Best for killing snakes

Leafs · May 17, 2007, 04:22 PM

I assume a shot gun would be the best option for shooting snakes. I got some bird shot. Is that sufficient enough? We have little creek with a mudhole/pond in the little bit of woods behind our house. I killed a water moccasin last night with a shovel. The dog got him originally but it got away. I don't think the dog was bit as she seems okay.

I got two small kids that play out there and I missed the snake on the first chop and it got a little closer than I wanted.

fisherman66 · May 17, 2007, 04:27 PM

Bird shot will work fine. Probably better than any other load.

Jseime · May 17, 2007, 04:33 PM

The smaller the shot you use the better more pellets/square inch. I would imagine that snake shooting is a fairly close range endeavour so you could use something like a 2 3/4 inch target load with an IC or C choke to make sure you get em.

Hello123 · May 17, 2007, 04:36 PM

At the distance you would shoot a snake from, it won't matter what you use. It will acting like a solid anyway.

ebutler462 · May 17, 2007, 04:56 PM

I like the Snake Charmer and the H & R clone in 410 when fishing or just poking around in the woods. Use 3" #8 shot. Expensive loads but effective.

Around home, I use snake shot in my 38 snub as a carry gun so that I don't upset the neighbors while carrying a long gun. Darned good medicine for snakes.

Leafs · May 17, 2007, 05:11 PM

My neighbors are cool, walking around with a shot gun wouldn't spoke them. The 38 with snake shot seems like a good idea and I could keep it in my pocket while around the house.

Is there any such thing as a snake trap? I'd rather trap them at the perimeter and then shoot them. The dog does a decent job of keeping them away but I don't want her to get bit either.

ebutler462 · May 17, 2007, 06:04 PM

Several years ago when I was a patrol officer in a very rural area, I had new partners assigned to me occasionally. While we were patrolling in the backside of nowhere, a huge snake crossed the road. I slowed the car almost to a stop and took my service revolver out and busted him but good. While he rolled over and over dying, my new partner was astonished at my shooting skills. What I didn't tell him was that while patrolling in areas known for snakes, I always had a couple of snake shot in the cylinder. It became a legend that I was the best revolver shot in the dept. Actually, I am a less than average shot.

I pulled that snake shot trick with several new officers. Very impressive as it is almost impossible to miss with snake cartridge. I never revealed my secret to them.

BigJimP · May 17, 2007, 06:15 PM

I like "snake shot" in a .44 mag revolver - it works well. If you are really using a shotgun I'd use 1 oz or 1 1/8 oz of 9's ( quail loads, heavy skeet loads ) and that should do it in a 12ga.

A 20ga would be ok too - maybe a .28ga but I wouldn't rely on a .410 unless you had to ( it's only 1/2 oz of shot ).

If you can't find 9's use 8's ( I don't like snakes ...).

wolverine350 · May 17, 2007, 06:23 PM

The judge offered by taurus is a handgun that shoots .410 shells or 45 long colt, check it out at taurus

Leafs · May 17, 2007, 07:09 PM

ebutler462 - That's a funny story

BoltWorks · May 17, 2007, 07:49 PM

I just moved to an old farmhouse and encountered a big rat snake on my back landing. I had no .22 ammo on hand. The only thing I had was my Glock 20. I now have several large bullet holes in my back porch, in addition to a pulverized snake. My one neigbor heard the several gunshots at 6:30 am. We all had a good laugh, but I'm looking at .410's. Hadn't thought about .38 "snake shot" that may be my answer.

banditt007 · May 17, 2007, 08:02 PM

i guess its just me but [color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color] is the point of shooting a snake crossing a road? or a rat snake that just eats rodents/isnt posionus ect? shooting snakes in the woods behind your house to get rid of them?, i dont think that is going to do anything but make you feel better. i can see the next day another one just wandering through

i'm all about guns, hunting, fishing ect, but killing stuff for the reason of 'its a snake' is pretty weak.

.......Ammo reccomendation has been covered no need for anything crazy, your typical #7-9 shot clay target ammo is fine.

