Hook or jigger debate?

[snakehandler]

Do we need to count the number of deaths from all other techniques too? As I recall he was using short pilstrum tongs, for a very big snake, as has been mentioned several times, it comes down to using your brain, evaluating a situation and deciding on an appropriate technique.

I can give stats on so many things including the dog which gives the most number of bites: The Labrador !!!

If a person is not capable of handling a snake with a variety of techniques then they run a risk of being bitten, to only be able / confident to do one technique that would result in a fail from our courses, and we have failed many people including licencing bodies staff in more than one state, we have even failed some who have handled every animal present, but did not satisfy my staff with their ability!

[TrueBlue]

I still dont agree with them and dont belive that they are needed, no matter what excuse you can come up with, infact imo they should be baned.

NCHERPS, in that situation you could quite easily have just scoped it up in the hoop bag, very simple indeed, and still no need for a pair of those disgusting tongs.

[NCHERPS]

Originally Posted by TrueBlue

I still dont agree with them and dont belive that they are needed, no matter what excuse you can come up with, infact imo they should be baned.

NCHERPS, in that situation you could quite easily have just scoped it up in the hoop bag, very simple indeed, and still no need for a pair of those disgusting tongs.

LOL Trueblue!
Well you really had to be there to appreciate the task at hand, and a hoop bag alone wouldn't have been possible in this situation imo.
It was an extreme example where I felt tongs were needed, but I can see that you aren't and won't be persuaded by any examples.

Cheers Neil

[TrueBlue]

huh, but if you could climb down with a pair of tongs you could of just as easily climbed down with a hoop bag, same difference and heaps easier.

[snakehandler]

Some people like ford, others holden, others toyota......if the animal is not injured with the technique used then it is a sucessful snake job! Why does technique have to matter...as long as the snake is not injured or unduely stressed......yes tongs stress animals, so does incompetant "first" time handlers trying to hook a red belly......we can argue this all day...no one will conceed ground, its like hitting your head against a brick wall.

IMO you should not judge another person until you have lived a day in their shoes....no two situations are the same, no two jobs are the same....no technique is perfect!

[voodoo]

I always keep a set of tongs on me when ever i go on a call out, just as a back up. I beleive all catchers should have a set, as long as they cause no physical injury to the animal.

My catchers kit consists of -
1- V shaped hook for elapids
2- U shaped hook for pythons
3- lge and small hooped catch bags
4- Pinner
5- a set of Midwest gentle giant tongs and I have attached foam padding to the top and bottom.
6- 3 PI Bandages
7- torch,
8- and spare undies

Cheers
Dee

[dpeica]

I wouldn't even know how to use tongs. All you need is a pillow case.

[PilbaraPythons]

dpeica
I would love to see you try and catch and bag up a 7 foot taipan armed with only a pillow slip.

[dpeica]

No worries

[itbites]

LOL LOL ..

[BIG RYANO]

Originally Posted by dpeica

I wouldn't even know how to use tongs. All you need is a pillow case.

Dpeica, you must of went to the same snake catching school as a mate of mine.

[-Peter]

Originally Posted by dpeica

I wouldn't even know how to use tongs. All you need is a pillow case.

We'll have a chat about that soon.

[arielle]

its a hook. If most people call it a hook then thats what it is. Things like that annoy me for some reason.

[Reptilia]

It doesnt matter what tool you choose to use, the snake will always be stressed. First of all, safety of the handler should always be the number one priority. The tool you use should be the safest for the handler in that situation. Second thing is to minimise the stress of the animal. If you can easily guide a snake into a bag instead of using tongs then obviously that is the best choice. If your trying to catch a snake down a drain and the only tool you have to get it out is a pair of tongs, which saves you from having to get into the drain and pin, bag, hook the snake in such a confined space which is unsafe, then that is the best choice. Common sense is all you need when dealing with any snake, be it venomous or non venomous.

Cheers, Lance.

[PilbaraPythons]

I used to be a bit of a maniac and have in the past at times bagged up highly venomous snakes on the spur of the moment with no equipment and even caught a decent sized wild adult Taipan without anything including a bag. This doesn’t make me competent,, this makes me a bloody fool who was very lucky. These days I like to think I have grown up a bit and I try my best to do any venomous snake captures in a clinical responsible safe manner. Any body who thinks using just a pillow slip is the best way to pick up a wild Taipan over safety equipment, has his hand on it.