Some people shouldn't own snakes...

[ffollett]

Here is his site. I am going to keep my comments to myself about this. That whole if you have nothing nice to say.... lol
Besides the last forum I was on that someone made a not so nice comment about Ray or the article it ended in a battle and the thread was pulled.

http://www.cobraman.net/

[Advance Recovery]

Dr. Ray Hunter is NOT an idiot!

He has more education, training and experience with HOTS than all of us put together. cobraman just has an unusual way to hadle his HOTS. He has decades of experience, so of course your going to get bit.

NO ONE is perfect...Sh*t happens.
Ray lives in my town, and Ive spent time with him, and his beautiful snakes. He has a 14 foot King Cobra, that is absolutely stunning. I went and saw him in the hospital a few weeks ago. He's doing pretty good.

I talked with him and he says, and I quote, "I think it's about time to calm down. Im getting older, deferred vision, getting a little sloppy, maybe it's time to get out of this."

So any one that does NOT know him, CANNOT call him an idiot.

[littleindiangirl]

I think the point of the "idiot" part was that he continues to get bit. You successfully decrease the chance of getting bit by using a snake hook.

By being such an upstanding member of the community, he should take more credance in his position among us by setting an example for all of us. "Do as I say, not as I do" is not a good rule of thumb!
Does he recommend that other people handle their hots freely like he does? Reckless, someone that continues to put their hand in the fire and get's burned should have learned a long time ago.

He may be a very book smart person, but the common sense seems to be lacking for him. If he feels the need to continue down this path, he has to bear the weight from potentially inspiring someone to free handle their own hots, "because he did it". There are too many idiots out there for him to help spur them on.

He should act like an adult, and not put himself in danger so recklessly. Just my opinion.

[dsirkle]

Crikey! Some guys end up taking just one too many risks.

[MelissaFlipski]

I couldn't get to the link for the story (story expired...?). But here is another I found that is somewhat humorously written. And it is followed by other humorously written rattlesnake stories.

http://dev.smm.org/buzz/buzz_tags/rattlesnake

Advance Recovery, glad you spoke up for the "Cobraman." Good to hear a perspective from someone who knows him.

I have to add though, that I, too, would have given up hots after, say, the 3rd bite...?

[SCatheris]

I agree with recovery guy up there, Ray is not an idiot. He doesn't condone anything he does, he does things the way he wants to do them. He admits that because he does the self immunization thing that it tends to make him a bit complacent. If any of you got to know him you'd know this. But it yeah the pics of him free handling (which he no longer does) will give him that image he knows it but seriously he's not proud of his 44 bites. He knows what he's doing, he's a smart guy who does what he does because it works best for him.

[Gary Orner]

Ray Hunter is a friend of mine. And to call him an idiot without knowing the story is well, wrong.

I hope and pray this does not make me less welcome here but I have to say this.

I see people posting things in this very thread they know nothing about. Some feel the need to put down others to make themselves feel better I guess. Ray Hunter has helped me with more then he even knows. He does not tell you to handle hots the way he does. He does not pass judgement on anyone else.

To see this here from a site that says they are for the hobby and not for slamming people kinda upset me.

Not just becuase I look at Ray as a good friend. But Becuase people posting like they know what happened becuase they seen it in the paper or read this or that on a forum.

Ray works with the F&W to RESCUE these snakes! He is a main reason why a lot are not put down. He is well respected in the hot community. And also he would not refuse to help anyone. His knowledge is right up there with some of the best keepers in the world IMO.

Do I agree with the way Ray has handled snakes? No. But at the same time I respect Ray and show him this respect becuase he is not out telling others to do what he does.

Sometimes it is better of not saying something untill you have all the info. Ray was bit by this Eastern. Yep. He was boxing it to ship it off to a Zoo. He was saving its life. More then most of us would have done. He almost died saving a snakes life.

You do not know how all Rays bites have happened. he is the one that deals with the bites.

To say he will ruin this hobby when he has done more for it then most of us combined. Come on.

I can not post anymore. Just a little upset with what I have read on a site that says they are not for attacking.

[JASBALLS]

Ray Hunter is a friend of mine. And to call him an idiot without knowing the story is well, wrong.

I hope and pray this does not make me less welcome here but I have to say this.

I see people posting things in this very thread they know nothing about. Some feel the need to put down others to make themselves feel better I guess. Ray Hunter has helped me with more then he even knows. He does not tell you to handle hots the way he does. He does not pass judgement on anyone else.

To see this here from a site that says they are for the hobby and not for slamming people kinda upset me.

Not just becuase I look at Ray as a good friend. But Becuase people posting like they know what happened becuase they seen it in the paper or read this or that on a forum.

Ray works with the F&W to RESCUE these snakes! He is a main reason why a lot are not put down. He is well respected in the hot community. And also he would not refuse to help anyone. His knowledge is right up there with some of the best keepers in the world IMO.

Do I agree with the way Ray has handled snakes? No. But at the same time I respect Ray and show him this respect becuase he is not out telling others to do what he does.

Sometimes it is better of not saying something untill you have all the info. Ray was bit by this Eastern. Yep. He was boxing it to ship it off to a Zoo. He was saving its life. More then most of us would have done. He almost died saving a snakes life.

You do not know how all Rays bites have happened. he is the one that deals with the bites.

To say he will ruin this hobby when he has done more for it then most of us combined. Come on.

I can not post anymore. Just a little upset with what I have read on a site that says they are not for attacking.

Get off the soap box!
I just read this thread and No one was putting this guy down..

[Gary Orner]

Really?

He was called an idiot

And his keeping of hots was put in question. By people that did not know the story. I see a lot of attacks on this person.

[JASBALLS]

Really?

He was called an idiot

And his keeping of hots was put in question. By people that did not know the story. I see a lot of attacks on this person.

He as a person wasnt called an idiot! Reread the thread..