Was this snake dangerous?

wroughtn_harv · Apr 29, 2006

I killed a black diamond back in the mountains of Arizona when my son was ten or so. We'd backpacked in and were on our way out, three generations, Dad, me, and my son. I was in the lead.

It was a steep part of the trail where my face was almost touching the trail. I heard a faint swishing sound and knew instantly what it was.

The diamond back was as surprised as me and was attempting to coil. I'm not much for pistols and only had a small 22 revolver for just an occasion.

When we got out of the canyon I skinned the snake. Then we went to my grandma's house in Cottonwood. She was in her late eighties but volunteered to show my son how to tan the hide.

As she had him mixing some sand and salt she explained that his father wasn't too smart when it came to skinning snakes. If he'd done it right he'd had pulled the hide off like a sock instead of slitting it lengthwise. Then he could have done like his uncles and dad and had a neat hat band. You fill the snake with sand-salt mixture after scraping it inside out. When it's cured then you slide a piece of leather in the skin and you have a belt or hat band with the rattlers etc intact.

However, since his dad had screwed up they did the thumb tacks and board trick.

I haven't killed a snake since so I haven't had the opportunity to do it right. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

wushaw · Apr 29, 2006

( Don't think that black snakes are safe. Water Moccasins(Cotton Mouth) are black and despite what was said are highly agressive. They are one of the few snakes that will pursue you. )

I have only come across three cotton mouths in my life of hunting and fishing and so far all three wanted no part of me even after pestered the tar out of one of them.

I have been "chased" by a Diamond back water snake that was digesting a catfish once, they already have a bad temper and she aparantely didn't like my antics /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif