I would agree with Andy....I am not one of the states foremost snake-i-tologists, picnic-i-tologists or gun-i-toligists...nor do I own a gun. But in over 30 years of caving in Texas and in the rattlesnake invested Arbuckle Mountains; I have never seen the need to carry a gun, or shoot a snake in or out of a cave. In fact; I might add, a foremost observant, competent caver can typically detect the presence of a rattlesnake by simply checking the entrance of a cave before entering it, by simply tossing a couple of rocks or making some noise with a stick.....the tell tale signs of rattlesnakes are pretty easy to pick up...even if one doesn't have a fire arm....for one thing; they usually will rattle...and for another; rattlesnakes typically smell really bad. Guns maybe useful as a prosthetic penis...but guns are not necessary for caving or snake detection.
--- On Mon, 2/22/10, Andy Gluesenkamp <[email protected]> wrote: From: Andy Gluesenkamp <[email protected]> Subject: [Texascavers] caves versus guns To: [email protected] List-Post: [email protected] Date: Monday, February 22, 2010, 9:09 AM Guns and caves don't mix. I recall a cenTex caver who was coming out of a cave when the landowner started shooting at a rattlesnake sitting on a ledge in the same sinkhole. They guy was blasting away at it with a 30/30 from a yard away, apparently oblivious to the ricochets. Some folks behave responsibly when they play with guns, many do not. Gun play is the polar opposite of the type of attention and consideration of cause and effect often required in caving. If you showed up for a caving trip with a gun, I would consider you a reckless dumbass. Andy Andrew G. Gluesenkamp, Ph.D. 700 Billie Brooks Drive Driftwood, Texas 78619 (512) 799-1095 andy@gluesenkamp.
