It was 70 degrees today and not raining so I took the family to the hunting property for some post season scouting and shed hunting. I also discovered some semi open areas in the woods that would be perfect for small food plots and decided to do some clearing to get them ready for planting. In the process of clearing I encountered this timber rattler......anyone care to guess how big this one was. They are on the move early this year. On a side note, I hate snakes.
It's big enough! I'm not afraid of snakes but I certainly keep my distance. When my family was building our cabin there were little Pigmy Rattlesnakes everywhere. They blend in so well and are so small it's hard to see them. Luckily no one ever got bid. Did you keep the rattle?
I'm guessing 3 feet 1o inches. And someone ask if he had to kill it. Yup. Kill them all. I don't like 'em. Take them out
I'm hunting in New Zealand right now and they have no poisonous snakes. Which is reall nice for the amount of tramping as they call it and belly crawling. All you have to do is watch your footing. They don't even have many spiders. Just a joy to hunt here. And yes. Kill them things. IMO
We actually kept the whole snake, he is in the freezer. We are going to have a local taxidermist do a mount, probably the skin on a piece of weathered wood.
It was 4' 4" and had 12 rattles. We have several poisonous snakes here, rattlers, copperheads and cottonmouths. We have several species that are not poisonous but these 3 are pretty abundant around my hunting area. I can honestly say that when they rattle and you are close, it is a sound that you don't forget.
I know what you mean K, they don't keep me out of the woods but I have a Browning 22 that is just like an Am Exp card, I never leave home without it.
4 feet with 12 rattles would make that snake close 6 to 8 years of age. I've only seen one Canebrake in the fore mentioned picture and your right once you hear one you'll never forget that sound. When I lived in Florida I've caught several Eastern's and the smallest of those would be about that size. the biggest would make that one look like a baby. I just don't get into killing snakes because they're snakes as some would like to protect Pit-bull dogs and yes it's the same. If we are going to hate one animal and want to kill them all let's not exclude one animal because of it's body structure. It's no difference as one commenter said hate them all. Once a snake become highly agitated and you can't handle it, or it come in close proximity of your home, in your home, threatens the well being of your family. Even if you don't have the skill level to remove it from harms way and even it you sought it for a trophy. Then I have no problem with that either. But killing for the sake of killing it because it's a snake? That in my opinion is ignorant. We call ourselves hunters and conservationist but will drop the hammer on a snake for no other reason than it's a snake is lame excuse. And should never lecture anyone animals rights anything. I've said in the past I have my limits on any dangerous animal, I'm for killing every wild Python found in the United States because it's a non-native species and pose a health risk to any person crossing it path. If one sought you out as a food source and it's beyond 6-18 feet in length it's going to kill you. And Pythons are far stronger than any of you could possibly believe. FAR STRONGER! Just as I was sent a private message about posting the aftermath video of the reporter being bitten, so what's the difference in killing this snake than putting a dog down for disfiguring a woman that was trying to do a human interest story for a the dog and owner? Only to be bitten and have her lip nearly torn off? Just this week in Jacksonville Florida a 17 month old child was killed by a Rottweiler tearing the child's head nearly from it's body. Sure the snake is Venomous, and if pestered or someone attempts to handle them they may get bitten. On average 5 of the 1,000-2,000 people bitten by rattlesnakes die each year that's 5. Read more: http://greenanswers.com/q/57482/ani...-die-rattle-snake-bites-each-ye#ixzz1otCtlWkG In the United States 20 to 30 people die every year as a result of dog bites in the U.S. By far, the majority of the victims are children. In a three-year period between 1999 and 2001, 43 people died after being attacked by a dog. A vast majority of these victims (24 of 33) were under 12 years of age. I'm not against you for killing the snake if you did what you had to. Every year we as in hunters take to the woods knowing the dangers beyond the obvious and the human kind. And a rattle snake, water moccasin or copper head can be anywhere. I've even read the story of a Georgia native out deer hunting. Prepared to get in his climbing tree stand he left in the woods overnight only to be bitten on the neck by a rattlesnake coiled up in it. The man lived long enough to tell someone what happened. Yea I said a lot no surprise there. Heck If I see a spider I'll stomp the hell out of it so that makes me a hypocrite, I just don't go out of my way to do so. RoyC you felt you had to eliminate the snake from the area because it posed a risk to you and your family I can and do respect that. Far as comments of just kill them all. I can not nor will I agree with that idealism. Everything has it's place even ticks. I'm still debating that one. Personally I've killed one Pigmy Rattler ex-girlfriend in Florida swatted the thing with a rake. Pissed it off while it was in the process of having babies in her flower bed. The lesson in that never let a woman that's afraid of something get behind you. They have a tendency to push you toward the danger or grab you in an in opportune moment. I guess I'm tired of reading comments of kill every snake as some are tired of reading kill every pit bull or dog that harms a child. Looking forward to seeing that skin dried out with the rattle.
I agree with you TA and that is a great post. It is like you said, I had my wife, 2 daughters, the one holding the snake was my oldest son, my 3 year old son and my nephew with me on that trip so it needed to go. I have encountered snakes before while hunting and even had them scurry from under my feet but I let them go and moved away, while cleaning my pants, lol.
Well I'm headed to Southern Oklahoma tomorrow. This isn't really a sight I was looking to see. I asked a question on here weather to buy snake boots and the most common answer was no. Hopefully I don't run into one. I've never seen a rattler and certainly don't plan on it either.
I wouldn't judge my chances of encountering a rattlesnake on one post. I see them occasionally but have never seen an aggressive rattler that I couldn't easily avoid. I read once that over 90% of snake bites were #1 on the hand and #2 by victims who are or were drunk. I doubt that is completely true but it is something to think about.