Bill DeShivs · May 18, 2007, 12:22 AM

It's not "weak," it's stupid.
Snakes eat rodents. Rodents carry diseases. 98% of the snakes you see are harmless. If you leave them alone, they will leave you alone.
I guess people just like to kill things for no reason.
Bill

kametc · May 18, 2007, 01:02 AM

My snake catcher is a 5' length of 1" PVC pipe with cap glued on one end. There are two slots cut into the cap and a 10' tie down strap run through the pipe through one slot and then looped back through the other slot and returns the length of the pipe. The buckle of the zip strap is at my end of the catcher and serves as the handle to pull the loop closed. The capture is really simple, open the loop place it over the snakes head. They will then try to crawl through it and when they are about halfway tighten the loop. Then it's like picking up a stick. If you cinch the loop right behind their head they will fight you. Its not a lot different than fighting about 2lb trout on a fishing rod. A plastic bucket with a locking lid makes a good transport container. (I would advise against placing this all in your wifes car however) I used to photograph a lot of snakes and this method does'nt even ruffle thier scales. Not real good for their attitude though, and if you make em mad they will NEVER get over it.

RsqVet · May 18, 2007, 01:19 AM

Guys if yer gona pick up snakes that are packing (i.e. poisonous) get a set of real snake tongs:

http://www.animal-care.com/product_l...ub2a=56&prod=1

The improvised solution that Kametic describes sounds reasonable but when you start messing with things that can bite back for my money I'm gona get all of the advantages possible.

SCREAMIII2006 · May 18, 2007, 04:31 AM

He did say it was a water moccosin in the orginal post.
Which I believe are poisonious.
So shooting it was warranted.

I think what happens is most people are scared when a snake appears.
First reaction,kill first,see what kind of snake later.

Key word is kill, the descision is made right from the beginning to eliminate the percieved threat.

Personally, I don't think I'd revert to my old boyscout training when it comes to determiing if a snake is friendly or not.
It would die no matter what, and by whatever means I had on hand.

kickshot85 · May 18, 2007, 09:45 AM

Snakes are awesome, but people who are uninformed about snakes are simply amazing! They are so totally clueless that to them every snake is hell-bent on killing them. I'm not saying that killing snakes is wrong, some of them are lethal and it seems that all the lethal ones have nearly identical benign cousins. I completely understand the mindset of kill it first, indentify it later (especially if you have kids or pets).

I know the woes of the OP, those moccasins are about the nastiest little SOBs on the face of the earth. I recently found out, on a fishing trip to the camp, that my older brother could have competed in the Olympic 100m dash, at least when a moccasin was hot on his tail. I spent the better part of the weekend trying to rid the grounds of mocassins and copperheads. Once again, I recommend the Judge, it is perfect for this. I'll also use a .22 rifle when necessary.

Jseime · May 18, 2007, 12:37 PM

I've been thumping muskrats with Federal Top Gun target loads (7 1/2) shot in a full choke and it works like a dream. Go with a cylinder bore and get that pattern spread out good to make sure you get em first go round.

Arent water moccasins extremely poisonous? I would want to get rid of them too. Especially if I had small kids and a dog around.

Bill DeShivs · May 18, 2007, 01:17 PM

Most people wouldn't know a a water moccasin (cottonmouth) from a water snake. The coloration is the same, and they both swim, but there are major differences. Most "moccasins" are harmless water snakes.
Bill

Trapp · May 18, 2007, 02:25 PM

By most you mean people who don't deal with them often in the woods?

I shoot snakes. Not on sight though. I also tan the skins and eat a few.

Most people I know who actually deal with Moccassins know exactly what they are. People I know in Washington would be the clueless ones. Of course they don't shoot them either...

Leafs · May 18, 2007, 03:22 PM

It was a water mocassin, my neighbor checked it out. It was a little over 4 feet long. I see garter snakes around all the time and could care less about them. Around my area in TN there are a lot. People die from them every year but are usually bitten by more than one.

I like dogs and don't shoot them when I see them but if one somehow got into my backyard and threatened my kids, I'd kill it. Same with the snake. I'm not fvcking around with a stick to try and throw it over the fence or make sure it was 100% venomous (which it was), I'll do that after I kill it.

bennnn · May 18, 2007, 04:25 PM

For me, it's this little monster right here,,,,,,,,,,,

I keep #7 in it when I'm out and about,, those short barrels and the .410 punch are just right from me to you...

