When you encounter a poisons snake a field, particularly when retrieving dogs are on the ground, yell SNAKE!! so the dog handler and other shooters know what the situation is and can make every effort to keep the dogs away from the snake.  Keep between the dogs and the snake until the dogs are kenneled or at least on a leash and under total control.  Then, either move away to avoid the snake or dispatch it.

Retrievers in particular are going to go to the gunshot when a snake is shot.  If the snake is killed, it is still capable of delivering a lethal bite unless the head is obliterated.  A rattler with a third of its body missing is still capable of a strike.   If a dog picks up a wounded snake, or gets the head of a dead shake in its mouth, it could be a lethal situation.

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