Snakes and such!

[Slowhand Bob]

Received the latest state DNR magazine recently and the cover story was on the Eastern Diamond Back Rattlesnake and his depleted numbers.  Didn't know it was under consideration to become a federal protected species and many state biologists from around the country have been pushing for state wide protection for all rattlesnakes!  I knew that they were protected in Pennsylvania and perhaps a few others but did not realize that there was such a push going on by the state DNRs, always thought they usually got what they ask for but apparently not according to the story.  Who would have thought that snakes had a strong commercial lobbying group. 

I got a chance to follow up by talking to a state biologist after a seminar I just attended and he had some strong opinions on this, though marine wildlife was the actual topic.  I actually felt somewhat dressed down after some comments on the commercial leather industry.  At any rate we may soon see rattlesnake skins go away from the market place, I know that several of the small community roundups have disappeared through the years.     

[outrider]

Alot of suppliers already have dropped rattlesnake skins

[Mogorilla]

I typically shy away from those leathers that are not commercially farmed, but my problem with some of this is my family has loads of land, mostly converted to conservation plot.  They butt up against state reserve land, usually they plan burn offs of the praire grass around what the state is doing.   My brother in law walked the state praire area after the burn off and counted nearly 20 dead snakes, mostly of protected species.  They asked the conservation guy about it and his reply "thats nature".   I bet they lose more to "nature" than harvesting.

[GunClick Rick]

 

[Slowhand Bob]

HEHEHE, and you really didnt want to hear him discuss the poor sharks!  Actually it was about a somewhat cowboy related subject, the horseshoe crab, but I couldnt tie it in.  You do not want to get caught putting horseshoe crabs on your holsters, hmmm.  Actually they would start smelling pretty bad after the first couple of days anyhows!

At any rate I used some of the highly exotic Tandy #3 grade skins to try a new pattern out and they kinda stink also!  Things were going kinda smooth until I got to the cross draw version.   After talking about it on another recent post, I messed up on the fold.  It will need at least another 3/8" to 1/2" + of drop added to allow it to be right for a 2 1/2" belt after installing and shaping a metal liner.  On this one I simply notched the belt about 1/4",  similar to the early movie 'walk n draw' styles. 

My weight is currently down about 30lbs+ and it is getting close to making the cross draw practical again.  I started out using the cross draw but gave it up some years back as those hammers became gut hooks when the belly got so large!  Never really got used to the left hand draw but it did give me a chance to play lefty some also. 

Someone recently posted a statement that no one ever historically used the cross draw 'back when' and he had studied many photos to prove his point.  Though I did not respond, I do consider that a bogus assumption.  I have seen a few photos of the early MO guerillas sporting two and three holstered pistols, with all stretched across the front of the belt in strong hand presentation carry.  Do not know if he found those or has another explanation but it looked pretty cut and dry to me.  Though not sure, I would think it would have also been popular for mounted men to carry their holstered revolvers in a cross draw style?   How bout you guys, are there many requests for a cross draw when holsters are ordered in pairs?   

[Mogorilla]

Oh, love the guerilla reference!     I believe many of my fellow partisan rangers carried them in all kinds of ways.  I believe Bloody Bill used a sack.  That said, i cannot imagine anyone who ever tried carry and ride a horse has not slide the holster to crossdraw at some point.

[Arizona Cattleman]

Here are some pics of an Eastern Diamondback that was captured and killed in a neighborhood in Florida.  I am pretty sure that this would scare the H@## out of anybody that came across it.  I do believe in protecting wildlife, but some times its a public safety issue.

AC

[KidTerico]

Clicker sorry to hear about Floyd. KT 

[Drayton Calhoun]

I'm not one for indiscriminatly killing any animal, but, in reagard to venomous snakes, protected? Let's see how much they want to protect them after a diamondback has pumped a good shot of venom into an extremity...

[GunClick Rick]

Clicker sorry to hear about Floyd. KT 

Floyds fine that's a mexican rattler,you can't see it but thier rattles are red white and green BOB-A-LOOOOOO~~~~

[Slowhand Bob]

Not sure why but rattlers have been in short supply in SC the low country but were plentiful when I lived and worked across the mid and south GA area.  Even new a couple of guys that were bitten and one was even a real comical story, though the follow almost died.  Here in the low country there are many big moccasins, as one might suspect, but the copperheads are outstanding.  I have never seen so many and so large.  Down home they were always small but up here I have seen at least two big fat ones that musta been at least 19 feet long!!!  The last time I saw a rattler was on a visit to PA, at least ten years ago and that was the first time I knew of rattlers being a state protected species anywhere.  I promised not to do that again!

[Mogorilla]

Now I have strains of "Copperhead Road" in my head!   I grew up in central illinois, loads of copperheads and moccs.  I hated those water moccs.   Rare for an eastern rattler then.  I see them periodically here in Missouri.    I got bit by one once, it was a terrible five days of pain, fevers, torturous muscle contractions, finally the snake died.

[GunClick Rick]

  rotflmao..slappin my knee,doin the Calebs land deed dance!! Floyd tied himself in a knot!Yep he's turnin blue..

What's that Floyd??? Ha ha ha,he said if he had a knee he would slap it!!  Baa haa haa


LOL LOL!!!


Bones lost his head he was laughin so hard! Baaa haa haa

[Marshal Will Wingam]

LOL, Mo-

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Rick, you're tooooooo much

    tEN

[GunClick Rick]

You outta see it behind Mogos eyes