Friend or foe

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

You know...I dont mind putting a skin or two on a bow

probably make some good "trading stock" at the upcoming Rendezvous in Packwood.......

[Dmanmastertracker]

 Pretty cool to see so many, great pic's DK. I haven't seen a rattler in this State since I was about 6-7 years old.

[grundy53]

You know...I dont mind putting a skin or two on a bow...but them snakes do serve a purpose other than taking birdshot from your 22!!!! Just think of all the rotten little mice them *censored*s eat out there!

Were you up Robby or somewhere closer to home?

let the bull snakes eat the mice. kill them damn rattlers

[boneaddict]

Closer to home.....getting too expensive to shoot them.  Damn shot is 10 bucks a box (20 shells).  Besides one errant pellet can put the hurt on a piece of camera glass.  I did bust a few.  Most of them I just stepped on or around.  One time I was standing on about 100 1-2 footers, with about half of them buzzing.  MAN thats creepy.

[BIGINNER]

Closer to home.....getting too expensive to shoot them.  Damn shot is 10 bucks a box (20 shells).  Besides one errant pellet can put the hurt on a piece of camera glass.  I did bust a few.  Most of them I just stepped on or around.  One time I was standing on about 100 1-2 footers, with about half of them buzzing.  MAN thats creepy.

   what kind of boots do you wear?  i've had lots of run ins with rattlesnakes,  but nothing this close...   do they strike right away?

[pat2bear]

Bone- I think this is the only time that you'll have guys asking where you took these photos so they'll make sure NOT to go there. 

[chrisb]

I'm making my first trip to Potholes this July with the kids for a yote hunt, how prevalent are rattlers in that area? should we be looking for snake proof boots or gaiters?

[BIGINNER]

while we're on this subject,..  what makes snakeproof shoes "snakeproof"?  what kind of thickness can i snake bite through?  how high up the leg?    this whole snake thing really got me thinking,   lol  i've been around rattlesnakes alot,  but i got into hunting less than a year ago,  and never really had experience with them up close,...

[boneaddict]

In this particular area I wear my regualr hunting boots ALL LEATHER, I think that would be the important part.   Remember their fangs are like sharp hypodermic needles.  They are 12 inches high.  I also wear snake chaps.  I didn't for years, but had several close calls.  I don't wear them other than when I am in the middle of these dens.   They are almost vertical, and where they get you is when you crush them under a rock and rub the back of your leg in theri face.  About the back of the knee.  Watch your hands.  Its precarious on shifting rocks with a camera lens and system in one hand and gear.  I use a potatoe fork as a third arm or leg.  Watch your hands!   Not saying most of you climb around in snake pits.  but I set my camera lens down, came back for it, checked before I picked it up and sure enough, one crawled up by it.  Another I went to step down and almost put my foot on him directly.  Thats how I got bit last time, right in the toe of my boot.  They generally reach around and nail your foot, right about where those cool ventilated boots are letting that fresh air in.  WEAR LEATHER!  I'll get around to more pics.

[boneaddict]

We've had two documented fatalities locally in the last couple years.  One was the one in Vantage, a rock hound, got bit in the neck.  The other was a mountain biker, I believe in Cowiche canyon....snake flipped up in his lap and he died of DIC after being bit a couple agonizing days later.

[Austrian Hunter]

I gently lift the rock off.

  you lifted the rock my neck hair are standing up, I got the chills

[carpsniperg2]

wow cool, i have only found one den of rattlers before. found a few bull snake dens over the years as well but i leave them alone i spend many $ and miles running around snake hunting over the years

[predatorpro]

those are some beautiful northern pacifics! i love snakes i got some good pics of them too i even have 4 snakes, 3 ball pythons and 1 boa i use to have alot more but kids and a smaller house put a dent in my collection of animals

[Curly]

Bone, what is DIC?

Great pics by the way.

[danceswitharrows]

Bone- I think this is the only time that you'll have guys asking where you took these photos so they'll make sure NOT to go there. 

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