Snake Boots, Chaps, Whatever

[roo_ster]

Howdy:

I plan on going hunting for the first time in many a long year.  One stipulation from SWMBO is that I have some sort of snakebite protection, as I will be stomping 'round South Texas.

Do any of y'all have any snake-boots, guards, etc. that have worked for y'all or you could recommend?

My first thought is to buy some Redwing linesman boots:
http://www.redwingshoe.com/productdetails.aspx?prodid=1207

" Full Grain, Water Resistant Upper Leather
" Heat, Oil, and Slip Resistant Vibram® Outsole
" Electrical Hazard Rated
" Leather Welt Construction
" ASTM approved I/75 C/75
" Electrical Hazard rated
" Steel Toe
" Electrical Hazard


But, Redwing also makes Irish Setter boots & they have snake-particular boots:
http://www.irishsetterboots.com/shoe-zoom.cfm?style=832

GORE-TEX Fabric Lining
Brown Worn Saddle Leather
Green Abrasion Resistant Nylon Fabric
Snakeproof
3 Bar Knit Lining
Fabric Covered EVA Footbed
Dynamic Suspension System Shank
EVA Midsole
Wingshooter DSS Sole
Goodyear Leather Welt Construction
Care: Irish Setter Mink Oil, Irish Setter Silicone


(These appeal to me because of their steel shank.)
http://www.irishsetterboots.com/shoe-zoom.cfm?style=834

GORE-TEX Fabric Lining
Sunset Brown Kangaroo Leather
Brown Abrasion Resistant Nylon Fabric
Snakeproof
Moisture Wicking Nylon Lining
Comfort Cork EVA with Memory Foam, ScentBan" Odor Inhibitor Footbed
Steel Shank
Cork PU Midsole
Bulls-Eye Air Bob Aggressive Sole
Premium Leather Flex Welt Construction
Care: Irish Setter Silicone

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance fo the benefit of your experience.

[Tallpine]

Sandals with Kevlar socks...?   

[never_retreat]

If your wearing heavy pants you cant get bit either.

[Brad Johnson]

Any tall boot with solid leather uppers should be fine.  I have an affinity for Red Wings because they wear like iron and come my my width.

Brad

[client32]

Any tall boot with solid leather uppers should be fine.  I have an affinity for Red Wings because they wear like iron and come my my width.

Brad

9 AA?
The last time I was in a redwing store, there was a guy that only wore Red Wings because that was his size and they were the only place he could find to make them.

[Brad Johnson]

Hit their web site.  Each style has a size and width range listed.

By the way, I'm on the other end of the spectrum - size 9 H.

Brad

[MechAg94]

I think I would rather have some sort of chaps that I could take off.

That being said, your best snake protection is a good walking stick and a good pair of eyes.  Watch where you are going/stepping. 

[crt360]

Mongooses.  Or is it mongeese?  Keep them on a short leash.

[MechAg94]

How good are they with rattlesnakes? 

[Azrael256]

They'll chow down on a cobra, so a rattler is probably an easy meal.  Ask LawDog about mongoos...  mongees... mong... whatever.

Snake chaps, good boots, etc. are good.  They'll help if they're needed.  If you act like a human and use that gray sludgy thing in the ol' melon, you won't need them.  The only rattler that will strike for no reason and with no warning is a molting rattler.  Never step on anything you can step over.  Never step over anything you can step around.  A rattler will generally run (slither?) like hell rather than mess with a human, so the only way to get bitten is to get stupid and step on him while he's hiding or sunning.

A stick is helpful, too.

[roo_ster]

I have the software portion of the snakebite-avoidance deal down, pretty well.

As a kid, my buddies & I would walk through swamps & wooded areas in SEARCH of non-poisonous snakes to catch.  One big concern was to never stumble upon a poisonous snake unawares.  So, watching where we walked, not stepping over debris on to unseen ground, etc., was the order of the day...for years.

Thing is, SWMBO insists on some hardware in addition to my software.  I can live with that, especially if it means I'll get a new pair of boots out of the deal.    

SWMBO has a burning antipathy toward rattlers, especially S Texas rattlers.  One of them killed her favorite hound a few years back and she's despised them ever since. 

[Tallpine]

Never step on anything you can step over.  Never step over anything you can step around. 

Not as easy as it sounds when you're walking through waist high grass or weeds, and you can't even see the ground 

Which is why I wear leather boots all summer, and avoid walking in tall grass if possible.

Anyone know how high up on your leg a rattlesnake is likely to strike...?

[Bogie]

Guys, don't just worry about yourself. Make sure your kids know about snakes...

And keep an eye on your pets. I found out at the IBS Nationals that Billy Stevens lost his dog Jackson to a rattler...

[crt360]

Anyone know how high up on your leg a rattlesnake is likely to strike...?

I'd guess it depends on how big the snake is.  I've always figured I'd meet one that strikes an inch higher than my boot is tall.

[MechAg94]

The rule of thumb I always heard was that snakes can strike at 1/3 to 1/2 of their length.  They have to reset to strike again so they don't completely unspool.  However, a 5 or 6 foot rattler can have a pretty good radius. 

Tall grass is why I mentioned a walking stick.  I guess there were a lot of cows where I grew up so tall grass was a rarity. 

All things equal, I would feel better with good boots also.  The software thing I learned as a kid.  Between snakes, cow patties, and fire ants, you watched where you put your feet.  I remember walking up on copperheads and mocasins at least a handful of times just walking down trails.  Sometimes they hear you coming and just coil up and wait instead of trying to get away.

On mongoosi, I was always under the impression they took advantage of the cobra's particular striking style.  A rattler and other pitt vipers strike more directly.  Maybe my impression is based on some old movie where they pitted a mongoose versus a rattler.