Unlike “the good old days” you don’t have to worry about catching or handling snakes with your bare hands, forked sticks or brake rods.

One of the best things that ever came out of the Okeene rattlesnake hunt was the invention of snake tongs. The Diamondback club has one of the first Whitco tongs made and Anthony Felder and some other members did some of the initial testing of this well known brand.

If you talk to people about what tongs you should use you’ll get a variety of answers. Like most things it comes down to personal preference. However, there are some things you should take into consideration when investing in a snake tongs.

First of all you get what you pay for. It’s an unfortunate fact but not all tongs were created equal. You can get tongs for under $30.00 and while these may look like the higher quality brands they don’t always match up. However, if you only plan to use them very occasionally they could do the job.

If you want professional quality tongs then you can expect to spend from around $60.00 to $100.00. Tongs in this price range are well made and well designed. Brands include Whitco (Whitney), Pilstrom, Maverick and Midwest Gentle Giant and Midwest Standard.

Each one of these brands is highly recommended by local hunters depending on their own personal preferences.

Tong length is an important consideration. Depending on the brand you can get tongs that range in length from 25 to 52 inches. Some hunters like tongs that are about waist height. This allows them to use the tongs as a walking stick or support when they’re scrambling around the canyons and crevices of the hunting grounds. Others prefer shorter tongs as they are a bit lighter and thus easier to carry.

Another consideration when it comes to length is that while long tongs certainly increase the distance between you and the snake they can be more cumbersome to operate. In other words, you risk the chance of either not being able to control the snake in a safe manner or hurting the snake.

On the other hand, while shorter tongs are less cumbersome and make it easier to control the snake they also mean that you are working a lot closer to the snake. For an experienced handler this might not pose a problem. If you don’t have that much experience short tongs may place you in some uncomfortable situations.

The most popular length’s depending on your height are 36 to 48 inch. These lengths make it relatively easy to control the snake from a safe distance.

A further consideration when it comes to tongs are how pressure applied to the handle is transmitted to the snake. For example, Midwest’s Gentle Giant and Whitco tongs are less liable to crush a snake than others. With the Whitco tongs you can put you finger between the jaws and no matter how much pressure is applied it won’t hurt your finger. I have no personal experience with the Gentle Giant tongs but their advertising suggests they act in a similar manner. This feature also makes it easier to handle smaller snakes.

With the Pilstrom and Maverick brands the more pressure you apply the more pressure you are transmitting through the jaws because of their scissor like action. In other words, if you put your finger between the jaws you could seriously hurt yourself. Likewise, any snake held by the jaws could potentially be cut in half by applying too much pressure.

The shape of the jaw is also something that needs to be taken into consideration. Midwest’s Gentle Giant has the widest jaws at 2 1/4 inches. The wide jaws certainly reduce the chance of injuries to the snake however, wide jaws may be a issue when poking around in crevices and cracks.

All good tongs have a hook at the front to prevent snakes from escaping from the front of the tongs. While this is a definite positive the hook can cause potential problems in tight cracks and crevices by hooking onto rocks and protrusions when you try to grab a snake. Of all the tongs the Whitco and Gentle Giant have hooks which are least likely to get caught up.

One thing you don’t want to use to hunt snakes is a snake hook. These are used by snake handlers to handle snakes. They are not for hunting or catching snakes in the wild.

When you’re handling venomous snakes please use some common sense and a great deal of caution and don’t get bit!!

Where to Buy Tongs

Believe it or not one of the best places to find tongs is eBay. I’ve seen all manner of tongs up for grabs in both auctions and eBay Stores. The prices are comparable with other on-line stores and you can usually find most of the popular brands. Every know and then you may even find a used pair of tongs that are still in excellent working condition. These can be a real bargain if you’re lucky enough to stumble across them. The above list shows live eBay auctions for snake tongs. While this only shows auctions if you click on the view all items link you’ll also find tongs that are available fro immediate purchase via eBay Stores.

First of all the hunt takes place on a 2000 plus acres ranch that’s full of canyons and rocky outcrops. This makes it an ideal place for hunting rattlesnakes.

You will need a permit to hunt snakes and these are available when you register to hunt at the Diamondback Club house on Main Street. This is a five-day permit and is a legal requirement.

Caravans’ leave pretty regularly for this ranch and one you arrive you can spend as much or as little time as you want hunting. You don’t have to travel back to Okeene with the caravan. However, if you’re serious about hunting then be prepared to do a lot of walking.

To this end you need to be prepared. Make sure you have a pair of comfortable boots. They don’t have to be snakebite proof (more on this below) but they do need to be sturdy. Wear jeans to protect you legs from scratches as you push through the scrub and make sure you have a cap or hat of some sort. Who wants a sunburned head? It also doesn’t hurt to bring some sunscreen, bug spray and sunglasses.

Likewise, carry a water jug or canteen of some sort. If you do a lot of walking you will get thirsty. Water or some sort of sports drink is preferable over pop, but the decision is yours. It’s also not a bad idea to bring along a few snacks in case the munchies strike. Remember, you’ll be about 10 miles from the nearest store.

If you don’t have your own snake hunting tongs don’t worry. Tongs are available for rent from the Diamondback club. A sack for holding your catch is also provided. While a sack will do the job you’re much better off to bring a sturdy plastic bucket with a lid to hold any snakes you catch. Let’s face it, snakes have been known to bite through sacks!

The rent catchers are homemade, but if you’re not planning on making this an annual event they will suffice. However, if you’re planning to come to the hunt regularly then you may want to consider investing in your own tongs. You’ll discover more information on tongs here.

According to local hunters Whitco or Whitney are the number one choice followed by Pilstrom and then Maverick.

Snakebite proof boots or snakebite proof chaps are more of a personal preference. Some local hunters wear one or the other, while others just like sturdy, comfortable boots. If you want a pair of snakebite proof boots then the best ones to get according to local hunters, and these guys and gals should know, are top of the line Rockies. These are lighter than any others and come to the top of your calf.

Whether you plan to visit the Okeene Rattlesnake Hunt on a regular basis or just want to do it once so you can cross it off your “bucket list” make sure that you stay safe and have fun!