Graduation From The Steve Erwin School Of Handling

[BWSmith]

Hah! Fooled ya'll (all except Bian. I knew I would not be able to fool him. He can spot a frozen snake a mile away)

So what are you saying? You saying that I have too many snakes in the freezer? HUH!?!?! just kidding.

BTW, that poly that you sold to a buddy in Columbia last year is doing great. He said it is over 4 feet now.

[cobraman]

That was a bad decision on my part to even post it to begin with, but I was hoping to use the post to poke at my friend Steve Erwin and his tricks to his trade. From now on, just normal pics (shut up Scott!)
Blessings
Ray

[BWSmith]

I got a few pics too that i decided would not be a good idea to post I think about every hot keeper does.

[BoidKeeper]

Cobraman, normal pics are too boaring. Besides I had too much fun reading reply after reply about it being frozen and people still calling you nutts. Proves my point that most people only read the first post and then reply. Or like you said just look at the pic.
Great shot.
Trevor

[kovu]

Cobraman, BWSmith, POST EM !!!!!!!

:w

[BWSmith]

no.

There are always exceptions to the "rules" of hot keeping. And as this thread illustrated, people often look at the pic and dont read the rest. I will not post, for example, a pick of pinning a venomous snake except under very specific circumstances. The reason is, I don't condone this practice. it is probably the most dangerous interaction with a venomous snake during husbandry and is often unnecisary. I will not go for the Steve Irwin approach of "look how brave and fearless he is" and post pictures of reckless and dangerous handling practices. There are already too many people that try to "showboat" hot handling in private, by taking stupid risks. I try to only show the "right" way of doing things. I never want to hear that I did something so it is OK. Even small things like a camera angle can horribly distort a pic and skew distances to make it look unsafe.

There is no doubt that Ray and I differ on what proper handling techniques are. There are pictures that i would prefer he not post. But oh well. He is a very experienced handler and after a few nice discussions with him, we are at a good spot.

I do think that Ray and I can probably agree that either school of thought on handling techniques should not be practiced by the average herper.

There are enough people out there like Steve Irwin showboating and making it look easy and safe to work with hots. I will not post any pics of the higher risk aspects of hot keeping except under very specific circumstances when the action in 100% justified and neccissary.

normal pics are too boaring

I won't even address this, as it will send me off on another rant and i have to get some work done today

[Matt]

well said
i was about to jump in and ask for these kinds of pics not to be posted...alot of the time, it will give the wrong impression, and this is the last forum we want to do that in

thanks

[Gregg M]

I must agree with Brian........ Although at some piont you may need to pin or tail a venomous snake,( I have only had to pin a handfull of hots in the entire time keeping hots) people can not see what was done before the snake is actually in the keepers hands....... I dont think photos can show how concentrated you have to be, and photos will not pick up the proper technique and will distort distance and angels like brian said......

[cobraman]

Very well said, Brian. The only thing I will add to that is that you and I actually DO agree on the proper handling techniques, only I myself don't always practice what we both preach . Right or wrong, I do what I do, but would not be at all impressed to see someone else do some of those things (even if they too were self immunizing), nor do I let Scott take the pics he does as a means to impress others. Brian, your pics and info are very educational, and i vciew mine as educationa in terms of what NOT to do. It's not Iraq war pics, but it is entertainment of a sort (call it amusing, at best), and is NEVER meant to be instructional for anyone in or getting into keeping hots. The mamba in hand pic was totaly meant to be a Erwin joke, who would have know that very few would read and get it. My bad, won't do that again (Matt). Some of my pics are no doubt different, but who wants the same ol same ol all the time? I do realize in advance that some of them raise Brian's blood pressure a bit, but I got nothing but love and respect for you, Brian. It has sort of become a shop joke here with Scott and myself. I feel my soap box giving way, so I'll close with a quote from my website: "One out of every 100 people I hear from express their concern that the above type photos could inspire others to copy me. So if you are one of those people that is inspired to copy every dangerous thing you see on tv or the internet, my advise to you is A) DON'T!!!, and B) stay off the internet and don't watch tv !"

Be Blessed Y'all
Ray Hunter

[cobraman]

this is NOT from the Steve Erwin school of handling

[BWSmith]

I think we need a second person there

[cobraman]

Normally I have 13 more all heavilly armed with snake hooks, but they are all in the hospital from a red ratsnake bite

[BWSmith]

LMAO!!!! There have actually been a couple that i put my snake boots on for before working with them. I always have at least one person at least int he house in case of an emergency. Thenk god i have had to use the Panic Button yet!

[Mustangrde1]

Well, I suppose I need to chime in. Ray handles and deals with snakes in a matter that is comfortable and safe for him and those around. What is comfortable for one person is not always for another! Hooks and tongs and tubes are for more practical and safe for me. Nor would Ray ever allow me too do anything he felt or I felt was unsafe or beyond my skill or comfort level. As for a Teacher he is and will always be the one I look to for advice and help.{ In the proper way of handling}.We do have a lot of fun working with the numerous animal venomous and nonvenomous that is after all what gets you in to this hobby. But SAFETY is always first thing on both our minds, and that goes as well for the animals and there SAFETY, Which should always be paramont.and yes Ray does use the proper tools you might not always see them in the picture but I can promise you there is at least 1 hook and 1 tong well within reach if not more.
Brian many of your articles have helped me as well and I would love to see you post many more.
It is through the sharing of knowledge of experienced keepers that will aid and help the less experienced and maybe prevent needless death to the animals. Also it can help in the keepers health and well being as well.

Thank you to both Ray and Brian for your years of experience and dedication and the willingness to share your experience and knowledge.

Scott Bice

PS Um Ray when did you Hire Tim Taylor the only thing that picture was missing was a screw gun for building hot boxes LOL.

[Lasher]

ROTFLMAO @ BW Smith