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Had rattlesnakes show up in the garage, in the porch, under boards, in the pasture, etc all the time growing up. Never had much concerns with them, just stayed aware of where they liked to be and avoided them.

The closest I have come to getting bit has been in Colorado a couple of times and once down in Arizona. Colorado prairie rattlers seem to have a bad attitude and tend to be in places you wouldn’t expect like coiled up in sage brush about waist high - above your snake gaiters or boots.

The one in Arizona was a black-tailed rattler about 5’ up in a manzanita bush that I was crawling through to get to a glassing spot. Heard the buzz and stopped, looking at my feet. Noticed the buzz sounded like it was up off the ground so slowly started looking close in the brush until I finally noticed his tongue flickering at eye level. That was spooky as hell! That was definitely above any gaiters or boots.

Most of the snake bites I have heard of are from people sticking their hands where they shouldn’t without checking or kicking bushes or cover where the snake was hiding.

I wouldn’t take gaiters on an elk hunt in New Mexico or Arizona- especially if they are noisy.

Also, I've thought about the snake chaps before, but I commonly wear thin boots. . . can a snake bite through a thin leather boot?

Snakes bother me way more here at home, because so much of the cover is areas where you can't see your feet. Out west when I've hunted, it never really has bothered me, as a lot of the time it's easy to see where you're stepping.

I hunted antelope last fall in W. Nebraska, and talked to a farmer who's wife had been bitten by a prairie rattler and didn't even know it. She was weedeating around a windbreak, and thought she'd just been poked by a branch from the cedars in the windbreak. They didn't figure it out for 10 days (their dog found a snake in the yard and that made them think to look for bite marks). She survived it okay, but he reported that she now has problems she didn't have before, like high blood pressure. He said they could tell the day the poison went through her liver, as she was in severe abdominal pain.

Scary stuff . . .

I've often wondered whether the big camo companies like Kuiu and Sitka shouldn't just incorporate a snake proof material in their pants, from the knee down or something? Surely they could license the turtle skins fabric? Or Sitka and Kuiu make gaiters, why not make them out of the snake proof material?

Someone send them an email :)

I don't know what it is about them. I know that a copperhead, which is our most common snake, is not going to kill me unless I have some weird reaction. But it still just bothers me. I'm not sure why.

I've fought this for years, and it's gotten better, as I've gotten it into my head that to do the things I enjoy, I have to be willing to accept the danger. If I take a hit, just please don't let it be to the face or the groin :)

They likely won’t kill you, sure. But, I’d wager they’ll make a man hurt...bad.

My older brother was bitten on the hand by one and spent nearly a week in the hospital. He told me it was the worst pain he’d ever felt. He said it took right at about 5 minutes for the pain to set in, and it was like having his arm in a fiery furnace non-stop.

When a big, strong, athlete tic man, whose fought more dudes than I got friends uses words like “worst pain ever”, I listen. I’m scared of them now. Lol

This time there was absolutely no warning! It just NEVER rattled. So I would not count on a rattler giving you a warning! ;-)

This is day 8 in the hospital for me. Snake gaiters would have meant 0 days in my case!

Just killed 4 footer in my driveway. Where there is one, there is usually another. For me it's better safe than sorry.

Lee

Thumped that one with a judo and he will decorate a bow.

My dad had one strike his cowboy boots and it didn’t penetrate.

Good leather stops cactus, mesquite thorns, and wire. Canvas does not. I feel pretty comfortable with a full leather boot in thorny snake infested country for my feet and ankles.

You still need to be careful with snakes that can strike above your boots, though. In snake country you always watch where you put your hands.

On the other hand at 8, 10, or 12 thousand feet in elevation, you probably don't have to be to worried. In the prairies and flat lands, in real snake country, be very concerned!

Just my thoughts and opinion, not gospel....

Most rattlesnakes can't penetrate most leather boots but there are so many variables.You would be surprised how much it helps,having pants over the boots.New Mexico does have Western Diamondbacks and a large one can be pretty formidable.

