308win
Member
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.
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.