Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/02/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2000 00:23:25 -0800 From: "Bill Larsen" <ohlen@lightspeed.net> Subject: Re: [Leica] Shooting Rattlesnakes in the Wild If you are serious about this activity I suggest a Leica is not the appropriate camera. A Nikon or Canon with fast AF and a 400-600 size lens is more suitable. In a zoo setting, of course, you can get closer but the snakes can be injured if you provoke them to strike at you and they hit the glass. As to pistol grip shotguns - I grew up in the south, and we used to carry these for snakes in the swampy areas around me. The 1968 gun control act outlawed them. It's much harder than people think to kill a snake with a handgun. Years of shooting practice are needed. These snakes are pretty fast. If you're looking through a camera you're not going to be able to react by shooting one. In any case, you should place yourself outof range if you want to photograph. I'd bring an assistant to keep watch.