I personally dress for the temperature and terrain and don't wear any kind of snake protection except pants over the boots and don't put feet or hands any place that I can't see is clear.

I do understand that snake proof gear can be a great comfort to some and I say go for it.I'd be looking for light and comfortable if that's possible and again,think about where you place your hands and watch where you sit.On hot,bright days,snakes need to be in the shade.On overcast days or or early and late,they could be moving.Also be careful around water holes.Enjoy your hunt.

Really? Do you know ANYONE who has tested multiple gaiters, that has had multiple strikes, in real life situations that could give a valid review?

Scoot. You're getting a lot of anecdotal responses, because VERY few people have had any experience with even one product under actual conditions. Rut Nut says they would have saved him, but even that is just speculation. They might have saved him. I would also question their effectiveness. Do any sellers/manufacturers guarantee to pay your hospital bills if a snake does penetrate them? Edit: just saw SnakePRO1's post. Seems like if you want protection, all other features like comfort, and quietness are irrelevant.

The fact is, snakebites are relatively rare, even for people spending a lot of time around them, or maybe especially for them, since they're likely to be paying more attention. Even if you are struck, about 1/3 of rattlesnake bites are dry bites. Many strikes also hit areas that aren't protected by gaiters. I can't speak for all snakes everywhere, but I disagree with Treeline about prairie rattlers. I've killed dozens around my property over the years, and seen many more. Mostly, they just want to be left alone. The vast majority of the ones I've killed, usually with a small shovel, or with a broadhead tipped arrow held in my hand, carefully manipulating them to cleanly severe their heads without damaging the skin, didn't strike until after being harassed for a while.

Lastly, if you do decide you would be more comfortable using them, be sure to wear them ALL the time; while hunting, around camp, if you stop the car anywhere to take a piss, everywhere. You never know where you might encounter a snake.

Rut. It is speculation. Unless you can go back and relive that exact scenario with every type/brand of snake gaiter made. Are you willing to put on any snake gaiter advertised as such and let another buzzworm have at your leg? ;-) All you can say with any confidence is that, 'Snake gaiters MIGHT have meant 0 days in my case!' I'm NOT advising against using them. They might protect your lower leg. On the other hand, they might not, and they don't protect above the knee (you need snake chaps for that), and they don't protect you if you sit on a snake, put your hand near one while collecting firewood, brush up against an elevated rock/ledge/bush where one is sunning, crawl into one when stalking, or any of a thousand other scenarios. It's a dangerous world out there.

I can’t find it now, but while doing some research I came across a statistic that over 90% of snakebites occur below the knee.

In my case I stepped right next to it, because in that split second before it struck, I saw it basically coming straight up at my leg. So the only way it could have got higher was if it was on an elevated perch or climbed up in brush, which Timber Rattlers apparently are not likely to do.

After watching the above video, I decided to get the Rocky snake boots first. I use them now every time I go in the woods.

Turtle skins were recommended by a friend who is also a PA Game Commission employee who works in the area where I was bitten. He says everybody he works with wears snakeboots or gaiters when out in the field and has at least one close call story! ;-)

I have used snake boots many times hunting in TX but never in CO, and have encountered snakes in both states. I've never been envenomated. So I guess both approaches worked. ;-)

I can say this; they are much stronger critters than I had previously imagined. I prodded this TX western diamondback for a while trying to get him to pose pretty for a photo. When he finally connected solidly with the stick I was using, he almost knocked it out of my hand. I was wearing snake boots, but I doubt they would have helped much as I was playing with him. They may or may not have helped in an unexpected encounter, but I doubt they would have helped much. Another time I was out on a sunny Thanksgiving morning trying to call in coyotes. I came around an overhanging ledge, and buzzing erupted all around me. I stopped where I was to look around. I had wandered just outside a prairie rattler hibernaculum and they were out sunning themselves. I was and had been within striking distance of at least a couple. I carefully moved out of there. Take whatever precautions make you feel better, but I wouldn't rely on any of them.

