The correct way to freehandle a hot...... Pics.....

Gregg M · 03-05-04, 08:14 PM

LOL....... Just kidding...... You guys should know better than that.......LOL.......

Ed_r · 03-05-04, 08:16 PM

Was gettin ready to beat you like a circus monkey.lol
Or get BW to kick in your shins.

672 · 03-05-04, 08:48 PM

What about "Cobraman"... In his gallery, he has a bunch of pics of him freehandling hots... unless he takes daily shots of antivenom cocktails, I think it's very dangerous and irresponsible. Why not be safe, and handle them properly? I'd really like to know.

Bartman · 03-05-04, 08:54 PM

Theres this guy, someone forsure knows his name, and he has this facility for snakes where he milks a lot of them..he daily injects himself with diluted venom to become immune..hes now a walking antivenom for bite victims

JD@reptiles · 03-05-04, 08:56 PM

i think he is amune to some venom's now... i really dont know why he does, but its not really any of my business, lol.

Mustangrde1 · 03-05-04, 08:57 PM

The Mans name is Bill Haast and it Miami Sepentariums Labratories. D'OH

Ed_r · 03-05-04, 08:59 PM

Bill Haast(sp) even though its not recomended. They say In a pinch they have used some of his blood for part of the making of some exotic hot envenomation treatment because of its properties. not sure how much of that is true.

Just remember this post seems to have been made in jest.

cobraman · 03-06-04, 12:36 AM

"What about "Cobraman"... In his gallery, he has a bunch of pics of him freehandling hots... unless he takes daily shots of antivenom cocktails, I think it's very dangerous and irresponsible. Why not be safe, and handle them properly? I'd really like to know."

627, The pics of me "free handling" are for entertainment purposes only. I DO NOT condone free handling hots. I self immunize with 9 different venoms (since 1991) and am relatively resistant to the venoms of the snake I handle. This factor may or may not justify what I do, or how I do it, but I do what I do and I won't judge you (by calling you irresponsible) for whatever you do. As Lt. Charlie Dennis said after my last cobra bite "The way I see it, the only one you present a danger to is yourself".

I am NOT going to get into a pissing contest with any self rightious handlers. You do what you do, and as long as I don't endanger others, I will do what I do. Again, I do not condone the free handling of venomous snakes, and with the exception of Bill Haast, I refuse to be around anyone that free handles hots. When I allow people to take photos of me with a venomous snake, I am more than aware of the calculated risk I am taking. I stock antivenoms, and self immunize. These are the same precautions Mr. Haast takes, and yet I don't hear anyone calling him irresponsible or making an issue out of his free handling.

All the very best to you,
Ray Hunter a.k.a. Cobraman

Gregg M · 03-06-04, 08:27 AM

Hey Ray, for some reason, you are the only one I cant get mad at here for freehandling hots.......LOL Maybe it has something to do with the fact you self immunize and worked with Bill........ Hey Ray I have a question......... Have you tried self immunization with viper venom????? I would think if you used something like Bitis venom you may be resistant to to the cyto and nurotoxic part of the venom but would it keep the tissue from becoming necrotic????? Just curious...... I am not qualified to inject myself with gaboon venom......LOL.....

672 · 03-06-04, 10:53 AM

Still, I don't understand why you would risk your life (unless it's a snake you're immune to) to freehandle venemous snakes like you do...

jay72 · 03-06-04, 11:34 AM

I think that the whole freehandling subject can get blown out of proportion. What does one consider feehandling? The other night we had to forcefeed an EDB. The snake was pinned and tube fed. Is that freehandling? We had both hands on it. In some of Rays pictures he is handling large cobras. When working with large 14' 20+ pound King Cobras, it is sometimes easier to get both hands on it rather than use a hook. Using a hook with a snake like that can get cumbersome. I am not saying that these snakes should be handled like nonvenomous, and anybody who attempts that without an understanding of what they are doing is putting themselves at great risk.

For the post by 672; It is not for you to say that Ray is irresponsible until you have worked around snakes like that and have an understanding of the snakes behavior.

Sloane Russeck

Gregg M · 03-06-04, 11:40 AM

Jay, I would not consider what you did with the EDB freehandling...... It was restrained....... Freehandling is when one reaches into a cage and picks up a hot like it was a non-hot......

Mustangrde1 · 03-06-04, 12:32 PM

It must be getting close to spring again the forums are heating up much like are weather.

Freehandling is always a fun topic had to go bring it up didnt you Gregg. And some would call freehandling the hadnling of a reptile free of any safety instruments.So yes restraining can be called free handling. Holding a Crot in a restraint or any other hot while sticking a tube down its throat to feed it may even be more dangerous then those who hold a snake unrestrained as the restraint is uncomfortable and the snake may try more so to deffend itself.

As to what Ray does. His knowledge and understanding of venomous reptiles and there actions afford him a much higher degree of safety then most along with his self immunizations. HE WILL NOT PUT OTHERS IN DANGER. As he himseff said its for entertainment value. Then again so is JACKASS care to stand in front of a car and get hit... I would bet you wont do that but sure laugh at the idiots who do. Enjoy the pictures and the entertainment . Use COMMON SINCE...........Dont get me going on this or im bring up 2 real stupid people that like to do it on TV which certainly influeances children and drunk rednecks lol...

jay72 · 03-06-04, 12:40 PM

Scott,

That would not be Steve Irwin and Austin Stevens now would it?

Sloane

KrokadilyanGuy3 · 03-06-04, 01:03 PM

Heh, I so got got.. Gregg, I though this isnt the right fourm, but you mentioned youve been stung multiple times by several species of scorpions.. Isn't there a safty measure when it comes to handling scorps, much like any other venomous animal? Just curious, Im bug(heh) illiterate anyways..
Xain