Newbie Questions - Herp Hunting

CharlieJ · #1 (**permalink**) 04-27-2006, 02:57 AM

My daughter and I went herp hunting for the first time yesterday. We came up with several questions for which we would like answers. The folks here have been SO friendly thus far, I hope you will help us along as we explore our area for new "friends".

BTW, our hunting will primarily consist of fields, wooded areas and ponds in eastern North Carolina. Also, our "hunting" will consist of either catch and release or shooting with a digital camera. No animals will be harmed by our hunting. So, on to the questions...

Also, we pretty much know how to ID venomous snakes living in NC. Common sense dictates we "leave it alone" if we don't recognize the snake. No worries there.

1) What time of day (April/May) is best for "hunting" in our area?
2) Where should we look? Under boards; in the middle of a field; at the edge of a pond? [Please be as specific as possible.]
3) If it rains or cools down towards the evening, where will the creatures go?
4) What is the normal "home" for a garter/rat/corn snake?
5) Since, we're mostly interested in snakes, and catch & release is preferred, what tools should we always have with us? [So far, we have a hook, cotton bags and cameras]
6) What question did I forget to ask?

THANKS to all who reply. I holpe the resulting thread will be helpful to all newbies.

PS- If someone already post these questions (and I missed them in my search query), please point me to the thread.

VoodooChile · #2 (**permalink**) 04-27-2006, 03:04 AM

I know in June at around dusk, when it warms up you can often cruise dirt roads located near pastures and wooded (not a lot of cedar) hillsides and find copperheads coming down to hunt and crossing the road.

The rat snake we just caught over the weekend was in the early afternoon and in a ravine just down the hill from a chicken house across from a pond..dont know if that helps.

I keep hearing the advice that artificial cover (AC) is the best...Basically that just consists of car hoods and pieces of tin. The snakes go under them to warm themselves and take shelter. When you flip, make sure you use a long handled piece of sturdy metal or wood (preferrably a snake hook), and gloves in the event of a Rattlesnake lurking underneath. Also in car hoods the snakes will often coil up in the actual hood itself.. Reptiles Magazine had a nice field herping article this month.

I also recommend hiking boots that come well over the ankle to about mid calf..Not very attractive, Unless you have legs like BW or Brett..LMAO!
But Copperheads are often hard to spot, and you might just step right on one.

jvillereptile · #3 (**permalink**) 04-27-2006, 11:17 AM

do you really have to look attractive when your out in the woods looking for snake. just were pants to hide the boots and to protect you from ticks and other insects bites. the last time i ever wore short i encounter a cottonmouth right next to my foot.

VoodooChile · #4 (**permalink**) 04-27-2006, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jvillereptile

do you really have to look attractive when your out in the woods looking for snake. just were pants to hide the boots and to protect you from ticks and other insects bites. the last time i ever wore short i encounter a cottonmouth right next to my foot.

I think I was just joking LMAO

Heidi · #5 (**permalink**) 04-27-2006, 11:42 AM

As far as copperheads in abundance in this neck of the woods, they seem to be out a lot during the late afternoon, daytime hours around here this time of year. I've only seen one this year after not seeing any at all the past two years since we moved to our house in Feb of '04. I am a compost fanatic though and 3 seasons worth of compost I'm guessing attracts them because now I won't go anywhere near my compost pile. We obviously had a female at our old house because every couple years we would have quite a few babies that we would find between our back fence and neighbors fence where the vegetation was allowed to grow wild. So, I guess any natural area where they have hiding places would be a good place.

As far as corn snakes we would always find them in the yard, out in the open and at the corners of our homes. Garters would be in the landscape (do they go after slugs?) and we would always see huge black rats at the edge of the woods, more into the open areas. I think on the coast you can see yellow rats also.

The pine woods snake and corals are also found in the coastal areas, usually hidden in vegetation. The pine snake is non-venemous but the coral is obviously one to keep a distance from unless you are experienced. They are pretty rare around there though.

That is it off the top of my head.

jvillereptile · #6 (**permalink**) 04-27-2006, 12:53 PM

ever time i went up to greenville south carolina i encouter at least 3 copperheads last time i was there i had to move one out of a cabin and one was removed from the swimming area of the lake and i nearly steped on one on a trail. i encounter southerns and northern copperheads up there. and all my encounters with cottonmouth weren't that friendly either first one i was face to face with it and the second one was at my foot.

Advertisement