Many years ago on a camping trip with our first and very intrepid cat, Spock, we found him very interested in something by a tree, it was a copperhead. We went to check out what it was that he was interested in, the snake was coiled and ready. Carmela scooped up Spock while I grabbed our axe and said a quick prayer for a clean execution. Clean first strike, off went his head. We dragged the snakes carcass across the road to a vacant campsite and by morning there was nothing left of it. I did pop the mouth of the decappited head open before we dragged it over to see if I could get out venom. I did, and boy did it stink.
My condolences and safe travels.