dispatching snakes with handgun in residential areas

[chasmanguns]

Hello to all;
I am newly registered to VA gun owners forum and it looks quite interesting to me as a collector, target shooter and Army Vet so I'll be spending sometime scoping through a lot of subjects. Most forums have beat to death the ammo shortage, carry concealed issues ( I do have a CCW...and utilize it), Rampant Pony vs everyone else, etc. but this forum seems unique to the Sate and maybe the County where I live and seems generic to issues that involve me and mine.

My question today comes regarding whether I can kill a snake on my property, on the ground, both venomous (copperhead & cottonmouth) and non-venomous (black racer, king snake, etc.). I live in a residential area, a subdivision (no apts, no condos, all single family homes, approx. 1.5 acres per lot). I would be using either .22 or .28 snakeshot and would not be within 100 yards of any dwelling.

I have had both a venomous and several back racers get through the grass from a stream and up near the deck. Chasing down with the shovel works sometimes, sometimes not. The snakeshot would surely do the trick, but I don't want to run afoul of a law that gets me in deep trouble as a firearm owner.

Calling Animal Control doesn't work as they won't respond unless the snake is in your house or garage.

Did the 200 yard limit amendment ever pass in Hanover? Have noise limits been passed? I was aware that they were being proposed and discussed some years back.

Anyway.........thanks for any experience or answers forum members may have.

[SHMIV]

Nonvenomous snakes, I usually let be.

I can't say with certainty, but you probably ought not shoot a snake in your neighborhood. Unless you have a pellet gun. That be the route I'd go with it.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Kreutz]

Snakes are harmless, even in reality venomous ones...which you're likely misidentifying as venomous since cottonmouths don't range as far north as Hanover county and your "copperheads" are probably Northern water snakes or young rat snakes, neither of which are poisonous.

[allingeneral]

I live in the country with a house on either side of me within a couple hundred yards, and I don't think I'd shoot a snake on my property. If you live in a more residential setting (i.e., neighborhood), I would caution against discharging a weapon on your property, as it might end up getting you a summons or a trip to the jail for reckless endangerment or other such statute. Just my opinion - I'm no lawyer.

Welcome aboard!!

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[j1mmyd]

The fact that you felt the need to ask might mean that you already *kinda* know the answer.

[UnderwaterMike]

Depends on location, but in Fairfax county you cannot discharge anything but an air gun on any property, and the air gun must be directed AWAY from any neighbor's property.

I'd use a shovel or something instead.

[OakRidgeStars]

I say let it be unless the snake has a knife and is trying to take your wallet. Then I guess you'll have to defend yourself.

[Swampman]

The most common non-venomous snakes in this region, Black Rat Snake and Black Racer, control rodents (no not squirrels Rev) and they also eat the venomous snakes. The only snakes I dispatch are copperheads because of my dogs. I have a 10 month old, 70 lb. pit bull who is just too curious for his own good. Likely wouldn't kill him, but it would make his and, more importantly, my life miserable for a spell. A shovel is quick and quiet.

[Rualert]

If you have to dispatch one, I would follow SHMIV's advise and use a good pellet gun. I had to dispatch a cotton mouth on my property, and in my county if you discharge a firearm within a neighborhood, you will go to jail, or at the very least get a summons, which could cost you your permit.

Casey

[chasmanguns]

To all forum users who responded about my question on using handgun/snakeshot to kill snakes in my residential area I say thanks for your opinions and experience from around the State.

I agree with all........so I'll be staying with the shovel and chasing the snakes when they get too close to the deck and garage for family comfort.

We do get true copperheads up from the creek sometimes and about 4 years ago a neighbor some 6 doors down from me did kill one crossing his wooden deck with a 12 gauge shotgun and yes....it brought the local sherrif and got bad press from the neighboring housewives mostly. Pellets did rip up his deck a little from the close range and probably ricocheted around the yard. There were no charges made by the police and the copperhead was properly identified and incident forgotten until this "wet" year when it seems here they come again.

I didn't realize that the Black Racer's eat other snakes and they generally slither away from me or the shovel so no problem "guiding" them back to the creek bed area.

Thanks again to all for the advice.

[Snakester]

Hey chasmanguns , Sounds like you may really have a serious Snake Problem ! What you could do is sponsor a Forum Meet and Greet at your House . You could supply all the Beer and other Adult Beverages , plenty of Food and maybe a BAND to entertain us all. We'll all show up with our own shovels and cover every inch of your property and after You serve us Breakfast the next morning we'll leave and your Snake Problem will probably be a thing of the past.
This could work ...We actually did this for a friend of mine a few years back and he hasn't seen a Snake on his land since!

[chasmanguns]

Ya gotta love this forum, especially Snakester!!

All serious issues, with serious dedicated replies, lotsa thought goes into the responses and proposals.

I think it would be a great idea for the Meet & Greet at my place but here may be 2 problems (probably 3 now that I think about it): (1) I most likely have to get rid of several pieces of hardware including the 1911's, the Colt collector grade OMM, and maybe more to fund the eats and beverages. (2) the WIFE......as always. (3) The location...according to the book "Civil War battles in Hanover County" 100 yards behind my house was the Reb entrenchments, and 75 yards in front was the Northern Agressors lines during the Battle of Totopotamy Creek, so its going to be tough to decide what tunes the band needs to play..... does anyone have recipies for snake?

[davsco]

let the snakes live. they eat all the other stuff you really don't want in your house, and the snakes are only hanging around because their food source is there.

pls check and double check online pics of snakes to be super sure you are killing a copperhead and not a northern water snake, garter snake or the like.

[dorminWS]

...............We'll all show up ............
__________________________________________________

............next morning we'll leave and your Snake Problem will probably be a thing of the past. .............

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Snakester, are you insinuating that the snakes would leave the premises to avoid the company of this crowd?

[dorminWS]

Snake recipes? I have eaten rattlesnake, but I didn't cook it. I reckon it was just fried like frog legs.

[M1A4ME]

You'd be amazed what a standard weed eater with heavy line will do to a snake. I've heard my dad regretfully tell of cutting the head off of more than one decent sized black snake along the creek behind his house. You're swinging back and forth and the snake raises his head up and before you can stop......nothing left but a twitching body.

[dorminWS]

You'd be amazed what a standard weed eater with heavy line will do to a snake. I've heard my dad regretfully tell of cutting the head off of more than one decent sized black snake along the creek behind his house. You're swinging back and forth and the snake raises his head up and before you can stop......nothing left but a twitching body.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Actually, I was told again and again as a youngster that any snake could be killed with a "keen switch". A lash or two across its back was said to break the skin and cause its death. And I have seen snakes killed with a switch, too. They just sort of curled up around the site of the switch cut and died. So I have no trouble believing you can kill a snake with a weed wacker. I never tried the switch trick myself, though. I always figured any snake I could tackle with a switch I could just leave alone; and any one I wanted dead bad enough to kill it rated a big flat creek rock or a round from whatever shootin' iron I was totin'.

[Snakester]

Snake recipes? I have eaten rattlesnake, but I didn't cook it. I reckon it was just fried like frog legs.

We cooked a Rattlesnake that I killed on the Upper James in Buckingham Co. about 12 yrs. ago. We didn't have a recipe to use so I kinda just made it up as I went along. Just skinned and gutted the Snake , cut it in 3" pieces , breaded with flour and dropped it in The Fry Daddy...Done in 3 minutes.....Taste like "Chicken" ...I was told. Truth is if you put enough ketchup on it , you can eat anything !