My 13 year old and I were bow hunting Saturday evening west of Bowie when the encounter happened. Sitting in a pop up blind that has no floor we decided to get out right at dark. Well, I went to grab my backpack to get my flashlight when I heard the familiar buzz of a rattler. He and I jumped up not knowing if he was in the blind with us and now I cannot get my flashlight since I could not see if he was sitting behind it. I raised the other side of the blind up and we crawled out. He was sitting there coiled up on the other sided but when walked around he took off. I scared him with my pistol a few times since the only light we had was iphone light. When I finally killed him he had 10 rattles and was about 5 ft long. Just thankful he did not crawl in there with us. Be on the look out for them until it gets cold. Yes, I do have my CHL.

wow glade you guys got out ok and you killed the snake only good snake to me is a dead snake

Close call. Glad joined was bit

Glad you all are safe that was close!!

I usually catch 'em by the tail and pop the head off.

Glad you stayed safe



Easier to poke em with a stick...they usually crawl away

WOW...I am glad you guys are safe...just got goose bumps...nearly stepped on one Sat evening leaving my pop up blind and I DON"t have my CHL. only 2feet long but also only two feet off the rocky path I was walking on. Freaked me out so bad I did not hunt the next morning and picked up my pop up on Sunday after i could see everything. He just stayed there all coiled up while I stared at him and thanked God for Literally putting me on the right path...took an iphone pic of him but it was too far away and at night, kind of blurry. even took a shot at him with my bow but it was "a shot in the dark so I got on the atv to meet my hunting buddy. only the second one I seen on our place in 3 years

At what point are the snakes about denned up, and gone from the field?

I don't know but I sure wish it would be soon. I spent a lot of time on the www looking at info on them and what not...I never realized how much I hate those things and how scary they really are. I will be wearing my snake boots till i see snow on the ground

I don't know but I sure wish it would be soon. I spent a lot of time on the www looking at info on them and what not...I never realized how much I hate those things and how scary they really are. I will be wearing my snake boots till i see snow on the ground

when it gets below 50 they move pretty slow. It will not be long before it is a rarity to see one. I plan to build platforms for my pop up blinds now. Atleast I can open the door adn look around before getting on the ground. We should have had snake leggings on but it was hot and we have been fortunate not to have seen any so far. Lesson learned. Accidents happen when you do not expect them. I looked hard for them during dove season and did not see any. How the heck do you put pictures on here? I have pics of it.

Killed a copperhead outside my popup about a week ago!

Yes, killed since I then don't have to worry about that snake crawling into the blind with me anymore.

Saturday morning I was walking to the blind in the moon light, and something hit my boot top just above my heel. It made a pop sound and I felt it, like a stick poping the back of my boot. Tried to see what it was with my light but after fumbling around finally finding the light I didn't see anything.

Still gives me goosebumps thinking about it!

When it snowed in South Texas on Christmas Eve a few years ago we had 4" of snow in southeastern La Salle County and it was 24 degrees Christmas morning. We killed 2 rattlesnakes on the 27th that year. I killed snakes every year around Christmas when I was there on that ranch.

Those south Texas rattlers don't know what hybernation is! Very familiar with LaSalle County.

Killed a big rattler during december one time with snow on the ground. It was the first time i had seen that! Hope its the last.Once this front hits i will bet money those old snakes will be laid out across the roads at night trying to warm up! Thats where the fun starts!

That settles it...I am sleeping in my snake boots at the cabin and buying snake proof PJs...

I saw something one year I hunted just south of Uvalde near Batesville I'll never forget.

It was in the teens that morning at around 3:00 am. on our way to the lease we turned off I35 at the Moore exit onto the farm to market road 1515.

All along the shoulder for miles there were rattlesnakes of every size imaginable in clusters and some singles or one here and there but they were lying coiled up on the shoulder of the pavement seeking the heat from the asphalt.

Talk about praying we didn't get a flat, and having the hebejebies when we got to the front gate of the lease!

Well if that is the case then those in Pecos County are as tough also then. 5 yrs ago it snowed 12" on the Friday and Saturday of opening weekend of Mule Deer season and I could not get out there to hunt till the next Friday. I killed a rattlesnake that afternoon also helping a buddy carry out his Mule Deer buck. But that ranch is loaded with them out there as last year alone the ranch manager killed over 200 of them and quit counting.

You must be talking about I37 since McCoy exit is in between Campbellton and Pleasanton.

Yea I have been around them my whole life and still get a little fired up when I hear that familiar buzz. My 13 year old has never really been around them except for a coupd of rattlesnake roundups and he knew immediately what it was. A few years ago we were on a ranch outside of Cotulla and killed quite a few of them. It seems down there they are short and very fat.

this was posted tonight
http://www.texashuntingforum.com/forum/u...ng_#Post2670866

Carefull out there

The year I killed those 2 after the snow in La Salle County I killed over 50 total and only 10 them were under 4 1/2 ft long. I killed about 8-10 over 6' that year also. Depends on the year though some years you do not see many at all.

dang, that is a big snake. I also thought of shooting that one with my bow but a few dollars for the 357 sig shells vs the $15 arrow and $10 broadhead changed my mind. Plus I probably would have missed anyhow.

Make yourself a snake killing stick. They can come in handy.

Rattlers aren't the only ones on the prowl.