I carry it for what I like to call snake control when I'm out frog gigging or fishing around my little slice of heaven.. There are three ponds within shouting distance of my house, and I've had problems with cottonmouths over the years,, and don't even get me started on the copperheads that lounge around on the lawn... I've only seen one rattler,, and I actually leave those huge blacksnakes alone...

Sometimes...

Mike U. · May 18, 2007, 09:44 PM

My property is a bird sanctuary. And recently it has turned into a snake sanctuary.
I have a pair of Black Racers and a Coral Snake (that I know of). The bigger of the two racers lives in the attic and I watch him once in awhile as he comes out of this quarter size hole in the wood work. I was watching the other smaller one on my front porch this afternoon as she was climbing thru the Confederate Jasmine vines in front of my sitting spot. She was being harassed by a pair of Brown Thrashers that keep trying to build a nest in the Jasmine vines on the other side of the porch by my front door. I keep taking their nest down, but, they are persistent critters.
I've seen the Coral Snake twice. Once I nearly stepped on the little fella and the second time he was under some brush I was raking. I leave him alone because Corals are very timid snakes and will only bite if you try to pick them up or otherwise annoy them consistently.

Now, if only I could get a snake that will eat some of those damned tree rats.

If the snake is non-poisonous, there is no viable reason to kill them. I can understand killing the snakes that are packin' as snake bites from one of them could permanantly change your life or end it. I'm not so non-chalant with Diamondbacks or Vipers.

kcshooter · May 18, 2007, 10:18 PM

I'm a city guy, always have been. I don't really hunt (but I am going duck hunting soon for the first time), I don't camp, I'm just not a real country-boy outdoors type. And snakes freak me out! Plus, I can't tell poisonous from not. Sure, I know they are generally more helpful than harmful, and I don't like killing anything that I don't need to, (which is why I've already found a place to clean the duck if I even get one; if I kill it, I'm eating it), but in my opinion, the best thing to kill a snake with is a hand grenade!

rantingredneck · May 18, 2007, 11:02 PM

In the last 8 years I've killed four snakes on my 1.1 acre property here in NC. Only 1 of the 4 was poisonous. It was a baby copperhead I found in my driveway. Stepped on his body and cut his head off with my pocket knife. He was less than a foot long.

Of the other three, two struck at me, even though they were not poisonous.

One was a northern water snake that almost cleaned out my goldfish pond till I took him out with a brushaxe. I had a year long war with this snake. Photographed him three or four times below the water surface in my pond. Could never get him to where I could catch and kill him. Caught him by hand once and he bit me and I let go. Wasn't into shooting him in my pond in my front yard. I watched him swallow one of my fish whole one morning as I was leaving for work. Finally last spring I was moving the waterfall from one end of the pond to the other. As I was picking up pieces of slate and moving them I caught sight of him between two of them. Slipped the brushaxe in between and hooked and sliced him.

Another was a rat snake that I ran across twice in one weekend. I was moving a brush pile and he struck at me. I decided to live and let live. Next day I was moving an aerator and he struck again. Then I struck, with a machete.

Had another rat snake clean out two birdhouses of baby birds. Killed him before he got to the third.

I don't go out of my way to kill them, but I also don't tolerate the ones that become nuisances on my property either.

May 17, 2007, 04:22 PM	#1
Leafs Member Join Date: November 21, 2006 Posts: 38	Best for killing snakes I assume a shot gun would be the best option for shooting snakes. I got some bird shot. Is that sufficient enough? We have little creek with a mudhole/pond in the little bit of woods behind our house. I killed a water moccasin last night with a shovel. The dog got him originally but it got away. I don't think the dog was bit as she seems okay. I got two small kids that play out there and I missed the snake on the first chop and it got a little closer than I wanted.

May 17, 2007, 04:27 PM	#2
fisherman66 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2005 Location: The Woodlands TX Posts: 4,679	Bird shot will work fine. Probably better than any other load. __________________ la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas!

May 17, 2007, 04:33 PM	#3
Jseime Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 1,775	The smaller the shot you use the better more pellets/square inch. I would imagine that snake shooting is a fairly close range endeavour so you could use something like a 2 3/4 inch target load with an IC or C choke to make sure you get em. __________________ I love the smell of fresh shotgun in the morning.

