We bought some land

[RR 314]

Never fails during Turkey season, they are just getting out of hibernation and looking for food. Prob why you have those encounters.

My wife wants me to get a pair of snake boots. Ok, more like “you will get a pair of snake boots”. So, I’ll be shopping for boots

Snake boots > running shoes. I was unloading a walk-in cooler from a trailer when it got me.Thankfully it nailed my tibia. After hitting bone it seemed to scratch me on the way out. Called a MD (neurosurgeon) friend and he told me to take a picture of the wound and told me to clean it up and sit down for a bit with it elevated and ice. Well, I did not have any ice. He then asked me what my symptoms were. I had full-blown tachycardia. Well over 100 beats a minute. Told him that my lips were going numb (which I certainly believe they were). He said that was simply me being a (wussy). .

I killed the snake with a boomer I had on the trailer and he told me to take pictures of it, as well as throw it in my truck just in case I did have to go to the hospital as they might not believe me that it was truly a rattlesnake. I sat down for about 30 or 45 minutes and asked the guys who were delivering the walk-in cooler if they follow me into town? Felt pretty good and talked to my doctor buddy on the way in and he told me just to find a public place in town and stay there for another hour or so to see how I felt. He said if I went to the emergency room in the small town that they would pump me full of crofab, probably kill me, and then send my wife a bill for $180,000. .

I stayed at Chicken Express, bought dinner for the guys delivering the cooler, got some ice on it and felt pretty good. Ended up driving home (right at an hour). My wife and young kids were at a University of Texas football game and I did not bother them. Sat in the recliner with an ice pack on my shin and all was good. My buddy kept checking in on me and I told him I was fine. We deduced due to the tibia, it was largely a dry bite. . . Then I woke up about four hours later——-with a kankle. . From memory this is about 1 o’clock or so in the morning. I sent my buddy a picture of it and he did not reply until Sunday morning around 6:30 or so. He asked me to call him if I was awake. He was laughing when he answered and said,
“ I only do brains and spines, I don’t know anything about snake bites. Perhaps you should have gone in.” . He told me to take some Benadryl and call him after the Cowboys game.

Again, snake boots > New Balance. Listen to your lovely bride.

 

[RR 314]

Post script. Forgot. This is pretty funny. The next year I went quail hunting at my buddies place out in Andrews, Texas. Biggest rattlesnakes I’ve ever seen have been on his place. I was wearing my Chippewa snake boots and felt pretty good and my friend’s dad joked, “ I don’t know why y’all wear those fancy snake boots. These rattle bugs are so big, they only bite in two places—your neck or your nuts.” .

 

[Hunt anything]

Post script. Forgot. This is pretty funny. The next year I went quail hunting at my buddies place out in Andrews, Texas. Biggest rattlesnakes I’ve ever seen have been on his place. I was wearing my Chippewa snake boots and felt pretty good and my friend’s dad joked, “ I don’t know why y’all wear those fancy snake boots. These rattle bugs are so big, they only bite in two places—your neck or your nuts.” .

I can relate to that, Turkey hunting on the king ranch the snakes would wind their way up into prickly pear and be at crotch level, very unsettling.
On the same trip I sat down to work a gobbler and next to my left butt cheek was a coral snake! Thankfully it was in the lower 40s and he was a little lathergic.

 

[PARA45]

@RR 314, you were lucky with that bite and seems like your body took it very well. Not much flesh around your chins for the fangs to compress the venom glands and inoculate you with their venom. Someone was looking after you.

@Hunt anything, you were lucky, Coral Snakes are not aggressive at all, and quite docile. Another one, it would have been a different story.

I had a young Rattle Snake go between my legs when I was calling in a turkey. The snake was minding her own business, and I let her through. Didn't scared me much compared to the one from this Saturday. I am quite vigilant during Turkey Season; all the snakes are out and moving around looking for food.

 

[PARA45]

Post script. Forgot. This is pretty funny. The next year I went quail hunting at my buddies place out in Andrews, Texas. Biggest rattlesnakes I’ve ever seen have been on his place. I was wearing my Chippewa snake boots and felt pretty good and my friend’s dad joked, “ I don’t know why y’all wear those fancy snake boots. These rattle bugs are so big, they only bite in two places—your neck or your nuts.” .

Sh*t, I'm short they would probably get me in the head.

 

[ActionBob]

Congratulations on the land purchase! I hope it brings you many years of good times.

I see a tractor, brush hog, and blade in your future. Make sure it's a 4WD model. Or go big and get a Bobcat.

If you go from a tractor to a Bobcat you will be a happy man

But if you've every used a Bobcat for loader work or even drilling a post hole, and then have to go back to and tractor, life will be miserable.....

