Rattlesnakes at Pawnee

[theGinsue]

Well, no, I've never eaten them. In my defense, I haven't hunted them yet either - just checked out some road kill here and there.

Thanks for the instructions on preparing them. What are the bones like in regarding to when you're eating them. Is it like eating fish with small bones, always getting a couple in each bite?

How do you prepare the skin for things like hat bands, etc.? I caught the peel them back/don't cut them up the middle thing, but do you have to tan them at all?

What about the venom sacks? Is this something that you need to be careful of when cutting the head off?

Sorry for all of the questions, this is something I've been interested in for years but never pursued and I don't want to screw any of it up!

[Tristan]

Well, no, I've never eaten them. In my defense, I haven't hunted them yet either - just checked out some road kill here and there.

Thanks for the instructions on preparing them. What are the bones like in regarding to when you're eating them. Is it like eating fish with small bones, always getting a couple in each bite?

How do you prepare the skin for things like hat bands, etc.? I caught the peel them back/don't cut them up the middle thing, but do you have to tan them at all?

What about the venom sacks? Is this something that you need to be careful of when cutting the head off?

Sorry for all of the questions, this is something I've been interested in for years but never pursued and I don't want to screw any of it up!

Not a problem at all.
The bones usually stay attached to the spine. You can peel the meat off with your fork, or just kinda nibble it off. I suppose it would more depend on how much you cook it, but I've never had a problem. It only takes about 7-10 minutes in the oil. Less if it's a small snake.
To tan the skin is easy. Depending on what I want to make, I either stretch it (like a condom, lol), inside out, around a 2" pole or for a wallet I do cut up the middle, stretch like you would a normal hide. I use a common stapler and staple about every two to three inches. Either way, then you take an ulu or whatever knife you want and scrape it. Snake skins are easy like that and you get all the junk off pretty easy.
Then you mix half glycerin (about $10.00/gal) and half methyl alcohol (about $20.00/gal) and paint it on in light layers. The time interval between layers and how long you let it dry really depends on the weather, but you get a knack for it pretty quick. But I never let it dry in the sun, only the shade. It only takes about 4 hours before you can start painting it with the alcohol/glycerin mix if you scrape it good.
After that, I let it sit for about 3 days then trim the edges for whatever I am going to make, and sew it. It's all pretty easy, and once you do it a couple of times it's a breeze.
The head is a little worrisome, as it really will bite you. I cut it off and grab it with a pair of pliers and put it in a corn husk and bury it about 6" deep. It degrades quick. Just step on the head and cut it off. Wear boots and you'll be fine. Just don't try it barefoot, lol.
T.
p.s.-I mix the glycerin/methyl about a cup at a time. It is reusable, but only for a couple of days. You can do probably 40-50 snakes with the two gallons easy. But the hatbands go for $50 and the wallets for $200, so it's okay to be a little sloppy.
I wish I had a good camera. I have snakeskin grips on my DEagle, and man-o-man are they nice. But you have to tape the edge so they remain hard in that instance for gluing. There are tons of cool things you can do with the skins, and they are all cool.

[theGinsue]

Thanks for the info. I'm actually excited for the season to start.

I asked my best friend/hunting partnet if he was interested in doing this and all I got in response was "Are you serious?" My reply was a simple yes and asking again if he was game.... I have yet to get a response. I guess that means he doesn't wanna try this!

[Icecoldviper]

Thanks for the info. I'm actually excited for the season to start.

I asked my best friend/hunting partnet if he was interested in doing this and all I got in response was "Are you serious?" My reply was a simple yes and asking again if he was game.... I have yet to get a response. I guess that means he doesn't wanna try this!

I got the same exact reply from my hunting buddy lol. I think it sounds like it would be a blast tho.

[bimmer]

where do you normaly go to shoot? i think we usually go down county raod 57 when you go down that steep little hill to get to the shooting area. is there an area arounf there to look for rattlers? or do you know a good road to turn down?

[theGinsue]

I've never gone (a) to the Pawnee Grasslands, and (b) rattler hunting before. I've been wanting to do the rattler hunt for years, just never got to it (Bucket List item). From reading this thread, I figured thhis would be one of the best places to go looking for them.