May 17, 2007, 06:23 PM	#9
wolverine350 Senior Member Join Date: November 27, 2006 Location: ponca city ok Posts: 746	The judge offered by taurus is a handgun that shoots .410 shells or 45 long colt, check it out at taurus __________________ CVA Kodiak Magnum .50 cal Marlin 981T 22LR Bolt Action Remington 770 Bolt Action 270 Thompson Center Encore 243

May 17, 2007, 08:02 PM	#12
banditt007 Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2006 Posts: 694	i guess its just me but [color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color] is the point of shooting a snake crossing a road? or a rat snake that just eats rodents/isnt posionus ect? shooting snakes in the woods behind your house to get rid of them?, i dont think that is going to do anything but make you feel better. i can see the next day another one just wandering through i'm all about guns, hunting, fishing ect, but killing stuff for the reason of 'its a snake' is pretty weak. .......Ammo reccomendation has been covered no need for anything crazy, your typical #7-9 shot clay target ammo is fine. Last edited by banditt007; May 17, 2007 at 08:42 PM.

May 17, 2007, 04:36 PM	#4
Hello123 Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2005 Posts: 571	At the distance you would shoot a snake from, it won't matter what you use. It will acting like a solid anyway.

May 17, 2007, 04:56 PM	#5
ebutler462 Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2007 Location: NC Posts: 437	I like the Snake Charmer and the H & R clone in 410 when fishing or just poking around in the woods. Use 3" #8 shot. Expensive loads but effective. Around home, I use snake shot in my 38 snub as a carry gun so that I don't upset the neighbors while carrying a long gun. Darned good medicine for snakes.

May 17, 2007, 05:11 PM	#6
Leafs Member Join Date: November 21, 2006 Posts: 38	My neighbors are cool, walking around with a shot gun wouldn't spoke them. The 38 with snake shot seems like a good idea and I could keep it in my pocket while around the house. Is there any such thing as a snake trap? I'd rather trap them at the perimeter and then shoot them. The dog does a decent job of keeping them away but I don't want her to get bit either.

May 17, 2007, 06:04 PM	#7
ebutler462 Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2007 Location: NC Posts: 437	Several years ago when I was a patrol officer in a very rural area, I had new partners assigned to me occasionally. While we were patrolling in the backside of nowhere, a huge snake crossed the road. I slowed the car almost to a stop and took my service revolver out and busted him but good. While he rolled over and over dying, my new partner was astonished at my shooting skills. What I didn't tell him was that while patrolling in areas known for snakes, I always had a couple of snake shot in the cylinder. It became a legend that I was the best revolver shot in the dept. Actually, I am a less than average shot. I pulled that snake shot trick with several new officers. Very impressive as it is almost impossible to miss with snake cartridge. I never revealed my secret to them.

May 17, 2007, 06:15 PM	#8
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I like "snake shot" in a .44 mag revolver - it works well. If you are really using a shotgun I'd use 1 oz or 1 1/8 oz of 9's ( quail loads, heavy skeet loads ) and that should do it in a 12ga. A 20ga would be ok too - maybe a .28ga but I wouldn't rely on a .410 unless you had to ( it's only 1/2 oz of shot ). If you can't find 9's use 8's ( I don't like snakes ...).

May 17, 2007, 07:09 PM	#10
Leafs Member Join Date: November 21, 2006 Posts: 38	ebutler462 - That's a funny story

May 17, 2007, 07:49 PM	#11
BoltWorks Member Join Date: December 2, 2005 Posts: 89	I just moved to an old farmhouse and encountered a big rat snake on my back landing. I had no .22 ammo on hand. The only thing I had was my Glock 20. I now have several large bullet holes in my back porch, in addition to a pulverized snake. My one neigbor heard the several gunshots at 6:30 am. We all had a good laugh, but I'm looking at .410's. Hadn't thought about .38 "snake shot" that may be my answer.

