JOHNSON Co., Ga. () – The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office is sending a warning to hunters.

A Facebook update revealed that deer hunters near the Meeks Community stumbled upon a surprising discovery on Sunday as they were planting food plots — a boa constrictor measuring nine feet long!

Authorities say the snake was humanely dispatched on scene and is believed to have been an escaped or released exotic pet.

Although boa constrictors do not originate from Georgia, specialists note that they can threaten smaller wildlife and certainly startle anyone who encounters them in the forest.

If you encounter a large or unusual snake, do not attempt to capture or kill it yourself.

Contact the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office at (478) 864-4003 or Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) at (706) 557-3333 for assistance.

A word of advice from law enforcement: Stay alert out there, hunters — you never know what’s lurking beyond the treeline!