The American Beagler Forum

I have hunted Indiana for 30 of my 43 years and have only seen 2 rattle snakes. That suits me just fine. Now the wife tell me that we are moving either to Georgia on N. Florida to be closer to her mother in her waining years. Which is fine with me but I gotta tell ya, I am worried to death about my dogs being around such a deadly creature especially when they have never encountered one before. How do you guys do it. I am worried about the boys to, but they will get educated in the scouts I'm sure. Its gonna take some getting used to having to watch where I step.

Crew Cheif,
We are looking over around the Washington area (Wilkes county), any good huntin areas over there? Are there any horse farms for sale by you? I have been in Marrietta and Douglasville, thats your neck of the wood ain't it?

Yup,,, I live in Powder Springs just west of Atlanta.. Chuck Terry's over by where you're a going. Hes a great guy and knows his beagling!!! Now the bad news is you're a headin into Timberrattler county for sure in Wilkes Co. if my memories correct.. You'll get use to it they are our moving land mines,, ha, ha, ha, Good luck and hope you like it here!!!

Crew Chief

PS Oh ya I don't know about the horse farm thing, maybe over there where your going.

PPS One more thing, snake chaps, snake chaps, and snake chaps,,, very important if you want to enjoy yourself in the field plus you can walk through barb wire with the dad gum things on!!!! They are Hot in the summer though....

Just checked the map Wikes is north of the Diamondback line,, you're in luck....

the snakes aren't so much a problem for the dog, they might kill a few but for the most part a dog will survive a bite from a rattler if you get it to a vet within about 24 hours. Well that has been my experience. It will be obvious that they are bitten by the next day, they tend to swell quite a bit and get real sluggish. I think the most concern should be on yourself, because a rattler can really put a hurtin' on a human. Though they rarely kill they can really make a person sick. I have had a couple of run-ins with two different rattlers in the past year. If you run in Eastern Kentucky you are gonna see the snakes. Especially if you run these old strip mines.
Don't get the wrong idea, I am scared to death of rattlers and copperheads but I try to be wary of where I am stepping.

Steve Church doesn't run beagles in the summer, because of snakes. Just think of all the honey do's you can get done with your free time.

Thanks, you guys are really puttin my mind at ease My wife revealed the other day that growing up in Fl. her and her brother used to mess with em. Now I can tell you that trait has been breed into our boys. If there is a sign that says don't jump they try to see who can jump first. They have both gotten into the fire ants when we are visiting down there and neither one of them has learned their lesson. Last fall the oldest one decided to roll down a hill Man that makes my skin crawl just thinkin about it. LOL

I hope to get enough ground to put in a starting pen. How do you keep the snakes out? Also, Can you kill as many as you see or is there laws against it?

Greg,
I don't believe you can keep them out. It is my understanding that Copperheads only make you/dogs sick, but rattlers can kill you. Florida has the Corral snake that is very deadly. Rattlers probably can't climb very well, too fat. Remember, Black snakes are you friends. They can kill and eat poisonous snakes, so don't kill them. Never heard of any laws against killing them.

Greg,, No laws protecting them at all. You can't keep em out but all kidding aside I've never had a big problem yet where we run!!! YET!!!! If you got a pack of hounds working an area in the summer you got to be on your toes cause the hounds will shake em up real good... I just hope for the best and keep on truckin,, know what I mean??? You'll be alright and remember SNAKE CHAPS!!!!!!!

Crew Chief

PS Don't kill no King Snakes,,, they're your friend....

Greg: You are probably in luck! You are definitely north of the Diamondback line. Your main problem will be cooperheads there and they are not nearly as fatal to dogs as the rattlers. The soil in your area should be rocky, heavy, "red dirt", the kind that is least favorable for burrow dwelling snakes. I am 25 miles south of Washington near Thomson. Good running summer running between here and Washington. Just a few mile south (below the fall-line) there is a timber rattler under every bush in the summer and below I-16 are bad too! Glad your in-laws did not live in South Georgia. Welcome the the neighborhood! I am secretary of CSRA Beagle Club. You will be within 20 miles of our club. You should come visit and join if you like!

Thanks for the Info guys.. I am sure it will take some getting used to. If it ain't black I am empting the gun on it.

Chuck Terry,
Thanks for the invite. When we get all settled in I will stop by. We probably won't be moving until late summer. My wife works for UPS and gets a bunch more vacation time then. She doesn't want to quit without getting ALL of her 5 WEEKS. LOL She is stopping by Washington to look at 2 farms on her way back from Florida Saturday. We are 99% sure which one we are going to buy, just got to go thru the motions.

CainCutter says he gives his dogs "snake avoidance training", perhaps if you contact him, he will give you some pointers.
Sorry I don't have his email, but i am sure one of the readers has it. Good luck.

The problem is snakes smell like game. My Brittnays will point them. I guess you can break them just like off game.

I was wondering about that. Training them to avoid snakes should be rather simple. I would think that a guy could catch one, put it in fish aquirium and set in the yard. Let the dogs investigate with there e-collars on and when the snake starts to rattle, burn em up. Or if they get to close before it rattles. I will contact caincutter to see how he does it.

Too hell with the rattling kind. get a black one to train with. That's what I did with my Brittnays.

Even better. Less danger to myself and the dogs.

Greg,, believe it or not you can smell them sometimes!!! they have a distinct musty oder, once you learn it you'll never forget it.... I think our beagles get reaction strikes most of the time while chasing old bugs.. A vet told us one time half the strikes are dry but the real problem is a snakes mouth is like a cesspool, full of germs. You'll be OK, I'm originaly from Boston and when I moved here in 1980 it was lose your fear of snakes or quit hunting!!!!

Crew Chief