May 18, 2007, 12:22 AM	#13
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	It's not "weak," it's stupid. Snakes eat rodents. Rodents carry diseases. 98% of the snakes you see are harmless. If you leave them alone, they will leave you alone. I guess people just like to kill things for no reason. Bill __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

May 18, 2007, 01:02 AM	#14
kametc Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2007 Location: S W , Montana Posts: 206	My snake catcher is a 5' length of 1" PVC pipe with cap glued on one end. There are two slots cut into the cap and a 10' tie down strap run through the pipe through one slot and then looped back through the other slot and returns the length of the pipe. The buckle of the zip strap is at my end of the catcher and serves as the handle to pull the loop closed. The capture is really simple, open the loop place it over the snakes head. They will then try to crawl through it and when they are about halfway tighten the loop. Then it's like picking up a stick. If you cinch the loop right behind their head they will fight you. Its not a lot different than fighting about 2lb trout on a fishing rod. A plastic bucket with a locking lid makes a good transport container. (I would advise against placing this all in your wifes car however) I used to photograph a lot of snakes and this method does'nt even ruffle thier scales. Not real good for their attitude though, and if you make em mad they will NEVER get over it. __________________ "Allons" Blackhorse Troopers !

May 18, 2007, 01:19 AM	#15
RsqVet Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2005 Posts: 2,474	Guys if yer gona pick up snakes that are packing (i.e. poisonous) get a set of real snake tongs: http://www.animal-care.com/product_l...ub2a=56&prod=1 The improvised solution that Kametic describes sounds reasonable but when you start messing with things that can bite back for my money I'm gona get all of the advantages possible.

May 18, 2007, 04:31 AM	#16
SCREAMIII2006 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2007 Location: Sunny South Florida Posts: 201	Read original post He did say it was a water moccosin in the orginal post. Which I believe are poisonious. So shooting it was warranted. I think what happens is most people are scared when a snake appears. First reaction,kill first,see what kind of snake later. Key word is kill, the descision is made right from the beginning to eliminate the percieved threat. Personally, I don't think I'd revert to my old boyscout training when it comes to determiing if a snake is friendly or not. It would die no matter what, and by whatever means I had on hand. __________________ Better to be judged by 12,then carried by 6...

May 18, 2007, 09:45 AM	#17
kickshot85 Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2007 Posts: 127	Snakes are awesome, but people who are uninformed about snakes are simply amazing! They are so totally clueless that to them every snake is hell-bent on killing them. I'm not saying that killing snakes is wrong, some of them are lethal and it seems that all the lethal ones have nearly identical benign cousins. I completely understand the mindset of kill it first, indentify it later (especially if you have kids or pets). I know the woes of the OP, those moccasins are about the nastiest little SOBs on the face of the earth. I recently found out, on a fishing trip to the camp, that my older brother could have competed in the Olympic 100m dash, at least when a moccasin was hot on his tail. I spent the better part of the weekend trying to rid the grounds of mocassins and copperheads. Once again, I recommend the Judge, it is perfect for this. I'll also use a .22 rifle when necessary. __________________ "You cannot invade mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass." Admiral Yamamoto in advising against invading mainland United States due to wide spread availability of weapons for the general public

May 18, 2007, 12:37 PM	#18
Jseime Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 1,775	I've been thumping muskrats with Federal Top Gun target loads (7 1/2) shot in a full choke and it works like a dream. Go with a cylinder bore and get that pattern spread out good to make sure you get em first go round. Arent water moccasins extremely poisonous? I would want to get rid of them too. Especially if I had small kids and a dog around. __________________ I love the smell of fresh shotgun in the morning.

May 18, 2007, 01:17 PM	#19
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	Most people wouldn't know a a water moccasin (cottonmouth) from a water snake. The coloration is the same, and they both swim, but there are major differences. Most "moccasins" are harmless water snakes. Bill __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

May 18, 2007, 02:25 PM	#20
Trapp Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: KTN Posts: 1,221	By most you mean people who don't deal with them often in the woods? I shoot snakes. Not on sight though. I also tan the skins and eat a few. Most people I know who actually deal with Moccassins know exactly what they are. People I know in Washington would be the clueless ones. Of course they don't shoot them either... __________________ HDR Ban!? It's a shame all of my guns sank with my boat last week... Time to catch up.....like mayonnaise

May 18, 2007, 03:22 PM	#21
Leafs Member Join Date: November 21, 2006 Posts: 38	It was a water mocassin, my neighbor checked it out. It was a little over 4 feet long. I see garter snakes around all the time and could care less about them. Around my area in TN there are a lot. People die from them every year but are usually bitten by more than one. I like dogs and don't shoot them when I see them but if one somehow got into my backyard and threatened my kids, I'd kill it. Same with the snake. I'm not fvcking around with a stick to try and throw it over the fence or make sure it was 100% venomous (which it was), I'll do that after I kill it.

