Alligators and snake hibernation

[Attidog]

Hey all,

The family and I are planning a RV trip from NY to the Florida Keys starting early Dec. and planning on being home by mid Jan. I was hoping to have my 1.5 yo Langhaar on lots of grouse this whole season, but this is probably a once in a lifetime trip to be able to have this much time working from home with younger kids.

Anyway, the trip so far looks like it will put us in southern GA / Tallahassee area around 12/10 and then probably northeast FL / southeast GA around 1/5. I'd like to get the pup on wild birds - quail and/or ducks - possibly (with other dogs) even pigs. Wondering how worried I need to be about alligators or snakes around that time of year? Is there a certain temp. cutoff, certain temp. and so many days, water vs. air temp., etc.? I see to recall an old poster in LA with a Wachtelhund who may or maynot have mentioned 60 degrees.

Lastly, anyone up for possibly interested in meeting for a hunt I'd be game.

Kevin

[Attidog]

Or doves, other other suggestions!

Thanks in advance.

[Drahthaar1108]

Depends on the year ,dot think 60bDEG is cold enough ,I saw a big rattler run over on NOV 11 at home ,N.C. had a friend that killed 1 same day.
BE careful. Forrest

[Drahthaar1108]

Ask around about the gators where you will be hunting, not all the ponds and lakes hold gators, sunny day they will be out. Forrest

[AverageGuy]

Ran across this just now.

https://www.facebook.com/apemanstrong/v ... 8203524360

[Willie T]

Alligators don’t actually hibernate. They will wallow out a hole in soft mud and become inactive in the cold however they must surface to breathe. On warm sunny days they will come out and sun.
Snakes den in the cool weather but on warm sunny days you can find them sunning outside their dens.

Both are a concern but when it is cold I don’t worry too much. A lot of us who hunt upland in the south snake break our dogs. It helps but the dog has to either be downwind or see the snake...some areas are worse than others but on the positive side of things, there is not a snake under every bush.

A bigger concern with hunting a northern dog in the south is the heat. I would surmise that getting too hot claims more dogs than snakes and gators.

Willie

[Attidog]

I don't want to be jumping into the water to pull her out of some jaws!!

Willie T - when you say "cold" what's that mean for you guys?

[Willie T]

Air temps in the 40’s for three days and I would feel pretty good about it but there are no guarantees. A lot depends on knowing where you are hunting too. If the water is still warm I don’t go. A fellow hunting in the same marsh I’ve been hunting had his lab get bitten by a cottonmouth while I was there. He got it too the vet in time and the dog is going to recover but it was touch and go for the first day.

[Attidog]

Thanks all. In Florida now and guides down here say same thing so looks like no duckhunting for me till we get into NC. And then I may not take her with all the barnacles and still possible gators.