This past weekend a friend and I went to my deer hunting grounds to set ups deer stands for the coming season. It is something I do every June. Set stands, trim shooting lanes, and open visibility in these thick southern woods. We relocated a few stands and trimmed some others. At one location, we were busy trimming lanes in a pine forest. When my friend, said in a matter of fact way. "look over there." I stopped my activity and said, "where?" thinking he had seen a deer and scanning the woods for the white tail bounding through the woods. "There is a snake." he said very calmly. I appreciated his calmness at this moment. Freaking out at a moment like that can cause some real problems when snakes are involved.
I looked and immediately noticed a Timber Rattler not more than seven (7) feet away coiled up next to a small log. Just laying there, not rattling, just watching us. "That is a timber rattler." one of us said, "be still, I will move behind him." The rattler was obviously focused on Chad, and I moved behind the snake, unsheathed my .22 pistol that I carry for just such opportunities as this, and moved in.
Approaching the snake from behind I moved to with in a few inches and shot the snake in the head with my "shotshell" .22. This is the ideal ammunition for this situation, the little #12 shot will offer a broad pattern covering a few inches, but more than sufficient for the snake. A follow up shot confirmed his demise. We then removed his head for extra security and now his skin is stretched and drying in my shop.
For a Timber rattler he was huge, tape measured to exactly 48 inches with 10 rattlers. - Note to self. Wear chaps when approaching this sand in early season. - This is the second Timber Rattler we have taken in these same woods, with the other measuring 46 inches with 8 rattles.
I will say though, this is one of the prettiest snakes in the woods, with is coloration and shape. I am glad I had the .22, but I was surprised he never rattled at us.
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