I know they are a prevenative but does anyone know anyone who has ever been bitten by a rattle bug while wearing gators, chaps, or snake boots?

Yes, THE BOOTS WORK. My cousin got hit dove hunting, with the chaps on and it didn't go through them either. Had to wash his shorts, but no bite. When we catch rattlesnakes in the salt marsh, I wear both at the same time.

chaps & the booted even help against most cactus needles...most not all

I don't have any doubt that they work! Wondered if anyone ever was bitten while wearing them. That's all. I sure as heck am not going to wear snake boots b/c of cactus though!

i usually try to avoid walking through cactus, if at all possible.

Where I hunt in East Texas, the cottonmouths & copperheads are the biggest concern. I've had some real close calls with both, but I haven't been bit yet, at least, not that I know of. According to a guy I work with, he had a snake bite him while he was wearing his snakeboots. He said that he didn't even know it. Apparently, his brother was walking behind him and saw him step on a small snake, and his brother watched the snake bit him near the ankle.

I didn't ever think about wearing them for cottons and coppers. Makes more sense than wearing them for rattlers to be honest. Those two are not as poisonous but are a heck of a lot more aggressive.

I got popped 2 years ago with boots on, they do work. They are worth every penny. I got a pair of the new red head zip ups this year and they are comfortable.

They work if their long enough. The first time i got bit, i got hit right behind the left knee. Ain't no boots go that high. some of the chaps they have are great, as long as it's not to hot.

Hey many times have you been bit Mike. What happened with treatment? How long did it take you to get to the hospital? etc...

I've been bit 4 times. Found out i was allergic to anti-venom after the first one, and that came closer to killing me than the bite. With all 4 bites i was at least 13+ miles out.

So three times your bites when untreated? How long did it take to recover?

Sexy grayhead let me splurge on a pair of 16" waterproof RedHead laceups a couple years ago. Haven't been hit but she likes me wearing them. During the warmer months I use them depending on where I'm out in the woods but when it's cold I wear them all the time. Good pair of socks and those boots and my feet are warm & dry.

'Course, I'm hunting south of the Red River so it's usually not much below freezing.

Longest recovery was the first one. 3 Weeks in the hospital from the bite and 3 more from the reaction to the anti-venom. Don't know if a person can build up an immunity, and i dang sure don't want to find out, but i never really had any problems with the others, as far a tissue damage, just swelling.

My cousin started wearing heavy starched jeans while doing spot and stalk in west Texas last year. He went back to his 4 wheeler after dark and swung his left leg over and when his foot hit the peg, short BUZZ and WHAM. He said he rolled off to the right and pulled up his britches leg and no marks. Guess the heavy starch saved him, he now wears snake boot's all the time and also will put on his chaps other times. I wear snake boots this time of year and Spring Turkey hunting.

No problem.

This is a question I have been wondering myself. Two people from Ft worth have been bit this year said channel fox4 and snakes are thick. I have seen or heard one everttime out this year and even ran into a timber rattler last weekend in E. Tx.
Question for anybody with knowledge, How high should snake protection go? I have some for basically my calves area, but cant a 5' snake hit above that? How high could a 5' snake go?

The big one that hit me behind the knee, that bite measures 18 inches from the ground.

Well, I think the "experts" say about 2/3 of it's body length but that's highly debated...

I believe thats the distance of the strike, not the height.

got hit by a 2 footer last year..never saw him or even a buzz justa strike..I felt a pretty hard hit on my shin and l looked down there he was coiled and ready to hit again..Those Danners saved alot of pain and grief..I still wear them even when its cold..never know when you might walk up on one sunning itself...

Then if a snake usually strikes at a 45 degree angle then it would be 1/3 it's length high, right? If less of a degree than longer. At that would only be measured at the furthest point of his strike. Does that sound about right?

Let me get my calculater. I think im going to go with the man on here with the most experience at 18" and add a little, so that means you would have to have Chaps. Im 6'4", I just measured and 18" is right at the start of my knee pit just above the calf. So if you are a regular ht. person at 5'8-6'2 a large snake is going to hit you directly behind the knee.

You are correct Mike....I just figured the strike distance involves the portion of their body that remains stationary and the portion which is mobile during the strike...if the portion that is mobile (let's say 2/3) can go any direction, why not up?