This one was headed toward the hen house, pix.. (houses, scorpions)

[Hunter Wold]

Was walking to down the short road to our hen house, and our of the corner of my eye..about 4 feet away in the shadow of a juniper moving toward me and then he stopped......

And I hotfooted it to my truck and got my trusty .22...walked back and he was working his way to the hen house.....well...sorry but....
those hollow points work well.....

42 inches...11 rattles....appears to be a Western Diamond Back....green color...I was told could be due to early molt and living under trees etc.

OUr cat also "used" to range down this way ...not now...staying inside.
The dog is getting snake shots this week....

Just way too close to the hen house, our house and me...
I knew that they are around...but this one was pretty big.....
We are looking to find some kind of repelent to spread around..

Would like to have a bunch of bull snakes around and more roadrunners...
need to round some up...

You "snake" lovers out there...come on down here and walk around for a while and see just how friendly you really think they are....

Watch yer step, esp. now going into Aug/Sept when these rascals start to shed and don't see well....

HW Happy and safe trails...

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Hunter Wold

Was walking to down the short road to our hen house, and our of the corner of my eye..about 4 feet away in the shadow of a juniper moving toward me and then he stopped......

And I hotfooted it to my truck and got my trusty .22...walked back and he was working his way to the hen house.....well...sorry but....
those hollow points work well.....

42 inches...11 rattles....appears to be a Western Diamond Back....green color...I was told could be due to early molt and living under trees etc.

OUr cat also "used" to range down this way ...not now...staying inside.
The dog is getting snake shots this week....

Just way too close to the hen house, our house and me...
I knew that they are around...but this one was pretty big.....
We are looking to find some kind of repelent to spread around..

Would like to have a bunch of bull snakes around and more roadrunners...
need to round some up...

You "snake" lovers out there...come on down here and walk around for a while and see just how friendly you really think they are....

Watch yer step, esp. now going into Aug/Sept when these rascals start to shed and don't see well....

HW Happy and safe trails...

wow, look at those rattles....

Nita

[GregW]

I generaly don't like shooting things but big snakes are not compatable with hen houses. I have to wonder if it could have been captured and relocated a couple of miles away.

[Mike Horrell]

Good shot.

Sometimes it's best to NOT play Marlin Perkins...

[mcol]

Wow living in NM we saw a few rattlers but never one that big. I wouldn't want him near my henhouse or animals either. Here we have copperheads, non aggressive for the most part but we don't tolerate any close to the house. It's just not worth the risk.

[tecpatl]

Congratulations on killing a prime predator of mice and other rodents that serve to spread hantavirus and other diseases...not to mention crawling all around your house leaving little presents for you in pots and pans, etc.

Of course you don't want a rattlesnake in your chicken coop...who would? But it's pretty easy, in my experience, to hook and bag a snake, take it for a little trip up the road and let it go. Snakes are a very beneficial part of the natural world you're embracing, even though they're less than huggable. You're in their world, not the other way around.
Just consider a different solution to the problem next time.
I hope you took advantage of the situation and ate the snake. They're tasty.

[Hunter Wold]

critter, put him into a bucket...remember this is a Western Diamond back..
almost 4 ft long....they do not like to be carried around etc.

just take him out a ways and let um go....right...and they will come back with their friends...obtw..there friends are around..

Sorry folks....NO...I live here...they came onto my area.....
weren't here when I moved here either....
Moving in to enjoy whatever I have.

So..I am supposed to just live in a walled apt. or something...cannot have a house in the country etc...

We put up with . millions of flying ants, blackwidows, trantulas, other spiders, scorpions, mosquitos, etc.

The WDB can cause a lot of pain, suffering, and for some folks, like my wife would Kill her due to her lower immune system...

The roaches, snakes etc. will always survive long after mankind is gone..

But for me and my family...I will protect them..

HW...Happy safe trails..

[Hunter Wold]

Right...eat a snake that has fed on rats, mice (maybe with the virus)...
I have had rattles BBQ...that were corn fed that's ok....

Sorry again...I get rid of the mice my other way....bullsnakes..roadrunners and me....get rid of them and the dammed rats also...that almost destroyed my garden...

Remember the Croc hunter...he got it...I am not about to start trying to put a 3 ft+ rattler in a bag or what ever.....

HW...Happy safe trails

[RamblinRoseRanch]

Good save, Hunter. I live in the sticks as well as having cats, dogs and horses (and kids) and completely understand the need to protect those unable to protect themselves. The one I killed next to the kids' bikes last week was a little guy- only about 30 inches long.

[caydriver]

You did good Hunter. The snake would have been in the hen house and next time you gathered eggs might well have been bitten. Last time this subject came up I was warned, so will keep my mouth shut.