or less.

[onelonehorseman]

I often question what's more dangerous, the Rattlesnake or the scared person trying to shoot at it?

I have wondered that myself.

OP, snakes in general, including rattlesnakes, are more beneficial than they are likely to pose a real threat to your family. Educate your loved ones on the does/don'ts of living in snake country and forget about trying to eradicate every rattlesnake you see (unless you are more comfortable with having flea infested and potentially hanta virus infected rodents running around on your property).