 

[Troubleshooter]

Make no mistake about it. It is becoming an old man. .

Sincerely,

Old Man

Are you the one we're not supposed to let in?

 

[Troubleshooter]

If you go from a tractor to a Bobcat you will be a happy man

But if you've every used a Bobcat for loader work or even drilling a post hole, and then have to go back to and tractor, life will be miserable.....

True, but a man must do what he can, where he is, with what he's got.

 

[PARA45]

If you go from a tractor to a Bobcat you will be a happy man

But if you've every used a Bobcat for loader work or even drilling a post hole, and then have to go back to and tractor, life will be miserable.....

My good friend Willie who wanted to shoot the snake off my hand (such a good friend) Has a tractor and bushhog, and he is helping me out clear the overgrown stuff. For now, I think we are good with what he has. Not sure, how or what we will need when we step into the woods, we will venture there during the fall when it's a bit cooler.

Mrs PARA45 priority is to get the trailer into some form of semi-livable conditions. We need to see what needs fixing on the outside. We know for sure that three windows will have to be replaced. But not sure about the pipes, and what not. We cleared most of the overgrown stuff around the trailer, so she is happy with that.

 

[ActionBob]

Post script. Forgot. This is pretty funny. The next year I went quail hunting at my buddies place out in Andrews, Texas. Biggest rattlesnakes I’ve ever seen have been on his place. I was wearing my Chippewa snake boots and felt pretty good and my friend’s dad joked, “ I don’t know why y’all wear those fancy snake boots. These rattle bugs are so big, they only bite in two places—your neck or your nuts.” .

Damn I'm not sure which would be worse!

 

[ActionBob]

My good friend Willie who wanted to shoot the snake off my hand (such a good friend) Has a tractor and bushhog, and he is helping me out clear the overgrown stuff. For now, I think we are good with what he has. Not sure, how or what we will need when we step into the woods, we will venture there during the fall when it's a bit cooler.

Mrs PARA45 priority is to get the trailer into some form of semi-livable conditions. We need to see what needs fixing on the outside. We know for sure that three windows will have to be replaced. But not sure about the pipes, and what not. We cleared most of the overgrown stuff around the trailer, so she is happy with that.

Congratulations on the land purchase! That 5 years will go by very quickly and and it will be all yours Except for the annual rent to the government we all have to pay for the privage of land ownership....

Really cool Mrs. PARA is so excited and cleaning up the trailer. There is just something relaxing about having a place of your own away from home. Especially out in tbe woods, on the water, or anywhere with more nature than neighbors.

Absolutely you should keep using Willie's tractor. I'm always a bit torn between clearing out underbrush and leaving nature take it's course. At our Minnesota property we've had a fair number of trees go down in recent wind storms. And we have a mixture of mature trees and younger so just life cycles happening. I've come to the conclusion to do my best keeping trails open but also leaving a lot lying where they fall. We have Ruffed Grouse and they need them for drumming. Plus I'm sure plenty of other critters such as black bear use them. With me "playing in the dirt" as Gina calls it. AKA farming... growing hay and corn... we have lots of food for turkey and white tails. And tons of squirrels for the grandkids soon to be ready to start thinning them out

If you do ever think about buying a Bobcat type loader, as Gina would say, go ly down until it passes Rent one! On tracks. And if biting bugs are about, with cab and AC!

 

[ActionBob]

True, but a man must do what he can, where he is, with what he's got.

Couldn't agree more! A small front wheel assist tractor is a great thing especially with lots of attachments...

But damn a Bobcat will run circles around it. Having both but 1350 miles apart... I have a hard time using the tractor for those tasks I know the Bobcat is better suited for. I just keep reminding myself how much better than a shovel and wheelbarrow it is

Gina hates the Bobcat and loves her JD hydrostatic tractor. But she has different parts being bounced around

Honestly for many who only need a machine occasionally. Renting is a great option. I use my track Bobcat a lot, have a brush mower, rock bucket, dirt bucket, bale fork, grapple bucket, pallet forks, receiver hitch for moving trailers and implements around, abd even a snow blower and snow pusher blade. And only put about 150 hours per year on it on our 160 acres.

On our dairy farms we put 1500 to 3000 hours per year on them... And we buy up every low houred Tier III unit we can find. Many of these small machines with diesel engines have increased by 30% just to go to Tier IV engines. And the maintenance is way more than double. Renting or buying used should be a serious consideration for hobby land owners... Bobcat (or similar) mini excavators are another handy thing to use. Even though we own a couple, I've rented one in Texas as it's cheaper and handier than going to fetch one. Personally I'd rent one before owning a tractor backhoe... Well the exception might be buying an antique one for my tractor collection