I have been in this position. Not fun, I was nose to nose - maybe 16" from it. I was thinking he must see the reflection of himself in my glasses. We came to an agreement, he behaved himself and I left him be as promised. All bets are off for next time though.
Rattle snake tips.
- Thread starter Musket Man
- Start date
I've had a lot of encounters....the most memorable was crawling through a briar thicket on what seemed to be a rabbit trail following a blood trail and finding one a few feet in front of my face. Then there was one in the seat of my climber when I got to it one afternoon. One on the rack of my 4wheeler when I got back to it one night (almost grabbed that one before something told me the blob on top of my bungi cords didn't look right). In my deer stand. Pretty common to find them in our feed barn. Had one fall in a boat with me pitching willows, had them in deer stands, inside 4wheelers, inside truck. Had other species get into snake boots I've left outside to dry out (ohh, the irony) and in the water troughs inside our steer pens. Dove season is terrible bc they're crawling like crazy getting ready to hibernate and you can't exactly dictate what kind of brush the doves will fall in.
This one got swatted with a mojo dove stake
tdcour
Veteran member
When I was living in South Dakota I talked to a bunch of guys that fished on the Missouri river about rattle snakes swimming up in their boat. Apparently they decide they need to swim across the river (usually around a mile wide at its narrow spots), and get tired along the way. They find a boat, climb up the motor and in the boat for a rest... needless to say, the boaters are usually less than impressed. Some traded places with the snake (in the water), some found out that fishing rods only make them mad when hit or moved with them, and some destroyed their boat with an oar killing the snake. Seems like an all around lose lose lose in my opinion... I really don't like snakes...
This is my biggest concern too. I tend to forget about everything but not blowing the stock and the cover you are using while belly crawling could have snakes in it.
Dearhunter3450
Active Member
I have found the gold measuring sticks to be valuable snake whackers. Then they have the 90degree bend on them to shovel up the snake to flip them back in the water. I'm not jumping in the water. Fight a snake for a while vs get eaten by a gator? Easy decision!
Hilltop
Veteran member
You southern fellas have some interesting critters down there. Until I moved out here all I had to worry about were Rutting/Calving Moose, drowning, lightning, and bears. Now it's all the above plus snakes! Thankful there are not gators in Wyoming. As for my run ins with buzzworms there have been a lot. All while guiding flyfishermen in the summer and all around water. When it gets hot the snakes like the cooler temps by the river. My first year I stepped on a sleepy and very good natured one, he did not buzz or strike just squirmed like crazy to get away which I let him do. However, each one after that gets a big river rock dropped on them with extreme prejudice. As for my snake bite kit? A sharpie and a watch. Luckily I've never had to use it. However, a doc out here told me to write the time of the bite next to the wound and a line marking expansion of swelling and time every ten minutes after that. Outside of that he instructed me to get the person to the hospital asap! On that note I knew a pair of ranching brothers that claim to get bitten quite often while haying and they don't even go to the doctor. Don't recommend that though. Hope I never get nailed but the guiding thing makes me nervous.
Sawfish
Very Active Member
Five good ways to deal with snakes: "Bang", "Bang", "Bang", "Bang", "Bang"! (J-Frame) Not recommended if in a boat. Although, I have heard of that happening!
CrossCreeks
Veteran member
I was hunting this year around New Castle WY. for antelope and came across this. I thought snow on the ground was sure sign you did not have to worry about rattlesnakes, boy was is wrong !
So far I haven't walked up on one coiled up or rattling. I am sure it will change but so far it hasn't. I did have one chukar hunting just go right in front of me. Never rattled, just cut me off while walking. Sometimes I wonder how many you walk by or walk really close to and never know they were there.
The one I almost stepped on in WY last year was coiled up rattling at me. Of all the places to stop on a gravel road and take pics and I pick right on top of a rattle snake......LOL
Dearhunter3450
Active Member
He sticks out pretty easy, so you should see him before you get really close.
Dearhunter3450
Active Member
The green Mojave ones are. But usually unless you get close and tick them off they will leave you alone, or at least from my experience.
I don't think you have to worry about the Mojave ones, as they are a lot farther south.