Reptile & Amphibian Forums

anyone got a good place to find red milks? i live in west tenn but love an excuse for a road trip! I posted on the forum for field herping as well. I don't want to collect any , just photograph some. I'm trying to photograph all the native snakes of tenn and now need red milks. i would kinda like to find them in tenn so it'll be as accurate as possible, but whatever it takes. Someone told me to run the roads at Shelby forrest near memphis. Any ideas? Thanx, Mike
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The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap!

Milks are common in TN and the surrounding areas. All you have to do is get the right weather and the right spot. NOTHING beats a good day in the field looking for them. Its like fishing, its calling fishing and not catching for just this reason. If you put in the work and STILL cant find them I am sure the guys in this forum would be a little more accomidating, know what I mean? J

i remember when people in the reptile world use to be helpful with each other. guess those days are over. not trying to be smart but i've done this stuff for quite a while and not new to the hobby. i've just never got into milks. i've found lots of easterns but no reds. I just thought someone may have some insight on the time of year, weather, etc... i'm sure everyone else figures everything out on there own but i'm a guy that pulls over to ask for directions. I've found almost EVERY other snake in tenn. anyway, sorry i haven't done my homework, thought thats what i was doing that now. i'll keep looking and talking to my herp buddies and look forward to the day when i know everything too! Thanx
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The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap!

i'm sorry man, i guess i may of seemed like a newbie. I just know that theres a lot more to it than flippin boards and rocks, etc... if you don't know what time of day, temp, things like that you'll end up like i have so far. I figured that you guys would be the ones to ask. I found one red milk in '98 & that was a freak thing. not looking at all. I found almost everything else and next on the list is reds. I haven't come across one in the 4 years i've been on the project so i didn't think i'd find one too soon doing the same things. I realize it's a lot about technique. i'll keep looking tho, never know. sorry to sound like a jerk. didn't mean to at all, just kinda felt like you were calling me an idiot.
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The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap!

there are guys with questions about animals that they bought without knowing the first thing about. I'm glad they ask questions, because there are a lot that don't and lose their animals because of it. I can't go buy a book about the habits of milks in the wild, at least i'm not aware of one, sorry if there is I think that herping itself is the fun part too. I don't have to catch anything and I'm still glad i went. I Just wanted to know if anyone had any tips that would help me find one. Anything general, no locations needed really, just some new ways to do things i guess. I really would appreciate it and thanks for the motivation if nothing else
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The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap!

Mike, just look at your last 3 posts. Reread what wrote you. I will tell you that you LIVE in a hotbed of really nice looking milks and you have NO CLUE. Who am I to tell you what to do right?? I will concede that your first milk was NOT a fluke, you just havent STUDIED the circumstances that you found it....What was the weather like the previous week? What was the weather like that day? What time of day did you find it? What was the temp of the cover you found it under? You use words like PROJECT as if we should help you, WHY?? If you dont want to understand how you were "lucky", why should we help you? I am completely sarcastic, but I have given you EVERY clue in finding milksnakes practically nationwide.
If your "PROJECT" can withstand it, go get a $30 temp gun and start taking temps of the cover you hunt. When you "get it", you will smile knowing you figured this thing out "all by yourself". If I come out and tell you how to do it that feeling of accomplishment is something you will never FEEL. I am doing you a favor by NOT telling you how to do it, I just hope you appreciate it,Jeff

There are many non picture books you should KNOW. First is the Petersons field guide. Next should be Applegate's milksnake bible. If you want to be smart at milks you can get Williams' book. Google the titles. Just because you know where a snake comes from doesnt give you credence to take a shortcut,lol. Dont poke fun at newbies getting their first snake from a show rather than the field. They will realize it wasnt LUCK that the herp show came to town,lol,J

I completely agree about the figuring stuff out from previous experiences. The "project" is trying to photograph of all native snakes of tenn. It's actually been really fun. I'll deffinately get those books, i appreciate it. When i did find the milk in '98 I was at the river with the family and people were yelling SNAKE! On the steps to go in the swimming area was a nice, small red milk. I wasn't paying much attention to all the environmental elements. I deffinately regret that now. Also, I am thrilled that people are getting into reptiles. It will help to keep wild snakes alive. The more people understand these animals, the less likely they are to kill it just because it's a snake. No telling how far herpeticulture will progress in the future because the "newbies" are learning about them now. I really wasn't condemning them, just trying to justify the question i asked as valid. I reread what you wrote the first time and I guess I saw more sarcasm than was really there. I was a lot more sarcastic than i should have been myself. my appologies. I really do appreciate the suggestions on the books too.
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The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap!

Jeff,
What is the title of the William's book you refer to?