I don't understand!

[bamagecko76]

Ok, I live out in the country on five acres and have alot of tall grass, wood piles, stuff laying around etc... I go feild herping about twice a day usally once mid day once later near sunset. I turn over peices of wood and a tool box, poke in the wood pile(s) etc. usally looking for snakes, and I almost never find one nor a lizard, frogs though are'nt all that rare. I've been doing that since it got warm and never find anything on my hunts, so yesterday I went to feed the animals (cow, goats, chickens and the two dogs.) most of which live in our paster. I walk into the basement though a garadge door to get there food, I scoop out a drinking glass full of chicken feed and put it on a TV box sitting on its side. Sudenly I heer a "HSSSSSSSSSSSS!" and look up to see a medium snake dangling from a hammer handle on the box only inches from my face. I screem bloody murder cuz the thing caught me off gaurd and run out of the basement like a moron. I catch the snake who I think was either a rat or corn (def not a hot) and realese it in my neighbors barn (he wanted it to keep the mice down).

Sorry for the story, but my point is why do I never find anything when I go herping? I find snakes when I'm not herping but never when I am! is there somthing wrong with my method or is that just the way it is?

sorry for the long post and the spelling/grammar errors.

[jfreels]

What time of day do you go out? I have had the most success in the evening, especially that final hour of daylight.

[bamagecko76]

usally between 11:00 and sundown typicaly both.

[leper65]

I've had more luck late morning to noon and in the early afternoon. I walked 4-5 miles the last 4 days looking for snakes, and of course didn't see anything. Sunday I went out to the barn for something and found a 4' black ratsnake trying to warm up in the late morning (10:00 AM) sun. No camera of course. They know.