Back from VA.

[sumner4991]

Well . . .first time in several years that I failed to harvest a deer with my crossbow in Virginia. It was just too hot. I should have taken the hint on the first day when this guy was following me around. I'm not sure if he was waiting on me to kill something or was expecting me to fall over from a heat stroke. He was disappointed, either way.


I saw a lot of these, like always . . .



Also saw several of these . . .



However, the biggest indicator of the heat was this guy . . .



I've never seen snakes out on the farm in Oct. Anybody want to guess the size of this black snake?

I'll post the answer tomorrow. Don't get too close.

[vrodman]

3'11"

[vixenmaster]

Snake 4' 2" yup its too hot to hunt. I ain't young no more & it takes me several hrs from the time i kill tilli have it in qtr's with back straps & tenderloins out.

[wabi]

Can't judge the size of the snake too well.
Next time get a pic holding it in your hands with your arms outstretched.

[Lakelover]

I assume that snake is venomous?
Sure glad we don't have venomous snakes here. Garter snakes is about all.

Do you folks carry a snake bite kit with you?

Many years ago I was surveying in Southern Alberta, one fellow from a drilling crew got bit by a rattler, He had a swollen leg for a few days. The Doc told him they are not big enough to kill you. But I don't want to find out!!

[Pydpiper]

Great pictures Scott, sorry about the lack of action though..
That snake looks like he is in poison ivy.

[sumner4991]

The snake is a Black Rat Snake. They can reach lengths of 72 inches and consume animals as large as a rabbit/chicken. We typically would kill them, but, since we don't have chickens on the farm anymore, I let it go. My Grandfather told a story about gathering eggs one morning in the hen house. The chicken pen had several sitting areas like cubicals for the hens to have a little privacy to lay eggs. You couldn't see into these cubicals unless you bent over a little. My Grandfather was gathering the eggs, reached into one of the cubicals to find a snake much like this one. Needless to say, he bent over and looked into the cubicals before sticking his hand in from that day forward.

We rarely see snakes on the farm, so, no I don't carry a snake kit. The black snakes we have around there are not poisonous. However, we do have Copperheads and Rattlesnakes in the area.

The hunting was OK, just disappointed in the amount of deer movement. I did see a high rack buck crossing the road after dark within range of my hunting area. Most of the deer I saw were just after dark. Next year, I go up after the first frost.

You guys were fairly close on the length of the snake. Here's the video, just click on the image.

[sumner4991]

I found this picture while looking through old photos this past weekend.




How do you guys like my camo hat? That was sometime around 1979. I loved that Jeep Honcho pick-up. That was my first buck that had a decent rack. It's mounted and I still have it. It's looking like it needs a replacement.

[Normous]

Cool last photo, I like it!.
Its too hot to hunt up here too.

[EQUINOXHNTERVA]

I can see the denim Levi's interior in the Honcho from here good picture. lol

[sumner4991]

I can see the denim Levi's interior in the Honcho from here good picture. lol

You got a good memory, I'll have to watch what I say around you.

Remember this . . .

[EQUINOXHNTERVA]

Is that a Colt rifle you have there? Possibly with a Weaver scope? The photo is a bit fuzzy but I can tell that the barrel is bored a bit off center. Is that a Torino in the background?

[sumner4991]

Is that a Colt rifle you have there? Possibly with a Weaver scope? The photo is a bit fuzzy but I can tell that the barrel is bored a bit off center. Is that a Torino in the background?

Not bad, yes, that is a Colt .22 magnum, short barrel rifle with a weaver scope and it is bored a bit off center . . .but. . . I was referring to the Converse Allstars! Those were the days!

I was always so stinking skinny . . .my pants were always short. I perferred them short so they would fit around my waist. It also help to keep the cow pies off the bottom of my bell-bottoms.

I feel like the Statler Brothers left a couple of items off that song.

[R.J.]

Great pic's ! .... Sounds like you had a great time !