May 18, 2007, 04:25 PM	#22
bennnn Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2006 Location: almost far enough south.. Posts: 978	For me, it's this little monster right here,,,,,,,,,,, I keep #7 in it when I'm out and about,, those short barrels and the .410 punch are just right from me to you... I carry it for what I like to call snake control when I'm out frog gigging or fishing around my little slice of heaven.. There are three ponds within shouting distance of my house, and I've had problems with cottonmouths over the years,, and don't even get me started on the copperheads that lounge around on the lawn... I've only seen one rattler,, and I actually leave those huge blacksnakes alone... Sometimes... __________________ I owe a lot to the man who first cradled this rifle in his hands... wish I could tell him thanks.-- mdshooter

May 18, 2007, 09:44 PM	#23
Mike U. Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 2007 Location: In Oz, next door to the Lollipop Guild's HQ Posts: 404	My property is a bird sanctuary. And recently it has turned into a snake sanctuary. I have a pair of Black Racers and a Coral Snake (that I know of). The bigger of the two racers lives in the attic and I watch him once in awhile as he comes out of this quarter size hole in the wood work. I was watching the other smaller one on my front porch this afternoon as she was climbing thru the Confederate Jasmine vines in front of my sitting spot. She was being harassed by a pair of Brown Thrashers that keep trying to build a nest in the Jasmine vines on the other side of the porch by my front door. I keep taking their nest down, but, they are persistent critters. I've seen the Coral Snake twice. Once I nearly stepped on the little fella and the second time he was under some brush I was raking. I leave him alone because Corals are very timid snakes and will only bite if you try to pick them up or otherwise annoy them consistently. Now, if only I could get a snake that will eat some of those damned tree rats. If the snake is non-poisonous, there is no viable reason to kill them. I can understand killing the snakes that are packin' as snake bites from one of them could permanantly change your life or end it. I'm not so non-chalant with Diamondbacks or Vipers.

May 18, 2007, 10:18 PM	#24
kcshooter Junior member Join Date: May 6, 2007 Posts: 439	I'm a city guy, always have been. I don't really hunt (but I am going duck hunting soon for the first time), I don't camp, I'm just not a real country-boy outdoors type. And snakes freak me out! Plus, I can't tell poisonous from not. Sure, I know they are generally more helpful than harmful, and I don't like killing anything that I don't need to, (which is why I've already found a place to clean the duck if I even get one; if I kill it, I'm eating it), but in my opinion, the best thing to kill a snake with is a hand grenade!

May 18, 2007, 11:02 PM	#25
rantingredneck Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,728	In the last 8 years I've killed four snakes on my 1.1 acre property here in NC. Only 1 of the 4 was poisonous. It was a baby copperhead I found in my driveway. Stepped on his body and cut his head off with my pocket knife. He was less than a foot long. Of the other three, two struck at me, even though they were not poisonous. One was a northern water snake that almost cleaned out my goldfish pond till I took him out with a brushaxe. I had a year long war with this snake. Photographed him three or four times below the water surface in my pond. Could never get him to where I could catch and kill him. Caught him by hand once and he bit me and I let go. Wasn't into shooting him in my pond in my front yard. I watched him swallow one of my fish whole one morning as I was leaving for work. Finally last spring I was moving the waterfall from one end of the pond to the other. As I was picking up pieces of slate and moving them I caught sight of him between two of them. Slipped the brushaxe in between and hooked and sliced him. Another was a rat snake that I ran across twice in one weekend. I was moving a brush pile and he struck at me. I decided to live and let live. Next day I was moving an aerator and he struck again. Then I struck, with a machete. Had another rat snake clean out two birdhouses of baby birds. Killed him before he got to the third. I don't go out of my way to kill them, but I also don't tolerate the ones that become nuisances on my property either.