Buzzworm

[Speckmisser]

Chasing hogs down near Cholame this weekend, I had the opportunity to play with my new video camera.

I'm definitely no C.B. DeMille or anything, but I did have fun.

Let's see if this clip works

Well, you'll have to get it at YouTube...had a heck of time uploading to the JHO Picture Post.

 

[DEERSLAM]

It works. Why didn't you try and get some close ups?

 

[Speckmisser]

I started to catch him, but he was already kinda mad and it was hot outside...plus I had a solid half-mile walk back to the truck. Didn't think it was wise to push my luck.

Dunno if you notice, but for a moment I lost him in the viewfinder. When I got back on him, he was coming right at me. Never saw a rattler do that before... cottonmouth moccasin, yes, but never a rattler.

 

[beastslayer]

Thanks for sharing.

Snakes generally would avoid people. A snake that's going towards you is a sign that the snake is aggresive

Cobras and vipers in Southeast Asian countries are the only ones that do just that. One cobra in Borneo would even want to fight off my land cruiser.

 

[tradman]

yeeeesshhh!!

I almost stepped on one this past weekend hiking on Mt. Tam. Never even saw him on the trail. As I was walking along, I heard the rattle right beneath me in mid-step. I don't think I brought my feet down for another 10 feet! Leapt through the air like Barishnikov. Kind of shook me as I was alone and about 5 miles from the truck.

And of course after that I imagined about 2000 more of them every time the wind shook a leaf or a lizard scurried into the brush. I do NOT like snakes!!

 

[BDB]

NIce footage Phil. Man i hate seeing those things.

I almost stepped on one during the turkey opener. I was going to let him go but my partner didn't like the location and the tall grass we would be returning through a few hours later so mr. rattler took a dirt nap. The funniest thing was watching him skin it out 3 hours later (1 hour after the head had been cut off) and the heart was still pumping and when he tried to skin it, it coiled around his arm!!! Nerve reflex to being cut I guess. I have never seen a 6'4" guy jump so fast or let out such a girlish squeal

 

[Kentuck]

Hate them stinking buzz worms. Not as bad as an old hunting buddy of mine though. The guy was a rattler magnet. I always stayed a few steps away from him while hunting!

Hey BDB,

Saw these two guys near where you will be hunting this coming weekend. They were only about 14-15 inches long. Watch where you sit!

Kentuck

 

[BDB]

Did I mention that I hate those damn things

The one we saw (and skinned) was pretty big, around the 3 foot mark. Great looking skin after it was all skinned out too.

 

[Speckmisser]

If the one I got on film had been 3' or better, he'd have been coming home with me too. They make a great skin, and easy to deal with too.

He was only about half that long, though, and he was courteous enough to let me know he was there...unlike that devious serpent at Tejon a couple years back.

 

[YoungBlood]

BDB - I know I wasn't going to be walking back across that field and NOT know where that snake was hiding.

I cannot confirm or deny your reports from the skining situation, but I'm pretty sure you jumped a little also. That snake did not want to die!!!

When I stretched the hide it was > 6 inches wide and 4 feet long including rattles.....minus the head. That snake actually had 2 fangs on the left side. I had never seen that before, but I would not want to get a bite from it. Here's a pict. My wife is really happy it's hanging in my office on the wall right now - YB

 

[Wild1]

Cool video Speck, and cool photos from the rest of the fellas. When I'm not hunting, I enjoy traveling (just returned from Italy). Last summer I went to Vietnam and Cambodia for the heck of it. In Cambodia anything goes as long as you have the greenbacks. Don't want to hijack the thread, but check out these lethal pictures: one pissed off, nasty reticulated python.

 

[Wild1]

Sorry, file must be too big....

 

[Kentuck]

Another thing, since Snake Hunting is so popular back home during the dog days of August, a "dead" snake can still bite up to 24 hours later. Dang things don't seem to want to die. Also, if you kill one, bury the head.

 

[BrysonHesperiaResort]

Well, I saw this post and like you guys, hate them too. We cleaned these out of the BRYSON barley field, we thought maybe it might have been a nest cuz there were three of them. YUK

My friend killed them with a hoe, ( pictured in photo as "weapon of choice") & I added my friend's dog to the photo cuz he thought he was a "Big Rattlesnake Hunter Dog" - those little dogs crack me up when they "act big"...


[attachment=41609:attachment] Barley pigs & hunters are a little safer now.







Nice work Speck- more please!

 

[Wild1]

http://adventureboy.zenfolio.com/p75245517...8281D#661137437

 

[Wild1]

Last summer in Cambodia: one King cobra, two Asian Cobras, and me: http://adventureboy.zenfolio.com/p75245517...58B07#763726599

 

[Speckmisser]

Cool pix, Wild1!

The things you can do when you get out of the super-litigious US.

Deedy, just to be clear, I definitely don't hate snakes...of any kind. I think they're pretty danged cool, and go out of my way not to hurt them unnecessarily. Of course, I'll kill one that takes up residence in my yard (not an issue anymore since I live in the stinkin' city), but in the field, unless I have a specific use for it (like my desire for a good rattlesnake skin), I don't bother them.

 

[jb229]

Cool pics / Video.

On a side note, are there a lot of Rattlers at Tejon. Had a run in with a little guy this past deer season, don't really want a repeat. Guess its as good as time to order my shin gators.

thanks.

 

[Speckmisser]

JB, there ARE a bunch of rattlers at Tejon, as there are all over that part of the state. That said, I've only had one run-in, and only seen a couple.

If gaiters make your feel more comfortable, then definitely get some. Some folks wear 'em, and some don't.

But remember when you're walking in steep country you need to watch where you put your hands too. In a lot of places, you may actually be at eye level with the ground, and often use your hands as much as your feet to get around.

 

[beastslayer]

Seen quite a few at Tejon. And some baby rattlers. Tejon management warned us about it in the briefing.

The big ones just move away. So they are not the aggressive kind -- except maybe when you step on it.