AS the temp drops a little I hope the darn things go in a hole , last week I slipped on a steep hill , fell on my arse , only to hear the rattle ( which sounded like bug ) . I glanced over to my boots only to see I had just kicked a 5 ft rattle snake in the face. Of course this occurred on 10/13/17 . I was so shook up I didn't even clic a pic. And no I was not in my snake boots

I'm sure he wasn't too thrilled to see you either. Here in Florida I encounter dozens of cottonmouths, diamondbacks, and pygmy rattlers because I generally hunt during the warm weather in our archery and spring gobbler seasons. I never have any trouble with them because I am always careful where I sit, and never, EVER, shove my hand into ANY hole, crevice, or under a log, etc.

Every pit viper I've ever walked up on froze in place, hoping I wouldn't notice it. I always just walk around them. Most snakebite victims in North America brought it upon themselves by trying to handle these critters or keep them as pets.

I had my first rattlesnake encounter last year in Colorado, I was hiking with a buddy of mine & he was in the lead. He walked right past the snake and didn't see it. I was about 2-3 feet away from it when it moved. When I saw it I let out a shriek(a manly one of course) as I jumped out of my skin and ran past it shaking like a leaf. I started stammering and couldn't get the word "rattlesnake" out of my mouth for a good 10 or 15 seconds as my buddy was trying to figure out what was wrong. after a little bit the snake coiled up and started rattling so we just moved right along.

My heart was racing for a solid 10-15 mins after that, and with all the adrenaline in my body I remember being able see every little insect moving in the grass by my feet, and every little rustle of grass caught my attention.

Needless to say I have a slight fear of snakes :)

Skin em & back a bow. John

All snakes, spiders, rats, and mice are killed with extreme prejudice. Regards

We deal with them more months then not here in central Texas.

Was hog hunting in central Calif this spring-first animal we saw was a rattler. The guys said the ranch was full of them-I like to think that looking for them made me slow down and watch. My footfalls- At least for that day! I do not fear them, I do respect them.

It is chukar season here now and snake proffing dogs is a must as the reptiles and chukars like the same rocks.

@ BIG DOG? I like Your attitude about the pests. They get in my vicinity and their lifespan chances decrease RAPIDLY!

OMG see this isn't just a mishap. Friday the 13th. I stayed in and played it safe.

I been worried about copperheads too myself I know I am hunting in cooper country so trying to watch out.

They don't taste like chicken, more like frog legs.

And they are chewier than gator...

They are part of life here. If you are outdoors- you WILL see poisonous snakes.

NY has snakes too...LOL!

Make a nice hatband! Seriously though I like and respect snakes. Got a 5 foot black snake that lives under my front porch. Had chipmuncks till she moved in. My daughter and I named her Penelope.

One of the problems here in the South is that the temperature doesn't STAY cold long enough for the snakes to truly hibernate. The first sunny day in the 70's will have them right back out. Typically they are harmless though. As pointed out above, every rattlesnake I have ever seen just wanted to be left alone and wouldn't have bitten me unless I went out of my way to get bitten. Fortunately I haven't kicked any though. lol

Glad you are still getting out in the woods r-man.

Craig, if that were my wife, she'd have blown a hole through the front door with the shotgun blasting that thing to kingdom come. :)

In over 50 years of hunting the Colorado mountains I have never seen a snake while hunting. I like it that way!!

We have to keep one eye on the ground until around January this far South. ;-)

I had a rattler crawl across my toe a couple weeks ago in Wyoming as I was glassing antelope. It didn't even rattle or hiss, was just heading back down its hole...

They are all cobras!

I see copperheads every week , they are very shy and avoid you as fast as they can , this snake could have bit me if it chose to , it did not want to . It was my 4th or 5th step off the road . Just caught me off guard . The name of the the road of which this occurred is the funny part ( Viper road ).

Florida is flooded right now so we have all kinds of critters heading for high ground, we have a large water moccasin visiting us right now he takes off every time we see him.

Learned to respect snakes a long-time ago in a galaxy far,far away.

I have rattlers on my home place, but this guy was a surprise until I thought about the fact that there are almost 100 elk within a quarter mile.

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