GaryKurz

I would like to weigh in on this topic if I might. As most of you know, anti-venom is still largely collected from horses. They inject venom into these noble animals in doses small enough for them to handle and the horse develops the anti-bodies to neutralize the venom. Viola - anti-venom. There are arguments from both camps on a dog's ability to do the same. I am in the pro camp. As long as someone with the appropriate "smarts" figures out the correct dosage, I believe it can work. One caveot - some dog breeds are, in my opinion, too fragile to handle this regimen - i.e. Maltese, Poms, etc. (Now don't you Maltese owners attack me - I am just trying to help your dog). But when it comes to a human doing this - whoa!!!! There are some nuts out there who have been doing this. In fact, I saw a documentary on this - and the fool is one shot away from eternity. Bill Haas, the curator/owner of the Miami Serpentarium, now nearing 90, has been bitten over 170 times and he has developed some immunities to certain venom. He usually still needs medical care, but his chances of survival are HUGE. But he is the exception and his was not a planned immunity build-up, but came about by a series of misfortunate mistakes. It was an unexpected result. Snake venom varies with different creatures, and I am not talking only about hemotoxin vs. neurotoxin. Certain elements can vary from snake to snake in the same species. Moreover, often a snakebite from a venomous snake will be a "dry" bite - or venom-free. For whatever reason, the snake either just used a lot of venom on prey or chose not to use its venom on some fool putting their hands in his den. But conversely, some snakes do not have the opportunity to use their venom for awhile and you get a full load bite. The eastern diamonback is famous for this, as is the western diamondback. They usually inject an enormous amount of venom and no pre-bite regimen of introduced venom into one's body is going to help you in that situation. Indeed, it might work in just the opposite way and have so exhausted your natural defenses that you might experience an allegic reaction (anafelectic). Hope I didn't come across curt or judgmental - just trying to help.

Thanks for the welcome MIke. I will read into your staying in Arizona that it was a good move for you. I think it will be for my wife and I also. We are not unfamiliar with New England, having spent many years at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, and even experiencing the great blizzard of 78. Never saw anything like it - though I suppose Bostonians smashed even that lofty record this year. My wife is from Hawaii, where I spent a lot of time growing up - but I don't think the desert will be as bad a wake-up call as a blizzard was. She is worried about the sandstorms a bit, but no serious reservations. Unlike you, I cannot pass up a snake. I have to stop and take stock of it, make a mental note as to size, condition and yes, even sex - and then record that info for my bff, Joe Wasielewski. Joe is a big name herpetologist - on tv all the time - one of the Judges on Jeff Corwin's "King of the Jungle". He was just down in Tucson and took a nasty bite from a Western Diamondback. Nearly lost him this time, his 15th envenomation. Which should be a good lesson to all - if an expert like Joe can screw up, so can the rest of us. Joe was the one who put me on to Tucson - talked me into it so he would have a place to stay when he came down I suppose. Sorry I ramble so much - curse of an author - thank the Lord for editors huh. But what I am really looking for on this forum is to connect with experts in a field where I am a novice - prospecting. You would think that I would have found a lot of old relics here in Kansas - but all my detecting ever results in is currency - emphasis on "current" - nothing older than a few years ago. But even here in what they call the "motherland" I am amazed at the amount of metal trash in the ground. I try to pack up as much of it as I can when I go out, but it is a losing battle. Not sure how people can be so flippant. Anyway - if you, or anyone can give me an idea about the best clubs to join or about the claims questions I posted, I would be in your debt. Thanks again.

Hello out there. Newbie here - not only to this forum, but to prospecting in general. I am looking for anyone (and everyone) who would be willing to give me some info on Arizona prospecting. I am not looking for any secrets or secret places, just some general info to keep me out of trouble. I have retired from the military after more than 30 years, worked with the Wounded Warrior Program for several more, authored a half dozen books, but am now ready to just hang it all up, move to the Tucson area and enjoy something I have only read about. And yes, I have read just about every book on gold prospecting that you can find and am book smart - but so street stupid, if you will. So I would appreciate any feedback. In particular, I am worried about open areas. I have always envisioned being able to park my truck and hike 5 miles out into the desert away from civilization and detect away - but as a federal law enforcement officer my whole adult life, and I hope a person with character, I don't want to violate anyone's claims. Are claims marked so that a novice like me can avoid them? Another question I have is are claims so densely situated that someone cannot do as I propose - just park in a desolate place and hike out into the wilderness? Of course, taking the seasonal weather condtiions into consideration. One more question if I might - we who do not live in Arizona hear a lot about Africanized bees there. Are they really a big problem in the field? I have run into an Africanized hive in Freer, Texas and kept my wits about me and did okay - but was just wondering how big of a problem it is. Sorry for my novice approach. I just cannot find the answers I seek anywhere else. I am an everglades/swamp kind of guy and could use a desert perspective. Thanks to anyone who responds.

I am new to this forum and hardly expected to talk about anything else but gold, but could not help myself when it comes to rattlers; well really, snakes in general. I am a herpetologist, co-founder of the Everglades Herpetological Society and I cannot pass a snake on the road without stopping to usher it to safety. That is why I like Mike's comments below. I am no tree-hugger either, but we are in their backyard and they do not have it in for us, so we shouldn't have it in for them. They have a job to do in nature and that is beating back the rodent populations and they do it very well. Mike is right, not all rattlers rattle. Rattling is a reaction to their fear or apprehension on an approaching potential threat. This will undoubtedly draw criticism but in my book rattlers do not rattle to warn someone, rattling is just a reaction to their being afraid. Anyone who has handled snakes knows that all snakes rattle their tail when they are upset or afraid. Bearing that in mind, when you encounter a rattler living up to their name (rattling) they are just involuntarily communicating that they are afraid of you. Truth be told, a rattler will sit as quietly as possible to try to let potential danger pass - but their fear reaction gives them away and well, we know how defensive they can get. Rattlers will never chase you, though their seeking a quick exit may appear that way. They will often restrain from striking as long as their nerves will allow them, because their venom takes a while to produce and they need it for prey. If you see a rattler, giving it a wide berth is all that is needed to eliminate the risk to both of you.