If you see a rattlesnake, consider yourself lucky.  Been in that territory many many times over the past 40 years.  Saw one rattlesnake 25 years ago.  Only saw it because I flipped the piece of wood it was hiding under.

Walk hard.  Heavy footsteps scare the snakes away.

DentonDoc wrote on Aug 12^th, 2010 at 6:04pm:


Reminds me of the old snakebite story of the two cowboys working the range. I'll PG it for the QJ

One of the cowboys was relieving himself when a rattler bit him in a " delicate" place  
His partner was less than reassuring and so they decided the best option was riding into town and getting the doctor.

When he arrived the doc was busy with a birth, but gave him instructions that made him grimace. Seems like he had to cut the bite and suck out the poison, standard treatment for that day and age.

He rode back at a full gallop and arrived to find his partner barely holding on. As he dismounted and approached his friend raised his head and barely audible, asked what the doctor said?

" He said, your going to DIE"  

I read somewhere that more people died from infections brought on by that old technique, than were saved.  My sister who lived in CA and  AZ now, has had 2 Rottweiler bitten by rattlers. Both dogs affected areas swelled up 2x the size and they were sick as hell, but survived. Vet told her most adults in good health will survive but should seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

Old Salt wrote on Aug 13^th, 2010 at 3:33pm:


I don’t know I have met some characters up there.