[jameskellogg01]

Hellooooooooo

 

[deadeyedick]

I can't speak to the legality of your particular situation, but I have dispatched snakes with firearms on my property on several occasions and I live in a residential subdivision in an unincorporated area. I've never had any problems with LE and if you use snakeshot (that's what it's for, after all), then the risk to others should be pretty negligable...certainly no more dangerous than a bite from a moccasin.

But I'm sure somebody will tell me I'm wrong. :laughing

 

[Outrider]

I shoot snakes in my yard I've got a big diamondback I am on the hunt for that lives under my shed..

 

[Baldy]

As long as you use snake shot, and don't live next door to a tree hugger you should be all right. :thumsup

 

[Sheepdog27]

is there a problem using some other garden instrument? Shovel, Hoe, Machette? It seems to me like killing a fly with a shotgun? Not that I mind shooting snakes, it just seems to me that in a residential area, one would do better to keep the noise down, and not raise any questions of doubt.

I know some kids in my neighboor hood who got in trouble for shooting a bb-gun into thier garage, into a target designed for trapping bb's. The city ordanance prevented them from shooting outdoors. and while the kids were safe, and under supervison of an adult, they were technicaly outside on public proprty shooting into thier garage.

I would not want to risk a phone call to the local PD, and take them away from thier jobs, because my uppity neighboor started freaking out as I was carrying a handgun in my yard, shooting at the ground for no apparent reason.

 

[AirForceShooter]

My HOA rules prohibit the discharging of a firearm.
Of course somebody has to complain and the fine is $15.00

I don't think any LEO has a problem with you shooting a snake. That's assuming the LEO's even arrive.

AFS

 

[deadeyedick]

is there a problem using some other garden instrument? Shovel, Hoe, Machette?

Yes...shooting snakes is more fun. :rolf

But seriously, I don't think we're talking about using a shotgun, but rather a pistol loaded with shotshells; and the situation for myself and the OP are in unincorporated areas, outside of city limits. I live on 1.3 acres, but if I lived on a typical 1/4 acre residential lot in the city with neighbors right on top of me, it might be a different story. I prefer to remain a comfortable distance from venemous reptiles, which a firearm allows me to do.

I also had a problem several years ago with rats nesting on my porch. Traps were ineffective and I couldn't even get close enough to the little bastards with a .22 loaded with shotshells to nail them before they'd scurry away. I eventually began hunting them with .38 Special shotshells, which gave me a greater effective range and allowed me to pop them before they knew I was there. And let me tell you, a CCI shotshell in .38 Special will turn a rat inside out.

As far as a homeowners association prohibiting discharging firearms, what if you have to shoot a burglar? Are they still going to fine you the $15.00? :laughing

 

[Cthulhu]

This brings to mind that ugly incident in Oklahoma (I think), where two IDIOT cops decided to respond to a report of a snake in a tree by trying to shoot the snake while it was still in the friggin' tree. Of two shots that I know of that were fired, one plinked into a nearby lake, near an old man and his grandson. The second struck the grandson in his head and killed him.

Take from that what you will.

-JT

 

[KG4ZRC]

is there a problem using some other garden instrument? Shovel, Hoe, Machette?

Yes... The problem being that I don't want to be that close to the snake...

The 8 foot water maoccasin in the alligator pond was taken out by a .22 with ratshot.

And I'm in an unincorporated area, so no law issue.