Mostly a inexpensive pair of Cat brand leather work boots -only brand that fits right. Mostly for scrub briars and vines. Coppers and Moccasins don't throw their fangs.

I wear an old pair of Justin's. These are US made, not the China made. I've worn them for 7 years and they're still going strong! Always when hunting. If not for snake protection, for protection from cactus!

I've never worn snake boots or chaps. Never felt I needed them. I've seen at least hundreds of snakes, and maybe 20-30% are venomous. Of all the venomous snakes I've come across, copperheads are the ones I've come closest to before seeing them.

I do find it interesting that the only people I hear about getting struck, are the ones wearing snake boots. Not sure what that means, likely they're in country that has more snakes? Hence the reason for wearing them.

To me, wear whatever makes you comfortable but even with snake boots I would still watch where I'm walking, even if just to keep from stepping in a hole and twisting an ankle.

In the minority I'm sure, but I dislike wearing boots all day, so I usually go with a pair of Under Armour tactical shoes since they have a boot sole on them. I do have a comfy pair of snake boots as a second option, but wearing boot socks with my hairy legs all day gets annoying.

I did a few TTHA shows and they put us right next to the snake pit (the guys name was Jerry if I remember correctly) and he would get these snakes to strike him. I never saw a snake hit above the ankle. some of them were 3-4' snakes. Seems to me that a regular boot would offer an acceptable level of protection.


I have spent 30 years in the brush country and somehow, I don't think I would use up all my fingers if I were to count the number of rattlesnakes I've encountered, matter of fact the last three I killed were all in the Hill Country. Water Moccasins, are a different story, I hate those bastards.

I wear snake boots for Brush, Thorns and Barb wire, not for snakes

I gave up on snake boots a while back and just wear comfortable leather work boots with some turtle skin snake gaiters, especially handy on hot days in shorts

I have encountered more rattlers mountain biking than hunting which is a way bigger pucker factor as you roll up on them with speed sometimes and the only option is going over them. Below is one of the more healthy ones in town at the local mtn bike trails. A rider took a pic of it last month out there. However, if I am hunting or at the lease in warm weather the Turtle Skin chaps get put on. If cold out, I skip the chaps and just watch where I step

I have same issue with copperheads on my bike trail. Down in flood plain

Only had one venomous snake within striking distance before I saw it. Was a 3ft long rattle snake that slithered between my legs as I was glassing an opposite ridge. An armadillo that was shuffling around about 15ft behind me must have pushed it out of the long grass and I saw the movement from the corner of my eye. Once I jumped back it coiled and started rattling before going on its way.

99% of my snake encounters are on hot afternoons in the middle of mild spring or fall weather, or cooler nights in the middle of hot summer weather. I wear snake boots when I'm going to be out and about in those conditions

I’d rather take a root canal than wear snake boots if I’m going to be doing a lot of walking. If you know how to get around in snake country, situational awareness when you are in the places snakes are apt to be will most likely keep you off them.

If I could find a manufacturer that made narrow snake boots, I would always wear them at my place. If it means anything, on a deer lease I was on for 4 years, a ways south of Sheffield, 40K acres total ranch acreage, the owner and his wife ALWAYS came outa the house with snake boots on. These were not posing, new ranch owners. It was a working ranch. He was born a square-head and she was from NE New Mexico...and cute. But I digress.

Yes sir creek. There is a lot of difference among folks reactions and comfort levels when they get around venomous snakes. Chaps and/or snake boots slow me down. Most days in the field, time is money for me. With that in mind, paying close enough attention to give them a wide berth works out for me. Whether someone decides on wearing PPE or raising their situational awareness, I’m not being critical of what is best for them.

Yeah, it's an individual thing and all about how one manages or mitigates risk. Looking at a pair of retirees, out in the middle of nowhere, 60 miles from the nearest hospital (life-flight insurance?), questionable health, it's almost certainly foolish to not wear the armor. Five miles outside of a decent-sized town with a couple of hospitals and urgent care clinics, the odds are ever in your favor.

My family typically bee-bops through their happy little life, so everyone gets a pair of snake boots. On a normal deer hunting day for me, I typically will wear a pair of warm Mucks for the morning hunt and then transition to the snakes for the evening hunt.

You guys must have a pig shortage.

Not sure. It feels like the times I had the most pigs, I also had the most snakes. 7 or 8 years ago, I killed 4 rattlers in 24 hours in November. Had tons of pigs then.

Since the Great Freeze, I haven't seen a dozen hogs on my place. Can't say that I've seen a snake since then either. But I've also put a full court press on mice around the place to keep them from destroying any vehicle wiring harness in the area.

I'm sure hogs eat snakes, but I'm not sure that's always the reason why there are no apparent snakes on a property.

I got a pair of Chippewa snake boots and they're so comfortable. I've hiked 5+ miles in them multiple days in a row hunting antelope. The snake protection offers great peace of mind, and seeing as they're so comfortable, it's a no-brainer.

I channeled my inner Wyman Meizner and bought lace ups. Waterproof does make them warm in summer. Used them almost exclusively on my August bear hunt. Quiet and super comfy.

My next pair will be Danners, I'm sure.

Those laces act like sand burr magnets, at least for me they did.

Will agree with this one. The burrs literally migrate to the laces and I spent 15+ minutes picking them out. Went with a pair of square toe no lace Danner's and they are fantastic. Took a day or two to break them in but they're very comfortable. Accidentally tested them on a rattlebug during dove season and they work lol. Glad I had them on because the sucker never rattled until I stepped on it and it hit me.

That's what I have. Great in cold weather and I can wear a thick sock to keep me from slopping around in them, but I sure wish they came in a narrow. The lifetime search for narrow shoes and boots gets harder and harder as the years go by...and Americans get heavier and heavier and their feet get wider and wider. I remember when "C" was medium. Now it's "D".

Where did the snake hit you at?

Hit me right in the middle of the shin surprisingly. Not sure if it was because of where I stepped on it, but right after I was surprised it didn't strike my ankle. It was funny because it was like the world stopped for a second. Caught the flash of it striking and saw the fangs get stuck in the boot. 15 seconds later it was a headless rattlebug

Wear mine all the time (snake boots). I spent two days turkey hunting this year and on both hunts ended up walking up on rattlesnakes. the first one I was carrying light single shot 12 chambered in 3 1/2" I forgot how bad that thing kicks

This "noisy stick" tapped my hiking boot as I stepped over it this morning as I was beginning to stalk up on a pig box trap. That'll wake you up right quick. 'Little guy, but still.