This the first rattlesnake I have seen on this place in the 8 yrs I have owned it. I would see them on the highways around me but never closer than 3 miles from my place. My neighbor has owned his place for almost 25 yrs and only seen one...that was 2.5 yrs ago now during Christmas week. I have not seen one on the road at all this year either in Goliad, Bee, Live Oak or Karnes County. He was a thick snake about 5' long. He had the 17 rattle just starting to show and missing the button. Odd to see one with that many rattles and have them all intact. I am going to have this skin tanned and put it on an old barn board, so I can put it over my front door. I see coachwhips, blue indigos and bull snakes here quite often and always looked for rattlernsnakes, but never seen one till this week. I found a drag (that looked like a big rattlesnake) across the same road I killed this one on back about a month ago. I was about 300 yards to the west, so I guessing it was this snake. Not sure why I don't see more rattlesnakes here but I do not have a lot of rat dens. Lot of armadillo holes, a few badger holes and tons of thick brush with a lot of agaritas. IME when I have seen agaritas I found rattlesnakes.

That is a nice rattler for sure, I would like to see a picture after you tan it out. Always wanted to tan one but all we have is copperheads, cotton mouths, and the occasional coral snake.

Man that's a lot sucker with a lot of buttons!

He was a fat healthy one for sure. I bet he will look great displayed on a board

Quality snake right there!

I have done 2 myself in the past but just put them directly on the wall. These two were killed in La Salle county and both over 6' long with 14-16 rattles left...broken off. The one on the left was a larger snake(6'4" or so) but less rattles than the one on the right. Both of those are 6' or shade over less the heads. I killed one bigger one that I stepped within 2' of stepping into a feed pen. He was in some wood plant next to the panels and I shot him with a shotgun..in two pieces. He was long and skinny.

Ranch man, you need a 'French maid' to keep the old antlers, uh, dusted.

That’s called velvet

Amazing I would have thought you had seen way more than that. Of course here going on 50 years I have seen 7.

Dang that booger is fat all of the way to its tail

Huge - glad you got him

Wow, but not uncommon. I have hunted wild bobwhite quail in Texas for 55 years and have only seen five. I'm never afraid of them until I see one. I shoot. My way back to the truck and go home when I do.

That fellow has been eating well it appears. Should make a great hat band.

Your indigos have been holding up there end really well! This one musta just got by 'em!

Mark

Bet he taste good on the grill!!!

Fat one!

That's Big one she said, never.

That's what I was going to say. Lots of indigos may mean lots of rattlebugs are on their menu. Male, yes?

[quote=stxranchman] I see coachwhips, blue indigos and bull snakes here quite often and always looked for rattlernsnakes, but never seen one till this week. [quote]

This^^^^^^ is why you see so few rattlesnakes...all three eat rattlesnakes...

Yes they have and the bull snakes also. I have seen 2 blue indigos bigger(6' to 7' or more) than this rattlesnake on a regular basis over the past 8 yrs now. One bull snake that is at least 6' long also just not as big around or heavy as the blue indigos. I had an indigo and bull snake around the house for a while but have not seen either now in couple years. Saw about a 3' indigo late this spring.

Yes they do.

Man he is an old fatty

My Favorite kind of rattlesnake!! Headless!

Good riddance ranchman!!!!

Damn straight brother.
He's a dead sumb--ch after all!