Snakes while hunting

[GNP]

My partner and I hunt arrowheads in creek beds in central and southern Mississippi, we've done it for many years. As might be expected we encounter a lot of snakes, including a lot of cottonmouths, but also the occasional copperhead and more rarely a timber rattler once in a great while. The cottonmouth's reputation is greatly exaggerated, if they were vicious no doubt I'd have been bitten multiple times by now, and I haven't killed one in a creek in probably 40 years. They do have some very convincing bluff behaviors (the mouth display that gives them their name, and the tail rattling) but they seem to be hesitant to actually strike unless you start acting aggressive towards them. It is wise, however, to keep your eyes open and just assume there is one in every spot that might hold one, they like to hide, and don't step or put your hands there until you determine otherwise. I once had a legit five footer drop from a log about ten feet away from me while I was standing in chest deep water in the mouth of a creek, I'm not going to pretend that I was having the time of my life or anything but I just tried to stay calm and move over the the bank and climb out. Never saw the snake again.

Nice timber rattler that crossed the road in front of us one day. This snake is usually pretty calm, but this is a very dangerous snake, much more venomous than the copperhead or cottonmouth. A young lady who hunts arrowheads that I know was bitten by one on the wrist a couple of years ago, she had a pretty rough couple of days but it all worked out. Diamondbacks have been virtually exterminated in many areas here, though in a few other areas they are still holding on.