First rattlesnake experience!

I stepped right over this guy while on a hike. Took both of us by surprise. He didn't see me coming. He was a little angry, but we moved him off the trail with a stick and went on our way.
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When I was a kid growing up in South Alabama I had a lot of run-ins with rattlers. I will never forget the one that disabled my grandfather's truck.

It was an ancient Ford, and my grandfather, dad, and I were going fishing. Near the river, we ran over a huge Rattlesnake which turned and struck the left rear tire.

By the time we dispatched the snake, the tire had swollen up so much that it was stuck in the wheel well and couldn't turn. We put a tourniquet around the axle and walked home, went back and got the truck five days later after the swelling went down.

Apparently we left the tourniquet on too long, as the wheel fell off on the way home.
 
I haven't seen a rattler for a lil while and right after reading this thread there is one in my yard. I shot it a few times took off the head and tried to cook it up. It was a baby and I way over cooked it so I only got a wee nibble.
 
MikeH said:
When I was a kid growing up in South Alabama I had a lot of run-ins with rattlers. I will never forget the one that disabled my grandfather's truck.

It was an ancient Ford, and my grandfather, dad, and I were going fishing. Near the river, we ran over a huge Rattlesnake which turned and struck the left rear tire.

By the time we dispatched the snake, the tire had swollen up so much that it was stuck in the wheel well and couldn't turn. We put a tourniquet around the axle and walked home, went back and got the truck five days later after the swelling went down.

Apparently we left the tourniquet on too long, as the wheel fell off on the way home.
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You 'Bama guys have the best stories. :D
 
I encounter rattle snakes quite a bit up on the ranch. I always carry a pistol for the occasion.

"Snake Shot" cartridges in 38 special, 45 Colt or even .22 LR work dandy!

After they are shot in the head, pin in down, cut it off and bury it under a rock. The venom is lethal for quite awhile and the fangs are quite sharp.
 
Kismet said:
You 'Bama guys have the best stories. :D
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The best part is they're all true!

Happened on this doing a totally unrelated google search:confused:
http://bassfan.com/tv_play.asp?id=119
Had too much house and yardwork to do after getting stuck with some unplanned overtime shifts, but had planned to get the sit-on-top out. I like to kick back and doze on the flatwater sometimes. Imagine waking up to that thing crawling in the boat...
 
Big Mike said:
Yes, :thumbup: ...there are lots of rattlers up on the rocky ridges in the Hundon Highlands and Taconic Range.

When conditions are right (like a warm spring day) you can often see many out laying in the sunshine.


I have seen more rattlers in one day there then I ever encountered hiking in the South West.




B]Big Mike [/B]
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I have been hiking thought the Taconic heading towards the HH for the last few weekends and so far no rattlers but they can also be found on the Riga Plateau over Loin’s head. I ran into a kinda large one a few weeks ago in the higer country on Mount Race just 5 miles into Mass. It was in the middle of the AT.

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I leave them alone as would sure hate to hike out with a rattlesnake bite. It seems most people get hit when trying to kill or handle them. In any case I am going to check out those rocky ridges some more when in NY.
 
WalterDavis said:
....and headed south to the 'Behind-the-rocks' area....
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I love Moab, and that area is a great place to camp. I've gone to two 24-hour bike races out there, and ridden my XR all over out in the back country. Never saw a snake, though. Glad your experience turned out like it did! Definitely reminds us all to be aware of our surroundings.

In the future, maybe you could sleep in the bed of your truck or off the ground some such way -- that would keep the wee beasties from joining you for a warm snuggle.

I've come across quite a few rattlers, and generally just leave them alone. If they're out in the country, I figure I'm on their turf. If they come to my house, that's a bit different. Since moving to Spokane I've had two rattler encounters at or near my house. Last June I killed a good sized one in my driveway, and then again a few weeks ago I had to finish one off that was on the road in front of our house. Both times I used a flat bladed shovel type tool to chop them in pieces.

Be very careful if you do kill one -- their reflexes will keep them writhing and striking for several minutes AFTER they've been chopped in half. I cut the first one in three pieces, and it was STILL striking at the shovel blade! It kept writhing for 15 or 20 minutes after being cut in pieces. Rather creepy.

Re-post picture of the first snake:

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Be very careful if you do kill one -- their reflexes will keep them writhing and striking for several minutes AFTER they've been chopped in half. I cut the first one in three pieces, and it was STILL striking at the shovel blade! It kept writhing for 15 or 20 minutes after being cut in pieces. Rather creepy.
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+1

Never pick one up with the head still attached. I've had them writhe around on the cutting board, hours from being skinned and gutted.
 
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