Snake Gaiters for Australia

Rule 303 said:
I wear the Moroka 30 when hunting. I am normally by myself and while others say they don't see snakes all I can say is they need to open their eyes. Every where I have been in Aussie, except the NW area I have seen snakes. Sock protectors do not cover where most Aust snakes will strike. When walking normally the snakes will feel your footsteps and get out of the way, unless on sand, mud, pine needles etc. When walking slow so as not to spook game your foot fall is softer and not picked up until very close. Stalking is when I have had most of my very close encounters. One of the worst was an Eastern Brown getting caught up in Bracken Fern as it was striking. If it hit it would have been high above the knee. Yep one big mother. On the other hand 3 of us walked within inches of a Red Belly Black and it just lay doggo. As I was last past I watched after passing and it didn't waste any time going into the bush.
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The old Red Belly Black snakes are very passive . Actually very beautiful . Brown and Tigers can be nasty . A Brown somehow landed of the bonnet of a tractor I was driving in mid 1970s . I nearly shit myself . Fortunately it disembarked quickly . A Tiger killed a beautiful Spaniel next to me on a walk up pheasant shoot in Tasmania about 20 years ago . It was cold and the snake let me walk very close by but the dog tried to grab it . Snake struck and vanished . If you want to see really big Tiger snakes Flinders Island and surrounding islands in Bass Straight have some huge examples .
 
Tintin said:
Hi Brian - your upcoming trip sounds like it is shaping up to be a great adventure.

When I'm hunting in the territory, I wear waxed canvas 'oil skin', boot protectors. I prefer a velcro closure - much easier donning and doffing when taking a break.

Something like these.

They obviously don't provide maxium snake protection, but keep debris / burrs / seeds etc out of socks / boots.

Not the best photo (or the best legs) - but you get the idea.

View attachment 774783
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@Tintin
That's all I ever wear in the bush unless I'm just wearing my thongs (flip flops)
Bob
 
Tintin said:
Thanks Peter - I'll take that as a compliment, but - I hope you're not objectifying my legs - there's no place for that on AH. :E Rofl:

Even if I do have the better legs, you definately have some better rifles - and, in the end, isn't that what really matters. :ROFLMAO:
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@Tintin
I have to be careful when I wear shorts in public.
The police once saw my legs and tried to arrest me for no visible means of support.
Bob
 
PCC600 said:
Gee I’m glad you clarified that your thongs are actually a type of footwear . You had me worried.
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@PCC600
Just the thought of me in a thing (aka g string) is enough to give even me nightmares.
Fortunately I have the body of a god. It's just a pity it's starting to look like Buddha.
For you to have those types of thought has me genuinely worried about your thought process
Bob
 
Bob Nelson 35Whelen said:
@PCC600
Just the thought of me in a thing (aka g string) is enough to give even me nightmares.
Fortunately I have the body of a god. It's just a pity it's starting to look like Buddha.
For you to have those types of thought has me genuinely worried about your thought process
Bob
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Yes Bob I’ve even shocked myself with such thoughts . If only you’d referred to your thongs as “Pluggers” like we do up here in sleepy Queensland then all this misunderstanding could have averted .
 
PCC600 said:
Yes Bob I’ve even shocked myself with such thoughts . If only you’d referred to your thongs as “Pluggers” like we do up here in sleepy Queensland then all this misunderstanding could have averted .
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What are you talking about I am Qld and they are thongs. Same around the country to my knowledge. As a Qlder what Double Pluggers are and they say Thongs
 
Here's what I wear hunting in the NT. The heat will kill you quicker than the snakes ;)

IMG_1207.jpg
 
From what I'm seeing in the pictures, the snakes must strike pretty low. That's the info I would need in order to make a choice.
I own what I believe are the best snake gaiters on earth. They are from Orvis (don't know if they still have them) and reach up to cover the whole shin. They are labeled "Turtleskin." They have kevlar weave and weigh just 6 oz each!
 
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I do wear regular knee length gaiters for certain hunting situations. But not in the NT, especially late season when we hunt. In fact, I wear them more to keep dry than for snakes.

Although we have many of the world's most venomous snakes, they really aren't a problem when hunting and shouldn't put anyone off hunting here.
 
steve white said:
From what I'm seeing in the pictures, the snakes must strike pretty low. That's the info I would need in order to make a choice.
I own what I believe are the best snake gaiters on earth. They are from Orvis (don't know if they still have them) and reach up to cover the whole shin. They are labeled "Turtleskin." They have kevlar weave and weigh just 6 oz each!
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I have got them several years ago trough Cabela's
 
steve white said:
From what I'm seeing in the pictures, the snakes must strike pretty low. That's the info I would need in order to make a choice.
I own what I believe are the best snake gaiters on earth. They are from Orvis (don't know if they still have them) and reach up to cover the whole shin. They are labeled "Turtleskin." They have kevlar weave and weigh just 6 oz each!
Click to expand...
Those are the ones I used in the NT! Turtleskin from Orvis. Lightweight (as you noted), easily packable/wearable and yet absolutely snake proof! You can find them on Amazon now--of course.
 
Australian venomous snakes fangs rarely grow more than 6mm in length, except the Death Adder which can be 20mm or longer. Normally a good pair of jeans will protect you, so I am told but I don't want to try and find out. :unsure: :LOL: As I said earlier a big Brown snake, over 6 feet in length can strike higher then the knee but generally between ankle and knee. Also unless on sand, mud, pine needles etc they feel your foots steps and get out of the way.

In very hot conditions they normally stay in shelter areas. As Tim said there is no need to be worry about them most of the time. Long grass is a preferred area for snakes as that's where their food lives, mice, small rodents etc. This is another area they may not feel your footsteps as they may be off the ground in the long grass, same with at least one of the African Cobra's I have seen.

Most of this knowledge comes from talking with Herpetologists.
 
Rule 303 said:
Australian venomous snakes fangs rarely grow more than 6mm in length, except the Death Adder which can be 20mm or longer. Normally a good pair of jeans will protect you, so I am told but I don't want to try and find out. :unsure: :LOL: As I said earlier a big Brown snake, over 6 feet in length can strike higher then the knee but generally between ankle and knee. Also unless on sand, mud, pine needles etc they feel your foots steps and get out of the way.

In very hot conditions they normally stay in shelter areas. As Tim said there is no need to be worry about them most of the time. Long grass is a preferred area for snakes as that's where their food lives, mice, small rodents etc. This is another area they may not feel your footsteps as they may be off the ground in the long grass, same with at least one of the African Cobra's I have seen.

Most of this knowledge comes from talking with Herpetologists.
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I just got from Oz on Thursday and stopped in the Sydney RM Williams store before leaving. They are selling trousers as snake-proof. I bought a pair and they indeed seem heavy weight. Not sure I will wear them in snake country and but may be give it a shot!
 
Tiger2001 said:
I just got from Oz on Thursday and stopped in the Sydney RM Williams store before leaving. They are selling trousers as snake-proof. I bought a pair and they indeed seem heavy weight. Not sure I will wear them in snake country and but may be give it a shot!
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@Tiger2001
I like RM gear but being married with kids they have now priced themselves out of my budget.
Bob
 
A friend of mine got bit by an eastern brown in Victoria on a sambar hunt, it was a dry bite. He is still alive today. He also drowned about 15. years ago. I think he has 9 lives.
 
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