Fall Snake Road Trip
Moderator: Scott Waters
Fall Snake Road Trip
I am starting to plan a fall trip down to snake road. This will be my first trip there and I am looking for some insight. Would like to pick the brains of those who have been there on such things as best dates, other good herping sights, etc. I am looking forward to the trip and the chance to photograph some herps. Any help would be great. Thanks.
- Mike Pingleton
- Posts: 1471
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 7:45 am
- Location: One of the boys from Illinois
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Re: Fall Snake Road Trip
October is your best month down on SR. You might consider posting on the NAFHA Midwest Chapter forum - a lot of guys on there make the trip down every year.
Mike
Mike
- DaneConley
- Posts: 481
- Joined: September 21st, 2010, 10:03 am
- Location: SE Virginia/SW Illinois
Re: Fall Snake Road Trip
I love seeing that.Mike Pingleton wrote:
Re: Fall Snake Road Trip
They really changed the signage when I went down in May I was surprised to see that someone appears to be paying attention to that area. I'm happy for that, as I keep seeing a lot of knuckleheads doing things they really shouldn't. If you didn't know this is the only ecological area in Illinois that has protection for all species. You still see people roughhousing hots though. I have been hearing of more tickets being handed out so maybe it will start to lose appeal to those folks. If you go read the rules and follow them. Most importantly, no collecting, no bags, no hooks. Take only pictures folks.
- Knightkrawler5
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- Joined: June 8th, 2010, 6:54 pm
- Location: Milwaukee, WI
Re: Fall Snake Road Trip
Yeah and watch where you put your feet and hands...cottonmouths are everywhere! I can't wait to go back down this October
- Jeremy Westerman
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Re: Fall Snake Road Trip
So is everyone strolling around with a shepherd's crook walking stick?justinm wrote: If you go read the rules and follow them. Most importantly, no collecting, no bags, no hooks. Take only pictures folks.
Re: Fall Snake Road Trip
You do see a lot of Walking Sticks... I don't want the area closed to foot traffic so I'm kind of a prick when I see people breaking the rules down there.
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- Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Re: Fall Snake Road Trip
I too will be making my first trip down there this October. I've been mega excited all year! It sucks that I'll have to leave my hook in the car, but I'll be sure to respect the rules.
Ian
Ian
Re: Fall Snake Road Trip
As well you should be. Snake Road is a terrific public resource. Snakes are abundant enough there that everyone can get some really good in situ pictures, so leaving the hook at home is a pretty minor sacrifice to afford the snakes minimum harassment and to offer herpers an unusual site where herps are actually given priority.justinm wrote:You do see a lot of Walking Sticks... I don't want the area closed to foot traffic so I'm kind of a prick when I see people breaking the rules down there.
Re: Fall Snake Road Trip
Early to mid-October is ideal. There are other good sites in the area, but it is easy to work the snake road area and nowhere else for 3 or 4 straight days and never get bored. While I sometimes explore other sites in the area (especially if accompanied by people who know those other sites) it is kind of hard to beat just concentrating most or all of your effort on the road and the bluffs and swamps near the road.bitis2 wrote:I am starting to plan a fall trip down to snake road. This will be my first trip there and I am looking for some insight. Would like to pick the brains of those who have been there on such things as best dates, other good herping sights, etc. I am looking forward to the trip and the chance to photograph some herps. Any help would be great. Thanks.
Of course being on the road you also run into people who might offer to show you other places, so if you do get bored of the road (you won't) the road is still a good place to network for those other places.
Re: Fall Snake Road Trip
Thanks all for the info and hope to see some of you all this fall.
- DaneConley
- Posts: 481
- Joined: September 21st, 2010, 10:03 am
- Location: SE Virginia/SW Illinois
Re: Fall Snake Road Trip
Im actually going to snake road tommorow, I just like going to the road, I know I will probably only see like one cottonmouth but its worth it. Th scenery is just amazing.
- ahockenberry
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Re: Fall Snake Road Trip
Excellent Cottonmouth!