Todays hike, and the snakes are out

tknife

tknife

Joined
Mar 18, 1999
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Saw the first rattlers of the season, the first one was big :eek: He just slowly crossed the trail.
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The second one was smaller, snapped the pic as he was dodging into the bushes
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Here's where we ate lunch
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Brought my Laconico, it's a great knife.
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Western Diamondback I think, or more likely a souther pacific rattler. We have about 5 different species around this area.
 
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cool pics T... you gotta watch those rattlers...:o

some dude shot a big a$$ rattler, right through the head, when we were shooting in santa barbara... they ended up eating it and when i left, they were starting to dry the skin out, to put it on the back of a primitive bow...:D i love snake skinned backed bows... it's a natural camoflauge and water repellent...:thumbup:
 
Great pics.

We only have one species of snake here in Michigan that is venomous and it comes with a rattle too. Very rarely will you see one though. Its not nearly as ornery and dangerous as the kind found in your neighborhood.

You're a better man than I am Gunga Din. I wouldn't want to play in their back yard.

Chris
 
In my younger days, I would have killed it, ate it and kept the skin. Now I just leave them be. I do miss the cool rattles and hatbands we'd make though :) Both these guys were really calm, it was cool watching them. My wife was a little freaked out, and my sister in law came along with us, and she was ready to turn and head back home!
 
What kind of backpack is that? Does it fit the Nalgene in the side pocket. I have a Kelty and the water bottles always fall out. Looks like a great small backpack.
 
It's the REI Traverse. the big Nalgenes don't fit, I carry it in the main compartment. But I recently got two of the 16oz Nalgenes that fit the side pockets perfectly. This pack is also hydration bladder compatable, but sometimes I don't feel like loading my Camelbak bladder into it. It's a great pack for day hikes, and overnighters. It's been on dozens of hikes over the past year or so.
 
Cool pics! I guess it's best to see them in that situation than to unknowingly sit down next to one!...
 
Looks like a great pack. Thanks for the info. I may be looking into one the next time i need a new one.
 
I love rattlers.. always let them go... If there are people on the trail i use a stick to get them back into the bushes. Never did eat one before... Wonder how do they taste like with some rice and spices???? Like sharks people kill them just cause and leave them... Thumbs up for not killing them...
 
Great pics bro, I'd love to see some real snakes instead of the little Garters that we get !!!

Love the blade as well....very nice !!!!!
 
I'm probably going to take a snake this year, but only because I want to play with the skin and I haven't done that in a long, long time.

Last time I saw one, I was dove hunting with my daughter. He was sunning on the dirt road we were using to get back to the truck. We had a discussion about whether we should kill it, why we should or shouldn't, and what we'd do with it if we took it.

I didn't feel like cleaning one or playing with the skin, so she decided that we'd better not kill it. He ignored several rocks tossed to spook him off the trail -- large snake, that one -- and then just lifted his head and looked at us when we walked behind him, near his tail. Not really fussed with us.
 
Nice hike! I havn't seen any rattlers in this area yet, but it's just a matter of time before I do. You got Mojave green snakes in your area? Were a big concern in Az. when I was there last. Fortunately we had a couple Apache men in our camp and they found their holes and transplanted them out of our area on a daily basis. Wouldn't have been necessary, but had a bunch of young kids with us.
 
mtnfolk mike said:
cool pics T... you gotta watch those rattlers...:o

some dude shot a big a$$ rattler, right through the head, when we were shooting in santa barbara... they ended up eating it and when i left, they were starting to dry the skin out, to put it on the back of a primitive bow...:D i love snake skinned backed bows... it's a natural camoflauge and water repellent...:thumbup:
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You beat me to it, I was going to say that they would be backing for a nice self bow. Hey Mike, I am heading out to an awesome 3D shot in Minnesota tomorrow, 42 targets stretched out over 5 miles of trails. Will take some pictures and post later.
 
We have a myriad of deadly snakes here in Alabama: rattlers, copperheads, cottonmouths, coral, and politicians. That latter one is about the most vile and dangerous of them all.

I live in a subdivision NE of Birmingham - with some trees in my backyard. I've found copperheads behind my house. My neighbor from across the street came up my front steps one summer day a couple of years back with an old pillow case wanting to know if I 'wanted it'. 'It' was a copperhead she had grabbed as it crossed my driveway - headed for my flower bed in the middle of my lawn! They are everywhere here. At least you can 'smell' rattlers.

Stainz
 
longbow50 said:
Nice hike! I havn't seen any rattlers in this area yet, but it's just a matter of time before I do. You got Mojave green snakes in your area? Were a big concern in Az. when I was there last. Fortunately we had a couple Apache men in our camp and they found their holes and transplanted them out of our area on a daily basis. Wouldn't have been necessary, but had a bunch of young kids with us.
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I don't think the Mojave greens make it this far west. I have seen mostly diamondbacks and southern pacifics. Have seen a couple sidewinders in the desert too. Those are small, but man the move fast.
 
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