To quick to judge

[volshooter]

I'll keep it short. After mowing my mom's yard I heard that ole long beard turkey gobble that I'd been hunting all season. He was about 400 yards from me. I quickly changed and got the shotgun. Doing my best sneaking towards the still gobbling tom, I rounded the head of our pond and was struck at by a snake. It was coiled in pine needles less than 3 feet away. Without any thought I drew my Vaquero, loaded with snake shot, and killed the snake, before the second strike. This creature was aggressive and colored like so many copperheads that I have come upon. Very sadly, it was a harmless rat snake, I think. What was left did have one round eye slit.
I never kill "good" snakes, and I am upset at myself for being to quick to judge. I could have moved back and identified before shooting. 2 years ago I done in 11 copperheads.
I don't even remember the drawing and shooting of this creature, it just happened.
To quick to judge, reaction, muscle memory, whatever, I did not have to shoot.
I know most folks dislike any snakes, and I have been working in an area known for copperheads, but this is unacceptable to me, I reacted to quick. Now a beautiful "good" snake was killed because I did not correctly identify and shot to quick. I know better, been in the woods for over 45 years.
The tom never got within distance after the shot. I made a mistake on the snake and it cost me the tom.

 

[tinman]

Sounds like it was a fair fight.....he struck at you rather than retreat. And you, sensing a perceived threat, reacted as your training and experience dictated. I see no issue here......better it ended this way rather than have the critter be poisonous and you come up the loser because you hesitated. :idea:

 

[Cholo]

Don't feel too bad about shooting a good snake by accident as I did it once. A banded water snake invaded our campsite and I shot it with my Single Six :( 10 minutes later I backed over a copperhead that was coiled with mouth open and ready to strike. I snap shot it as it struck at me from less that 18" away. Because I shot as it was striking, the bullet went thru it 3x's. Pure luck BTW. It happens...

 

[eveled]

Don't second guess your instincts and reactions. Next time you'll hesitate, and it could get you killed.

A good snake died, don't beat yourself up over it, you did not do it with malicious intent.

 

[gramps]

You said there was a pupil slit, that my friend is poisonous. Round pupil equals non poisonous. I concur with others, you reacted because of a threat no foul or no fowl? :)
gramps

 

[volshooter]

pupil was round, didn't look till after.

 

[contender]

When I teach our WOT clinics,, I discuss the "muscle memory skills" such as driving a car. We do things in reaction to something due to such skills. Our mind & body can react quicker than we can step by step think of what to do if we have muscle memory skills. Just like driving a car, you may react to something & still have an accident due to other factors involved. It happens.
You killing this snake was unfortunate. I too hate it when I see a "good" snake & it's been run over by a car, or when I hear of somebody who says; "It's a snake,,, I don't care what kind it was" after they have killed a black snake.
But your reactions,,, you did as you should have done. And the fact you feel remorse is honorable & says a lot about your GOOD character.

 

[737tdi]

Vol: I feel the same, I do not shoot or kill good snakes. They help keep the field rat population in check. With that said I have killed a couple due to perceived danger. Sometimes you just don't have the opportunity to determine good v bad.


Karl

 

[WendyZXZ]

I agree with everybody else, you reacted as many would to what might have been a threat. I also don't kill nonvenomous snakes and want them around here and am glad that you feel the same way about those snakes.

 

[OysterMan]

It's good that you appreciate not all snakes need killing, unfortunately far too many people feel otherwise.

FWIW I imagine that Tom has no issues with you firing that shot. :wink:

 

[mikewriter]

I killed a rat snake 2 weeks ago. I was coming in the back door and turned to see a snake following me into the house. For him, it was "wrong place, wrong time". I am NOT generally afraid of snakes, don't kill all I see, - but they are not coming in the house with me. No rats in my house!

Mike

 

[Phoenix too]

Snakes are cool. We used to have a black racer that lived hereabouts. Close to 4' long, I sure surprised my otherwise very cool wife when I presented it to her.

As for the other aspect - as I tell all those in my classes, there's no 'call back' once the trigger is pulled.

 

[Phoenix too]

Snakes are cool. We used to have a black racer that lived hereabouts. Close to 4' long, I sure surprised my otherwise very cool wife when I presented it to her.

As for the other aspect - as I tell all those in my classes, there's no 'call back' once the trigger is pulled.

 

[TinkerDave]

Copperheads kill rats & mice too. TD

 

[volshooter]

Friday I had an odd encounter with a good snake. While sliding down hill I pasted a grey/black patterned 5-6 foot snake that was cool till he bit me once and then grabbed my pant leg and gnawed on me like a dog. That made me angry as it would not let go no matter how much I tried to shake it off. The Vaquero barked. Not sure why the attitude of snakes recently, but I ain't gonna be gnawed on by any varmit. Next week gonna be in deeper copperhead areas, hope the noise keeps them away, dadgum shame another good one is gone, this time it was personal.
Cannot remember good snakes being this ugly since it was real hot one year.