Homestead mailing list

[sanrico AT highdesert.com]

As always, James, when you take time to get into a subject, it is not only
educational, but quite entertaining. Thank you.
Perhaps we need to compile a glossary of terms specific to the list, starting
with 'mano-a-fang', and 'TajMahen'?!
Sandy


On Fri, 14 Jul 2006 13:09:29 EDT, Clansgian AT wmconnect.com wrote:

> 
> I am as much a gun aficionado as any other crusty backwoodsman, but having 
> gone mano-a-fang with a great number of pit vipers, I have to question the
value 
> of firearms against our legless antagonists.
> 
> This year has been a very light pit viper season with only two having to be 
> sent to be with their ancestors.  Some seasons it's near fifty.  If you are 
> in 
> immediate danger of being attacked by a snake, a pistol is useless.  A 
> snake 
> is deadly quick.  So we are talking about removing a snake from an area 
> where 
> you'd rather not step on it later by accident and there aren't many good 
> ways 
> of doing that besides killing it,
> 
> Snakes aren't very sturdy, it takes very little to kill one.  Of course, 
> they 
> don't immediately know they are dead.  You can cut the head off a 
> copperhead 
> and then pick up the rest of the snake by the tail and headless snake will 
> attempt to get away, and failing that, it will attempt to bite you.  The 
> brain
of 
> a snake seems to be optional equipment.  
> 
> I've found a long stick to be a much better weapon than a gun.  A hoe or 
> shovel is ideal and one or the other is almost always in hand when I 
> encounter
> the 
> snakes.  Once you are eyeball to eyeball with a snake, it helps to speak a 
> little snake, be a Parselmouth.  A pit viper can't see very well and depend 
> on 
> heat detection to tell where prey or threats are.  They don't percieve a 
> stick 
> or hoe as living, and so it's not a threat.  They don't coil in a loop, of 
> course, to strike but make an 'S' shape.  From that position they can 
> strike a 
> few inches longer than the lenght of the snake.  If the snake sees your 
> shadow 
> coming toward it, it will stop and defend itself. If it sees your shadow 
> going 
> away, it will flee.
> 
> Ready the weapon and if the snake turns to flee, strike it sharply and it 
> is 
> immediately in the next world.  If the snake remains "coiled" strike it 
> between mid-snake and the tail.  If it lives, it will immediately uncoil 
> and try
> to 
> flee and you dispatch it then.
> 
> I hate that it has to happen, but any chance that a child will enounter 
> that 
> particular snake in the garden is too great a chance.  My apologies to the 
> sanke, but better luck in the next life.
> _______________________________________________
> Homestead list and subscription:
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/homestead
> Change your homestead list member options:
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/options/homestead/sanrico%40highdesert.com
> View the archives at:
> https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/homestead
> 

___________________________________________
Get free email at http://www.highdesert.com