Snake Bite?

[Stuck]

With all the snake threads on TBH and a group of people who spend a fair amount of time in the woods, it got me to thinking how many people have actually been bit? Now I realize there are a few who didn't have toys growing up and enjoying picking up and playing with snakes and am not talking about those bites. Who has been hit while just walking through the woods and not agitating the snake?

The reason I ask is growing up squirrell hunting we would walk right up to or right by copperheads (not on purpose) all the time and never got hit. It seems to me most people I know who have been bit were hit on the hand when picking something up or had actually stepped on the snake.

[BlacktailSlayer]

Tonight was the second time I have stepped on a rattler. Both times exiting my stand at night. Both times the snake crawled away about three feet and coiled up and started rattling. They seem to like to lay in the road at night. Although I hope it never happens again I think they primarily strike when aggitated.

[fireman0684]

Last season walking back to the truck on a full moon I didn't need a flashlight to see where I was going. I was struck in the boot, fortunately I was wearing my thick snake boots and he did not get through. So the lesson I learned is use your flashlight weather you think you need it or not

[tx07]

Caught plenty of snakes. Never been bit.
Some how I manage to see them.

[txstringbender]

My advise....by some dang snake book whether you think you need them or not. It's better safe than sorry. A snake bite can cost you close $200,000 to get over. Not a joke. $100 snake boots vs $200,000. Your choice.

[backspinnn]

A friend at work got bit on the hand by a copperhead a couple years ago. His hand swelled up like a boxing glove, but they did not give him any anti-venom at the hospital. They basically kept him under observation and told him to let the bite run it's course.

[medic151]

I am one of the aforementioned people without toys, so I have been messing with snakes since I was seven. I can't tell you how many times I have been bit by non-venomous snakes, but I can tell you I have been hit twice by copperheads.

Once, my fault. I was carrying a copperhead in a pillow case on my belt loop. Through the bag, scratched my leg, no big deal. Learning experience.

Second, while snake hunting, saw a broadheaded skink, and started chasing it. Stepped over a railroad tie that was partially buried and felt what I thought was some thorns scrape my calf. I was wearing shorts, and when I turned around, there was a copperhead coiled up in the GO position, right where I had stepped. My fault, stupidity on my part. Made my leg swell up a little, made me feel crappy for a couple of days, that was it. Not a pure envenomation, just a defensive strike.

I don't wear any "snake boot" protection when i hunt, but usually I am hunting them. Sorry for the long post.

A real envenomation is very exspensive for treatment. They don't do antivenom in most cases because alot of people are more reactive to the antivenom than just treating the symptoms. They also don't do fasciotomies anymore with the exception of the most severe cases.