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My wife and I just bought a canoe. We were on tha San Marcos river Saturday and saw several water mocasins, one was laying on a limb about 2' from me when I saw it. I HATE snakes! Would it be legal to shoot them from a boat if they get too close? I'm not planning on going out and hunting them.

papajohn1964 wrote:My wife and I just bought a canoe. We were on tha San Marcos river Saturday and saw several water mocasins, one was laying on a limb about 2' from me when I saw it. I HATE snakes! Would it be legal to shoot them from a boat if they get too close? I'm not planning on going out and hunting them.

COE controlled river?

papajohn1964 wrote:My wife and I just bought a canoe. We were on tha San Marcos river Saturday and saw several water mocasins, one was laying on a limb about 2' from me when I saw it. I HATE snakes! Would it be legal to shoot them from a boat if they get too close? I'm not planning on going out and hunting them.

Are you certain they were moccasins? There are multiple species of water snakes that people often mistake for water moccasins. In my experience tromping around the marsh, creeks, and bayous, water snakes are much more prevalent than moccasins.

Not sure if you should be shooting them especially if you are not the landowner. In my world if I was so inclined though, snake shot would be the method of choice if one tried to get in the boat. Having had an angry moccasin take over a boat I can sympathize with you on this.

You might want to consult with the local game warden since if you discharge a firearm you might have to answer ot a legal authority in the area.

There is a rule #5 when doing what you propose and this is don't shoot the snake if it is in the bottom of the boat.



My pond is full of water snakes.

Anygunanywhere

Aside from any other regulations you would probably need a valid hunting license

Use your paddle to smack the water in front of them,they will go the other way,bullets ricochet off of water,you stand a good chance of missing the snake and if that round hits somebody you didn't see your in deep trouble

Dan20703 wrote:Aside from any other regulations you would probably need a valid hunting license

Why, they're not a game animal?

Is the San Marcos river a navigable waterway?
I really don't like snakes either and they can be aggressive, not that sitting in a tree is aggressive.
I would not shoot at them with a solid bullet. Snake shot or small shotgun, yes... Assuming you decide that you're legal one you hit whatever is behind the snake.

Not positive about the COE but its the San Marcos so I doubt it. I am sure about them being mocasins. Water snakes swim mostly with just their heads out of the water, mocasins whole body floats on the water as they swim. My dad and I had one crawl in our boat once while setting trot lines, I traded places with him until my dad flipped him back in the water and we traded places again. I was thinking of buying some rat shot for a old 22 pistol. If they leave me alone ill leave them alone but if they get too close.....

If they're not actively coming into the boat, leave em alone.

My property is surrounded by wetland forest and snake are often on my property. I simple run them off with tapping the ground with a shovel if they appear in my yard. Have I killed any? Sadly, yes. A few of the venomous types that presented an immediate hazard. However, many of the venomous ones I've simply escorted out of the yard without harming them.

Shoot them?

Nah?

They're part of nature.

Of course, if you have a snake phobia, if so I sincerely understand that. If that's the case, don't go into their habitat or nut up and learn to live with them, but don't harm them for existing.

Or, go to Brazos Bend State Park and my 13 year old Granddaughter will introduce you to the non-venomous snakes, i.e. you'll get to handle them. She's a volunteer there and teaches adults how to deal with snakes, alligators, etc., with hands on teaching.

Snakes, for the most part, are astoundingly beautiful and beneficial.

cb1000rider wrote:

Dan20703 wrote:Aside from any other regulations you would probably need a valid hunting license

Why, they're not a game animal?

Is the San Marcos river a navigable waterway?
I really don't like snakes either and they can be aggressive, not that sitting in a tree is aggressive.
I would not shoot at them with a solid bullet. Snake shot or small shotgun, yes... Assuming you decide that you're legal one you hit whatever is behind the snake.

You still need a license to kill non-game animals in Texas. Unless you are the owner of the property.

•A hunting license is required of any person, regardless of age, who hunts any animal, bird, frog or turtle in Texas (except furbearers, if the hunter possesses a trapper's license.) See Hunting Licenses and Permits.
◦ No license is required for nuisance fur-bearing animals, depredating hogs or coyotes.

Reptile and Amphibian Stamp (Type 178): $10
Required for any person to capture indigenous reptiles or amphibians on the shoulder of a public road or any unpaved area of a public right of way.

Wouldn't city limits come in to play as well? Or does a waterway override that? I've asked about coyotes in my area and was told I couldn't shoot unless he was on my property being aggressive to me or my family. Not likely to happen. I am not crazy about snakes myself but I find it crazy that one would board your boat. I think I would be in the water waiting him out! Lol, and the rule about not shooting him in the boat is great! That would be too funny, lol.

Abraham wrote:If they're not actively coming into the boat, leave em alone.

My property is surrounded by wetland forest and snake are often on my property. I simple run them off with tapping the ground with a shovel if they appear in my yard. Have I killed any? Sadly, yes. A few of the venomous types that presented an immediate hazard. However, many of the venomous ones I've simply escorted out of the yard without harming them.

Shoot them?

Nah?

They're part of nature.

Of course, if you have a snake phobia, if so I sincerely understand that. If that's the case, don't go into their habitat or nut up and learn to live with them, but don't harm them for existing.

Or, go to Brazos Bend State Park and my 13 year old Granddaughter will introduce you to the non-venomous snakes, i.e. you'll get to handle them. She's a volunteer there and teaches adults how to deal with snakes, alligators, etc., with hands on teaching.

Snakes, for the most part, are astoundingly beautiful and beneficial.

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AGREE 100%

ehh if they are in the water and are being aggressive....hit them with your oar. Won't kill them but will hurt and might make them back off. If they are in your boat.......don't shoot the boat! I have no great love of snakes....but out in nature is where they belong and if they are there I try not to hurt them.

Maybe consider a small revolver that shoots .45 Colt and .410? AFAIK, it's not hunting if you're really in danger and protecting yourself, but if you pull the trigger you'll likely have some splainin' to do, so it should be a last resort.

Was Perry on his land when he shot the aggressive coyote? I don't think so. . . I seem to remember he was on a trail. If a snake is actively boarding your vessel or other precautionary methods (paddle away, hit with oar) have failed, the .410 might be the right course of action.

I'd be interested to hear others chime in. In bad situations, you can shoot a dog on a walk through a neighborhood, I think you can build a justification for shooting a snake in the wild under certain circumstances.

If you're looking for permission to clear the river of everything floating on the surface as you pass by (I don't think you are), then I certainly wouldn't condone that.

Dan20703 wrote: You still need a license to kill non-game animals in Texas. Unless you are the owner of the property.

Thanks, Dan.. I didn't know that.

cb1000rider wrote:

Dan20703 wrote: You still need a license to kill non-game animals in Texas. Unless you are the owner of the property.

Thanks, Dan.. I didn't know that.

If you're going to use 22LR shot, I'd suggest trying it first. At anything more than point blank range, it's pretty ineffective..