I stepped out of my blind in the dark and he was waiting. He let me know immediately who he was, problem was, I couldn't see him in the dark. Once he moved I had him, he was less than two feet away. I'm sure it would have been comical if someone had been watching, I was back tracking like crazy. Luckily I had a t-post that I tripped over trying to get away from him. That's my blind he's up against, very close call.

lucky you are safe, with these cold spells they will be looking for overnight warm places.

Dayum that was close , when did this happen?

WOW that was close.

Last night, Young County. Last thing I expected when I stepped out. Problem was I had deer under the feeder and I was trying to back out quietly. That plan went to hell real quick.

You should probably tilt your blind over and look under it as there may be more.

I planned on doing that this morning. I couldn't get out of there fast enough last night.

That's why I wear snake boots 90% of the time. Very rarely do I switch to my warmer hunting boots. By the looks of this season I may wear them the whole time.

I can imagine...

Oh man

I would have shot myself in the foot! That is scary!

Like DLRZ said, I also wear my snake boots almost all the time when hunting or working on my place. Knock on wood that I haven't had a problem, but they are there and it only takes one to mess up your day.

Glad you got him with no injury to yourself.

Found a den in mid December on a rocky ( big rocks ) just to the south of Ranger hill in Eastland county about 40 years ago. Climbing hill and spotted one coiled up on top of rock and got to looking and found 5 more on top of rocks soaking up the sun. Killed all of them as they never got excited, it's amazing what a 130 grain 270 bullet will do aimed about 1" outside of the coil and rock explodes, not much left.The rancher had another pasture that had a large den on it and let the snake hunters thin them out.

I never leave the house, regardless of the temps without my snake boots. Standard procedure year round and I hunt in Young Co. as well. Killed 2 last Friday and Saturday.. Copperheads are on the move as well. Be careful out there!

Get you some chippewas. I like rattlers because they do usually let you know they are thinking about biting you before they do. That's when I give them a chance to exit. If they do, they live if not they die.

Wow! I'm glad you made it out and away safely! It does look like it's a good snake now! Thanks for posting this! It's a reminder to be deligent. I've been getting out of my blind in the dark and walking back in the dark, think I'll be using the flashlight from now on.



I appreciate your generosity but I'm just not that generous.

How was your drawers? any skid marks?

Well, I went back to the same stand tonight, WITH my snake boots. We checked under the blind earlier this morning, nothing there. This blind sits on top of a rocky hill. I'm sure there's a den somewhere close. I never would have thought snakes would have been an issue this time of year. At least in our part of the country. I guess that's what I get for thinking. Non poisonous snakes get a pass from me, not rattlesnakes.

We need to import some black Indigo snakes from south Texas.

Too close ! Glad you got him!

I learned that I can still jump this year when I almost stepped on one.