not much you can do, usually walking/wading around in tall weeds/grass so can't see where your stepping, feel a hit now and then on the side of your boot to let you know a cottonmouth is by your foot, stepped on a gator one time and it shot off into the deep nearly jerking my feet out from under me, walked on the bank after that at that spot, lol.

Not in gator country so usually don't have to worry with those. Seen more timber rattler's this summer than I have before and this time of year is when they are migrating, luckily
they don't have the temper copperheads and cottonmouth's do.

Cottonmouths aren’t always near (as in feet or yards) water. That’s the main snake in our area. I find them in hardwoods and pines all the time...mainly the pines. Never had one chase me or ever actually seen one chase anyone. Never had but one strike and I never saw him until he struck. Was walking to a feeder in the middle of a ragweed field. As soon as it struck it hightailed it out of the field and headed for cover. Most of the time they’ll coil and show you their namesake. Actually a very docile snake just like a canebreak.
Now the water snakes are some curious snakes. They’ll swim right up to you and even try and get in your boat. They’re generally the ones that are on the limbs and overhangs.
The main snake I really keep an eye out for is the copperhead and Eastern diamondback. Copperheads blend in unbelievably well and the Eastern is just cantankerous, he may bite or may not.

You can get pop in your yard down here so just relax and enjoy our 110 heat index, no air moving at all days. Just watch out for the skeeters and ticks them things can kill you.

I’d beat a grizzly to death with a copperhead after I kissed them both lol

We sometimes get 100+ degree heat index up here. Not much fun.

So you can keep your heat index and your snakes.

I'll take a 20 degree day, sitting on 2-3 ft. of ice and fishing through a 8" hole. Less stressful then worrying about getting bit by a deadly snake.

And you don't need a cooler to keep the beer cold!

Brad

I have had cottonmouths come toward me when I was walking/hunting along thru very shallow water but I don't think they were "chasing" me. I suspect they are attracted to the vibrations in the water that was created by my slow footsteps as I walked along slowly in the water. But, seeing a big cottonmouth coming toward you for any reason will get your undivided attention.

Dave

I have had them come at me striking the whole time. Most of them just lie there with their head cocked back and their mouth wide open and don't strike but some of them are very aggressive.