I was moving a mower late one evening and was struck twice in the leg. Fortunately it was a small snake and didn't penetrate much, maybe I was standing on it. Don't know. All I know most of the venom was on the outside of my leg. I was very fortunate.

So you don't have to spend years and years in snake country. Just the wrong place at the right time.

We also had a dog struck in the face, about 3 weeks before she was scheduled for snake avoidance training. Luckily, only one puncture, clean through her lip. She was pretty sick, and spent one night in intensive care, but recovered. I've always worried more about the dogs than us. The training seems to work. At least neither dog has been bitten since. I reinforce their training every time I kill a snake.

I intend to return to the spot Where I was bitten this Summer to finish the trip I started. I don’t plan on INTENTIONALLY testing my boots or gaiters on Rattlers. But I will be taking every REASONABLE precaution. One thing I learned through my reading and research is to use a hiking staff wherever you walk. I use one when hiking and backpacking, but unfortunately I left it back at camp when I went for water. They say keep it out in front of you, especially when walking thru grass, brush or anywhere else snakes could be hiding. Use it kind of like a blind man uses a cane. They say chances are if you are using it in this way, the snake would likely strike the pole before it strikes you.

Sounds like you have been EXTREMELY lucky over the years! I hope for your sake it continues.

I was fortunate to make it thru my ordeal, so I’m not gonna push my “luck” from now on! ;-)

Mainly because I was 'playing' with it. Most likely it would have hit something other than a lower leg. But, to the rest of the story: I was turkey hunting. When I first saw it I had just awakened from a short nap. The snake crawled in front of the blind and disappeared into a patch of cactus. Just as I was thinking, I better keep an eye on that cactus patch, he crawled out and headed right towards the blind, no doubt looking for a bit of shade. Had I not been paying attention he would likely have joined me in the blind, and maybe joined me in my nap. Boots or not, that would have sucked.

As to the baggy pants. A snake strikes a person out of defense. They only detect the surface of an object, and aim there. Might just miss your leg. Maybe, maybe not.

The point of my comments is, there are just too many variables to RELY on any type of protection. And even if you use boots or gaiters, or whatever, unless you use them 100% of the time you're in snake country, you're just as likely to not be using them when you actually need them. Even you didn't bother to have your hiking stick with you. ;-(

Snake bites are rare, and usually occur to folks harassing the snake. Use what makes you comfortable, when you think they may be prudent. I would still use them down south where the snakes are bigger and more aggressive. Otherwise, I also hope to continue being lucky, or maybe more accurately, not to be unlucky. ;-)

85 percent of bites are to the fingers and hands.

13 percent of snakebites occur on the feet and legs, rarely above the ankle.

57 percent of snakebite victims were handling the snake at the time of the bite.

28 percent of snakebite victims were intoxicated.

Denim clothing can reduce the amount of venom injected by a snakebite by 60 percent or more.

On average, five Americans die from snakebites each year.

Just curious Buffalo- where did you find those statistics?

Well, I don’t really care what the statistics are....................after going thru what I went thru, I will take all reasonable precautions. I never want to go thru this #%@&$ again! : (

I have been around a lot of moccasins in my part of the country and thankfully, never bitten.

I’m about to pull the trigger on some Sitka gaiters. Tired of wet pant legs in Turkey season.

I wonder if they’d help in a bite situation ;)

Here's another tidbit I found out a few years ago. Snake venom varies quite a bit, not only region to region, but even within a small area and population. We had a dog bitten in our area a few years ago (northern Colorado front range - prairie rattlers). The venom was analyzed in order to properly treat the dog. They found a neurotoxin component similar to mojave rattlers in it. When I researched it, I found that it is not all that uncommon. The dog did recover but spent several days in intensive care.