First Time Out This Spring

[308win]

Actually went in pursuit of the wily morel with a secondary objective to scout groundhogs. Spotted lots of groundhogs, several deer, many different birds, and one rattlesnake. They are supposed to be rare in this part of Ohio (Licking County). I don't like snakes anyway and now I have the knowledge that there is at least this one nasty one around. I am not a rattlesnake expert but I assume it was a Timber rattlesnake as they are known to occur very rarely in this area; I know it wasn't a Massauga because that is the other species of rattlesnake I have had the misfortune to see up close in the wild and this one was: (a) much to large and (b) not dark enough and the pattern was wrong and (c) their known range in Ohio is much further west and north. I would have estimated the length at the time of sighting at about 18-20 feet but after few hours to consider I would estimate the length at about 4-41/2 feet and the body diameter to be about 31/2-4 inches. I was looking for morels and saw the damn thing before it rattled; it then rattled as I was backing up and I gave fleeting thought to having the big one right there.

No, I didn't shoot it; and more disgustingly, NO I didn't find any morels (I think it is too early at least where I hunt them); maybe Sunday.

 

[Kingcreek]

Thanks for not shooting him. He was probably hoping he wouldn't have to bite you, either.
IIRC, timber rattler venom is the more potent of the rattlers. Springtime bites sometimes happen when somebody tries to pick up a cool looking "dead" snake on a stump or log. They are usually pretty slow and lethargic this time of year.
Good luck with the morels. Should be a good year for them here in Illinois.