Big ol rattler killed in Arkansas. Guys story below. He shot it with his wife's pink snub nose.



http://indefinitelywild.gizmodo.com/the-biggest-rattlesnake-youll-ever-see-1741987485

That's a good sized rattler for sure! Biggest I've seen in person was a 6' 8" one I took out in Carrizo Springs, TX a few years ago.

That's a big rattler.

That's a whopper!

Refreshing to see a pic of a big snake - NOT hanging off of a long pole directed at the camera in an attempt to make it look like a world record.

Then don't read article... That's the first pic you'll see.

I like them new style snake boots.

Too bad he killed it. Snakes like this are very rare. We used to see 5-6' rattlers below the Caprock all the time, but not anymore.

Hard to blame him. Had bitten his dog.

I'm sure you can buy some to turn out on your place if you really want that, lol.

I kill the ones I find. No way I'm leaving them around my dogs and 2 year old son.

Yep! Only good snake....well you know the rest...lol

That's some good eating right there.

The thing I find funny is that he cut off the rattlers before he cut off the head.

the guys little dog is ready to pounce

^^^^^^^^^ Agreed.

It's certainly a big Western D/B, I've caught many hundreds in my life time, both in Central and South Texas.

An honest Six foot snake is a rarity.

In the photo above we don't really have anything of 'known' scale to judge the snakes length. Clearly... it is a large snake and since the subject of the story/post is about that, I am satisfied.

For those wanting to know the true length of the specimen, we can estimate it based on the 'normal' width of the male hand (approx. 3.3" or about 4" clenched). The mans hand is the only thing in the same focal plane as the snake (an important point, knowledgeable photographers will tell you).

Including the head of the snake and allowing for the droop of the tail, I would estimate its length at about 72".

That would not be a surprising length for an Eastern Diamond Back, but that's a big 'Western' in anyone's book.

The largest we have ever caught was a 'measured' 6'-3" on a ranch in Encinal, Texas. That snake had a 13" girth!

Except it isn't a western. That's an eastern. I lived in FL for 4 years and I saw a bunch of them but FL kind of frowns on you killin' them.

I hate those things but they make pretty gun slings and leather goods.

I need some taller boots

I'll certainly entertain that idea, but tell me why you think its an Eastern?


IF the snake was actually taken where proposed (Hartford, Arkansas), the snake would have to be WELL outside of traditional distribution (currently thought to be Eastern Louisiana). Hartford shares the border with Oklahoma. But stranger things have happened, so lets just say an Eastern managed to go that far West or escaped from some captive environment (possible).

We will then have to turn to the few distinguishing features that help identify a Western from an Eastern. Length and weight alone will not do it for us...since only when we consider the 'Maximum' size of each..is there a significant difference.

But, there are certain 'markings' on both snakes that can be helpful. 'Typically' the Eastern has Darker diamonds and the border of the diamonds (usually yellow to gold looking) provides more contrast than the diamonds of the Western. But again...depending upon lighting and individual variations, we can't rely on this alone.

There is however... one difference which is 'telling', when we look at the 'banding' of the tail. Western Diamondbacks have a very distinct white on black banding (coontail). The Eastern has either a brownish or gray on white banding (much less contrast). When you see the two side by side it becomes starkly evident.

Look at ALL the pictures provided in the link and tell me what you think.

Thanks for your input,

Flint.

Agreed sir.

This^^^^

I have caught and sold literally hundreds of them back in high school. Started just killing them when my boys started roaming the woods.
Stories of 72+ inch snakes are common. I've personally seen exactly 2. This one was taken in southern Taylor county a few years back. There was a bit hanging off the end of the 6 foot ladder, plus I lost a chunk with the 12 gauge.

The place had some well fed specimines also. As far as tasting good, they smell of rat piss. Eating one is like eating the rib cage out of a gar fish, but tough like a old boar squirrel. Not much meat on them, I don't care who tells you different.