I live in Louisville now, but I grew up in Murray. Taylor Bay is one of my favorite places in the world.
OT: Range of the Cotton Mouth in Kentucky
- Thread starter Lum Eddards
- Start date
Shawnee National Forest in Illinois was about like that around 10 years ago.
I had to fight them for frogs in Crittenden County, KY in Western Kentucky.
Nope, no cottonmouths anywhere near Lexington. You're seeing watersnakes and mistaking them for cottonmouths.
Kill those ******* with permethrin. Soak your clothes in it, let em dry, and enjoy watching the ticks fall off you deader than a door nail.
They are, but the ticks that time of year are much more likely to harbor transmissible diseases. I prefer fall for the Elk and Bison Prairie. IYKYK.
You haven't lived until two tons of elk are fighting it out next to your car and the others are off in the hills bugling away. Chills.
Correct, you can just about draw a straight line from Daviess County to Logan County and there are very few the further east you go.
If you're east of I-65 and see a snake in or near the water, it is most likely going to be an ordinary water snake, not a Cotton Mouth.
The northern water snake (non-venemous, though they will act aggressive if surprised or cornered)
But Kentucky residents do need to be alert for the dreaded but rare rattle-headed copper mocassin that exists throughout the entire state. Those things will really eff you up if they get a-hold of ya.
The northern water snake (non-venemous, though they will act aggressive if surprised or cornered)
But Kentucky residents do need to be alert for the dreaded but rare rattle-headed copper mocassin that exists throughout the entire state. Those things will really eff you up if they get a-hold of ya.
I was puzzled when I read that also lol. Water moccasins were always called cotton mouths were I grew up, the inside of their mouths are white is why they're called that.
Cotton mouths are very common down here. I killed four in my yard last year and one just the other day. It is not unusual to see one in the lake behind our house.
I was fishing on the Withlachoochee River years ago and got out of the boat for a moment to retrieve something. The minute I hit the water several cottonmouths dropped down from some live oak trees that had branches over the river. They immediately started towards me and my buddy screamed "cotton mouths" and help to pull me back in the boat. Just in time.
We were 20 miles from civilization. I view cotton mouths as one of the most dangerous snake in the wild because they will attack. A diamond back will at least warn you before they take you out. A corral snake is not your friend either.
I was fishing on the Withlachoochee River years ago and got out of the boat for a moment to retrieve something. The minute I hit the water several cottonmouths dropped down from some live oak trees that had branches over the river. They immediately started towards me and my buddy screamed "cotton mouths" and help to pull me back in the boat. Just in time.
We were 20 miles from civilization. I view cotton mouths as one of the most dangerous snake in the wild because they will attack. A diamond back will at least warn you before they take you out. A corral snake is not your friend either.
Live on Park out by the old swimming pool. Gibraltar was our hunting and fishing area until they changed everything!
I traveled 1530 miles one way every year to noodle flathead cats, and drive it straight through. The adrenalin rush from a big cat guarding there nest was strong
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No prob. There's evidence that infected nymphs survive the winter more often.
Permethrin, picadirin, wearing light colored clothing, and tucking your clothes in is how I keep those little blood sucking ***** off me.
Also, it usually takes 36+ hours for a tick to be attached before it transmits any infection. So just be sure to take stock of itchiness or redness on your body the day after a hike and remove the whole tick. Won't help with alpha-gal, which is an allergic reaction, but still.
Hah, I was actually "fishing" with my question. Where are you going for the catfish? Noodling for cats and/or turtles is one of the very few outdoor things I haven't done. I would for cats....not sure about those big snappers.
We called it hogging, and we were in Ky and Barkley lakes. Water snakes were curious, and would swim right up to you, to check things out. Seen some huge snappers over the years, but they were getting out of there in a hurry. I use too catch snapping turtles, and eat them, not my favorite, but ok. The big Flatheads were D lish.
We noodled all nature holes, then the commercial guys started putting 100'sbof boxes out, and kind of ruined it.
There's a great camping spot all the way at the back of the lake. Big bluff that you can jump into the water, but it used to be a little chore getting to the top. Not bad for a young healthy man. But we'd camp out under a big rock. Where we camped would be considered roughing it. Slept on rocks, but you could probably take a portable bed. It was a really pretty site and we had the back of the lake practically to ourselves. You could camp out on a pontoon back there and probably do some night fishing around a boat fire. It has probably changed a lot since I've been there though. Might be more houses than then.
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The only good snake is a dead snake if it’s close to me. And spare me with why snakes are good for the habitat 
, if it’s within sight distance, it’s too close!
, if it’s within sight distance, it’s too close!
Florida is not all Disney World and sugar sand beaches. Get off the beaten track and you are in a whole different world. Survival becomes your objective.That sounds like a scene out of a horror movie
Florida remained mostly a wilderness until AC was invented and it is still has places you better wear boots and carry a weapon or you may not make it back.
Lake Malone is between Muhlenberg and Logan CountyNot sure where Lake Malone is at. But years ago I was traveling down a rural road not too far from Madisonville.. The road goes over a swamp or slough that I think was part of thr Peabody mines. Well I was thinking about launching my kayak there and when I hopped out, there was a dead fat snake on the road. Flipped it over and it was definitely a water moccasin. (Not a water snake). Went kayaking elsewhere that day.
So yeah, I know they are in western Kentucky. Up more by Louisville all that I have ever seen were copperheads and timber rattlers as far as venomous. Now, I do know Hog nosed king snakes can and do flatten out their neck and try to look like a cobra. Cottonmouths do swim.on top of the water btw.
It’s more of a vacation trip, fishing,camping, hiking, and touring LBL.
I love FL in the winter....just not Disney or the beaches.
Yeah, I really have to work up to the longer hikes around here. Knees and feet are the biggest issues.
Edit: And even though we have rattlesnakes, copperheads, and bear the biggest menace are the yellow jackets.