[TxHuntermn]

The worst snakebite I ever witnessed was in 52 degrees on a cloudy day. A 6' diamondback hit our dog handler right above the ankle. He was wearing a pair of Vietnam era canvas top army boots, heavy wool socks, levis, and a pair of heavy canvas fronted thorn chaps, but the shake hit the thin canvas on the back side of the chaps. It had been very cold for South Texas for about a week, and the snake was curled up at the edge of a prickly pear. We are pretty sure Brian stepped on the snake itself...but no way to be sure. I have been "hit" four times in my hunting career, but a die hard practice of wearing snake boots when upland hunting in all but freezing weather, have saved my bacon each time. There are purpose built snake chaps and gaiters made by Turtleskin and Rattlers that are excellent as well, and do a good job turning thorns and cactus as well. I wear Turtleskin chaps AND snake boots when hunting coastal Saltgrass prairie down this way, as rattlers have an irritating habit of getting on the 20" high Gulf Cord Grass, or locally known as Sacahuista, clumps to sun themselves on a nice day. This practice puts the darn snake at a very unfortunate height! Snakes are an unfortunate, but ubiquitous condition here in deep South Texas! The result is for most of us down here, that snake protection is necessary and vital. I will also say that it certainly enters deeply into the decision of which days I will hunt with my dogs, even though they have all been snake trained, and receive Crotalus Atox Toxoid vaccine. I am fortunate to have never lost a dog to snakebite, but have nursed 4 dogs, 6 times, through the process.