The head will kill you weeks after it's cut off. It's always best to bury the head right awayI used to hunt them. I was coming back from 4x4 ing near Pleasant Lake when a good 6 footer was crossing the road. I slid my land cruiser to miss grabbed my Luger and ran after it into the bush. Everything was fine until I realized I did not know where he was. Crapola, fortunately for me he moved and single round I used caught him behind the head and severed his spine.
Grabbed my prize and tossed it into the cooler. Got home girl friend was bubbleguming about the dirty cooler on the kitchen counter, I knew better. I got a fresh cold beer and took the top off and placed the snake with the head hanging on by skin on the counter. GF walked over and touched it. It moved. This carcass had been in ice water for a couple of hours. Got a fork and prodded the head and the mouth opened with fangs down. Fairly impressive, I thought. I had to put back in the cooler and in the garage before I could go to bed. She put a large brick on the lid. I skinned it and had it on the wall for several years.