Rattlesnakes while hunting

[Big Fin]

I get a lot of questions across our many platforms. Lately, I have gotten a lot of questions about rattlesnakes. Not sure if there is some recent news event that includes a hunter and a rattlesnake or just coincidence that I would get that many questions in the last month.

I follow a principle of snake Karma. I let them go, undisturbed, and hope they'll do the same when I might not be paying food attention. Given Marcus wants to eat everything we encounter, I almost have to hide any snake discoveries from him.

Anyhow, post up your live rattlesnake pics taken while out hunting. A bit of a story will help. I'll start.

Nevada 2013. Archery mule deer. This dude almost let me step on him. He was a chunker.

 

[Big Fin]

New Mexico, 2009. Walking out just before dark. If you have a camera guy who is afraid of snakes, don't let @IdahoBugler try to catch one and show it to him.

 

[Big Fin]

New Mexico, 2010. This little guy was in our antelope blind. @IdahoBugler.

 

[mtmuley]

I'm normally too scared and screaming to take a picture. Not scared of much, but snakes are it for me. mtmuley

 

[mdhunter]

No stories, no pictures...hope to keep it that way (sorry). Yes, I believe in snake Karma as well.

 

[NoWiser]

Not the best picture but I stepped inches from this guy and his buddy. Both rattled at me but kindly chose not to bite. Black-tailed Rattlesnake at close to 8,000’ in the Gila. I’m with Big Fin, I quit killing snakes of all types in the name of karma.

 

[stillkickin]

I’m with MtMuley on this one, I also have a tough time taking pictures as I am running in the opposite direction

 

[Big Fin]

2011 archery elk in Montana. This guy was in some tall grass. I learned that my compromised hearing is not conducive to hearing snakes in the grass.

 

[Shangobango]

No pics, no stories. I just let them go on their way and I go mine.

I know a couple of guys who will not hunt spring turkey because of snakes. I had one guy go with on a spring turkey hunt and after about 300 yards of hiking before daylight in knee high grass or chest high palmetto he retreated back to the truck.

 

[Big Fin]

New Mexico, 2011. This guy was getting a bit of shade under the truck when we hiked back from the morning hunt. @IdahoBugler scooped him up like a small puppy, then laid him on the road for some pictures. Bryce ain't right when it comes to snakes.

 

[406Born]

2019 fly fishing Bitterroot River south of Darby. Standing in the middle of the river and this guy swam within 10 feet of me. Once a caught my breath followed him to shore and snapped a picture. Never seen one in the wild before and didn’t even know rattlesnakes could swim.

 

[Dave N]

You guys are making this stuff up. Of all my trips out west I've NEVER seen a snake! We even went looking for them while in Idaho one trip. NOTHING! Fake news, I say.

 

[Big Fin]

Three years and about three miles further north of the snake in Post #10, this guy decides he is going to keep me and Bernie from getting into the truck. Bernie hated snakes; a bad situation for a guy with mobility impairments. Bernie lectured me on the folly of my snake Karma.

 

[MThuntr]

October 2019 MT Antelope

 

[okie archer]

I had a guy just today ask me if I ever run across rattlesnakes while turkey hunting Western oklahoma. I told him about the time a couple years ago in NM while I was hunting scaled quial. I heard a strange noise down by my feet. Dumb me thought the sound was a locust. I looked down and a Prairie rattler was approx. 18 inches from my boots and was in the position of pic #2. Coiled and ready, I was in striking distance and didn't know it. I jumped to get out of the way, thankfully he didn't strike. Right or wrong I usually give them a 12 guage dirt nap.

 

[brownbear932008]

And here I was looking at a WY archery hunt in Sept for deer and antelope. I think I just decided mid to late October may be better for me. I can deal with anything but a snake even the non poisonous ones.

 

[p_ham]

I haven't run into many, which is surprising. I let them go unless they're in a spot where they're likely to cause a problem.

 

[Duck-Slayer]

I don’t have the restraint to leave a snake if I come across one. I always think what if I steer clear of it and some newbie or husband or wife or kid hikes bye and gets bitten..... I take them home with missing heads,
Matt

 

[huntin24/7]

I’m scared S***less of snakes but I leave them alone and understand their place in the world too. 10 years ago I had a different philosophy. Part of growing up I guess.

 

[Nick87]

I'm normally too scared and screaming to take a picture. Not scared of much, but snakes are it for me. mtmuley

Yup.