Timing= EVERYTHING!!

Yep, we've all heard it before...Man, shoulda been here yesterday, If we had only gotten here @sunrise, Should've tried another lake, Wonder why they didn't bite at this spot earlier, That's the straw that broke the camel's back etc. etc. Just this past Friday, after ending another fruitful, local, 1/2 day fishing trip, the always present Life's Timing analogy knocked somewhat "loudly". Semi-blocking the community entrance, an unfamiliar Pickup truck with it's driver's side door open peaked my curiosity. The apparent owner stood alone(not) about 15 feet onto the next door neighbor's grass with a 4' piece of 1 1/2" PVC. His 1st comment was "Are you hungry"? My curious gaze made it to ground level to discover what the PVC pipe's role was in this "timing" episode.Attachment 379262 Eastern Diamond Rattler(60" nose to tail-tip) was being secured to ground after Mike gave chase onto neighbor's lawn just 80 yards from my front door! He managed to get it back to roadside near his open-door Truck wherein my "Timing clock" plays in. The absolutely beautiful creature showed his skill level by rattling up a crescendo easily heard from 60 feet away. I snapped off a few camera-phone shots to capture "Really, how big was that fish? Got any pics?" unmistakable proof. The episode proceeded smoothly mainly due to Mike's knowledge and adeptness of handling poisonous snakes.Attachment 379263 Neighbor Karen arrived shortly from her house to appraise the situation. Quick jaunt back to garage yielded Karen w/a Snake pole, 3 shovels, rake, weed eater, chain saw and a 4' axe, and a Bible :Rofl Only after Mike was convinced I wanted to eat/tan this specimen was he willing to concede to Karen's adamant wish to SAVE the neighborhood!! Beheading(him) and skinning(us) was easily achieved on scene with fresh specimen.Attachment 379266 While Karen easily maintained quadruple safe-distancing, I was able to "urge" her to at least touch the snake before we skinned it. She fairly easily complied(atta girl)! Also, inserted "you're gonna eat some right?" Yeppir. After taking my Google (now, what do I do) learning-curve turn, all is perfectly aligned. Only one neck-cut and an anal vent-opening marred the beautifully marked, rattle still attached,Attachment 379265 Attachment 379267 fleshing/tanning "project"(tube sock). Today's itinerary included the welcomed next door delivery of Southern-fried rattlesnake. Both newbie opinions rated high end value, would easily do again. Somewhat chewy(gator/chicken) but easily doable/adventurous. rotfl-Attachment 379264

I plan to either fill tanned-skin w/salt per Mike or fill with sand for full mount w/ attached rattle. FYI, the rattle-tail "buttons" are hollow!! Made from Carotene(like our nails) they are added after each shed. This one had juvenile button on end w/9 other shed buttons(donut-shaped). The rattle sound is generated similar to a length of multiple chain links. Three tail muscles can vibrate the rattle up to 90 times per SECOND!! OMG! Whole lotta shakin' goin' on! I guess I can cross off this absolutely perfectly "timed" and conducted(thanks Mike) Life event from my bucket list. How has/will "Timing" affect your future? :dono Always has & will play a role in our lives!:highfive

Another interesting note was Mike showing be both fangs, one of which had an extra point! Sorry no pic.:Rofl

u2s

Heat must have them moving, had one the same size crawling across the street when I was jogging last week.

Sounds contradictory JC...leading back to "timing" = his hunting days/nights had unfortunately coincided with Mr. Mike's scheduling and awareness capabilities. To quote Jim Croce- You don't tug on Superman's cape, You don't spit into the wind, You don't pull the mask off that ol' Lone Ranger, and You don't cross the road in front of Mike!!:Rofl

u2s

Been years since I had any but I found it to be tasty. Big enough for a bad experience.

Stretch and tack hide on long board, stand up at angle so liquids can
drain off, leave for two days. Scrape flesh and fat off best you can.
Wash off salt then make up tanning solution.

Tanning solution = 50% Alum (plus) 50% Potassium Nitrate (salt Peter) ......
break raw eggs into mixed solution till you have a "paste" smear on fleshed side of
stretched out & tacked hide, leave for two days in dry area

Now your hide is "tanned" ..........

Clean off dried solution
Remove from board and trim to suit .......

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

Been years since I had any but I found it to be tasty. Big enough for a bad experience.

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Even a juvenile rattler can sentence you to your "last experience"!!nonono

u2s

Danny- Easier than that is 50% glycerin/50% alcohol(isopropylyl 70-90 percent, or denatured). Decided not to do the typical tack down method...filled up natural-look w/o head.:ThumbsUp

u2s

I ran over one (multible) times about that size in the Stick Marsh parking lot a few weeks back.
There are always people fishing from the shore there and the last thing they need is to step on one of those things.
Im sure the many local Buzzards there enjoyed that one.

Amazing color pattern & very deserving of respect!!=always gives me the HeBe-JeBe's....

just a big WOW !!!

Wow. All I have to say is; no thanks, not hungry, don't need them around in any form.

Yup, just made my skin crawl.........eeewwww. Not a snake fan I leave them alone, they leave me alone. Unless danger to my family then they gotta go.

Tastes like chicken. I love to eat them but don’t like encountering them much at all.

Dang nasty critter

Diamond backs and timber rattlers are common at our farm.
Both are yummy, just take off both back straps, Fry em up.


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Snakes are beautiful creatures and they certainly serve their purpose on God's awesome Creation... but, like so many others, I do not take any chances when I find them too close to my house or my family... especially since my neighbor's wife was bitten by a copperhead just a few years ago (also in August) while walking along her walkway and too near to the azaleas bushes where that particular copperhead was located just out of sight. It took her almost a year to get fully recovered from the necrosis, subsequent infection, muscle and nerve problems that she suffered from the bite, because of her advanced age and already compromised state of health. It can happen before you realize it.

Case in point: I encountered a grown copperhead while walking to my shelter (where I keep the boat parked) one night (earlier this month) laying right in my driveway in the same pathway I was walking. Luckily I have a security light on a pole close by that fairly illuminates the area; I have always been in the habit of perusing the ground cautiously wherever I am walking... especially in the summer months; and that I was able to stop myself before finishing the step that would have placed my foot and lower leg well within striking range. There is no doubt in my mind that I would have been bitten.

I have also eaten rattlesnake and found it to be very good eatin'.

Thanks for your post. It should also serve as a valuable reminder that August and September are two of the most dangerous months for having an unexpected encounter with a venomous snake.

Also remember this is breeding season for venomous snakes. All pit vipers love cool dark places to lay. Also be aware reaching into cover retrieving bait and lures.

Great post. I have done the glycerine alcohol tanning method with beautiful results

Tasty treat they can be !! Nice job on the hide removal.