[Marlin]

If You are up for a drive, Going out of CS it might be the same as going to Pawnee though, S.E. corner of the the state, there is a SWA called Two Buttes. It's about 20-25 miles north of Springfield.. Went bunny hunting there years ago and saw the biggest damn rattler I have seen, up close and personal that is.. I seriously thought it was a tree branch,, untill I realized the nearest tree was about 5 miles away...

[Tristan]

The snakes are everywhere-just go walking. You'll find them. Early morning right after the sun comes up is the best time. They bask on the rocks and road.
Gators help if your reactions are not up to par. Be careful.

[bimmer]

would leather boots be enough? i mean i'm obviously not going to TRY to see how close i can get without being struck at or bitten. i'll be carrying my 12G with me just incase i need it. do you kill them before you bag them? I've heard horror story's of people getting bitten through the bag. after all, they use heat to tell where thing are, so i wouldnt feel safe just using a bag qith a live rattle snake in it.

[Tristan]

would leather boots be enough? i mean i'm obviously not going to TRY to see how close i can get without being struck at or bitten. i'll be carrying my 12G with me just incase i need it. do you kill them before you bag them? I've heard horror story's of people getting bitten through the bag. after all, they use heat to tell where thing are, so i wouldnt feel safe just using a bag qith a live rattle snake in it.

Contrary to popular belief, snakes bite pretty high-the few times I've been bitten it was just below my knee, once on the hand and once above my ankle-only once (the hand) did I not have protection- a pair of chaps works well, also.
The snakes will usually try to slither away-they really are more afraid of you than you are of them. But sometimes they just don't feel like running-especially the young ones. They don't control their venom-so they are the most dangerous. The adults 7 out of 10 times don't inject-but it's the young ones who don't run away and are the scary ones. They can strike about 1/2 to 2/3 their body length, so it's pretty easy to know your distance. Better safe than sorry, of course.
Sure boots would be enough if you don't get caught-and people usually don't. They have the antivenin here in Greeley if you do get bit. It's pretty painful and takes about 2 to 3 weeks to heal. But there's only about 20 bites a year in Northeast Colorado-so your chances are pretty good. A snake stick (a broom handle with a rope on the end of it) is probably your best bet-you hold that out in front of you if you're walking. If you go early in the morning when they are basking, you are pretty safe because they are slower and not paying attention. Once their blood warms up, it's anybodies game. They are on higher ground in the morning and lower ground towards noon. They like crevices and stuff around lunch time.
Snakes will only bite you in self defense-if you're messing with them or if you startle them. So if you take the basic precautions and are the predator, you'll be just fine. Oh, and go slow when you are walking. If you walk fast, they will feel it long before you ever see them and they will be gone and you'll never even know they were there.
Also, rattlers are just like most other snakes-they will move to movement. Just like the cobras in India you see on tv. The cobras are moving to the snake charmers' movement-not his flute. A rattler does the same thing. So when you come upon one, move very slow. There have been a few times I have just stuck the muzzle in his face and moved it back and forth-they will stay perfect with it-then pulled the trigger. No head every time.
I leave them alive till I get home, because I like the meat. It's just like any animal-if you kill it then don't gut it immediately it will spoil in the hot sun and weather fast. Also, I just put them in a white pillow case. A rattler will give up fighting pretty quick if you bonk him a few times. Then you just grab them and cut the head off. Then I really do bury the head. Better safe than sorry. Or you can just submerge the snake(s) in a tub of water and drown them-but that takes a while. Flippin' snakes can hold their breath forever for some reason.
But since it's your first time, just be careful and until you cut the head off, wear welding gloves or something equivalent. It's scary the first few times-after that, it's just respect for the snake. All in all I would rather take on an angry rattler than an angry deer any day. Of all the predators I have encountered, the snake is of the least concern. Hell, I even got my ass handed to me by a Jack Rabbit one time. It started hissing like a cat then shrieking really loudly and then attacked me and bit me. Make fun if you want, but that bunny f'ed my up. Damn near bit my finger off.
Anyways, just use common sense and you'll be fine.