Rattlesnakes are not pets but I don't know where to post my question. I have never shot a

[in2herbs]

rattlesnake. Instead I capture and relocate them about 2 miles up the road. However, I have captured 5 in less than two months. I think it's time for some culling but I don't own a gun so I need some advice. All I want is a gun that I can load snake shot into and shoot the target from 10 or more feet away. I want it lightweight and small in size, if that's possible. If anyone out there can recommend the type of gun and ammo I would appreciate it.

[Botany]

1. Keep relocating them* if you can but if you have to shoot them a simple bolt action .22 rifle ...

... is the way to go. You should be able to buy a good used one for about $100. You can use
.22 bird shot or better yet you can get a sub sonic .22 round that doesn't make much noise at
all.

* snakes are an important part of the ecology and the food web. You might want to ask your
state DNR about relocating them. Remember if you have a breeding population close to your property
shooting or moving one will not stop a new snake from moving back in.

[in2herbs]

6. I am not a good shot, will bird shot work? There's nothing smaller than a rifle to use? I know how

important snakes are to the balance of nature that's why I've relocated them for the past 25+ years but this is getting dangerous. I keep my property cleared but there's a property owner around me that doesn't. I call her trailer trash and that's being nice. The squirrels and packrats are in abundance, too, and I know they're feed for snakes. It just seems with climate change there's no way to keep the nature balance like I used to be able to do and it's just me and my animals so my safety and theirs must be a priority. Thanks for responding. The snake I caught last night spent the night in a bucket and he was still really POd this morning when I took him up the road and relocated him. The problem with relocating the snake where I do is that it means there are more snakes in the conserved area where people walk their dogs and small children and without fail there's 2 or 3 snake bite incidents every year up there.

[Botany]

11. You can use bird shot in a .22 rifle or a .22 pistol.

I much prefer a rifle. A simple used bolt action .22 with a wooden stock will do the trick.
Also a single shot 410 shotgun will work too. Any gun store will have 'em in stock. BTW
do not read the right wing crap posted in gun stores.

I think that the post about the snakes looking for water might be right too. Maybe give some
water away from your house.

Talk with somebody from your state DNR if you can.

Maybe you might want to find another place to relocate them too but if you have food, water,
and shelter @ your casa then removing one snake will just open up a niche for another one to
move into.

BTW do you live in the south west?

[Kali]

2. chop head off with shovel

both parts will continue to move but only head is still dangerous, bury it deeply. body can go to scavengers or other uses.

[SmittyWerben]

3. Taurus make a hand gun called The Judge

It is a revolver that can fire 410 shotgun shells. Sounds extreme but is not. These rounds are, from what I have read, very good "snake rounds" because of their caliber and spread. I agree with the "keep moving the snakes" but this is a weapon that will do what you are asking and is much easier to carry than a long gun. Just a thought.

[in2herbs]

7. Thanks. I'll definitely take this info to the gun store. nt

[WA-03 Democrat]

4. My suggestion is a .410 shotgun

With #9 shot (birdshot). It’s light and not as loud as a 20 gauge shotgun. I would look at the Mossberg 500 pump .410 shotgun with the 18.5 barrel length.

I would personally use a hoe or a shovel.

[in2herbs]

8. I use a 4-ft snake grabber thingy I bought at the local hardware store and it works fine. The most

dangerous part in the capture is, once captured, putting the lid on the bucket. Thanks for the info. I don't want to shoot them but I certainly don't want to/can't cut off their head with a hoe or shovel. Shooting them will be hard enough.

[WA-03 Democrat]

12. Sorry to ask

Have you fired a gun or walked and carried with it for a couple of hours? It’s heavy and it’s loud. It can also hurt and could potentially kill you.

If you are unable to kill the snake with a hoe I would, in the most respectful way I know how, ask that you not use a much more deadly weapon like a firearm to try it. I’d stick to the relocation efforts. When I was a kid we would see how far we could toss them in the air. We pretended we were playing a primitive form of LaCrosse called LaSnake. I have no love for snakes but many more people are killed by dogs each year than snakes. I would not recommend a dog gun but in terms of risk of harm, dogs win paws down.

[in2herbs]

13. A snake's body is very boney. I do not have the muscle power to penetrate their boney skeleton.

IMO using a hoe is more dangerous to me that would be a gun. I don't go looking for them. I am only interested in the one's I can see and those are the ones by the barn and horses or the front and back porches.

[WhiteTara]

5. It's the dry season, they're looking

for water. Supply them some water way away from your home. Every year, they come through our front yard, always looking for water. I turn on the hose for them, they have a good drink and move on. So give them what they need out of your comfort range.

[in2herbs]

9. We've had plenty of rain this season. I think the issue is they've been flooded out of their homes.

I purposely do not feed the birds because I know it brings the other critters and their population brings the snakes. I am used to 1 or 2 -- maybe 3 snakes a year, but the 5 snakes in the past 2 months I've caught does not reflect the total number that I've relocated since the beginning of the year.

I leave the red racers and bullnose to themselves, but rattlesnakes have to live somewhere else.

[hlthe2b]

10. I echo that... I used to see edge of my grandfather's farm pond suddenly full of adult & baby snakes

at dusk in late summer. It was rather disconcerting at first, but they too need water. Some may have been rat snakes or hopefully some kingsnakes that will kill and keep rattlesnakes populations contained.

And indeed we do need the ecological balance.

[in2herbs]

14. I also have king snakes but I am only talking about rattlesnakes. My feeling is that they have/are

breeding among the neighbors trash and then traveling to my property. By culling those travelers I can reduce the incidence of sightings, stop the culling, and return to capture and release. There is no specific time of day that these guys show up. I have encountered them at all hours. I also have roadrunners but nothing seems to keep the rattlesnake population down.

[yonder]

15. If weight is a factor there are smaller, lighter pistols

than the above mentioned The Judge which are also chambered in 45 long Colt/.410 shotshell. Think of a two shot Derringer size.

As someone else said, familiarity and training are ABSOLUTELY essential before carrying any firearm in the field. Especially a smaller, easily mishandled pistol.

Getting surprised by a rattledog ALWAYS gets my heart going - not the time to be fumbling with a gun one might not be familiar with.