At times we have an abundace of Agkistrodon Contortrix (Copperheads). It seems that the squeamish in the neighborhood call me to solve their snake problems. I ignore the "kill, kill" chants and pick them up on a shovel and re-patriate them to the woods. I've only had to kill one in the last few years, with the all-purpose shovel, because to was young, lurking in a pile of shoes in the garage and there were pre-schoolers in the house. It was dispatched quickly and disposed of in the woods, burying the head deeply since a dead pit viper is still dangerous for a while.
Russ