Rattlesnakes are hard to see in their habitat ...they sometimes don't rattle...not a sound...stepped  right on it...it bit me 2.5 hrs from medical treatment...survived, but concerned about, not. The venom traveled up toward the heart, and rotted out a long strip deep  1.25" × 12 " of  flesh in my right leg, turned a purple black..it destroys flesh. I kill every snake I see no exceptions...the one that bit me got away. I Went back and killed every rattlesnake I could find for several years...started hunting them, even Dad got involved after one struck at his foot and missed the foot ... I never heard of one missing  a strike. Dad drew his 44 S&W and took care of the rattler...I carried a 45 Colt...but used .22 LR to chew up the rattlesnakes coils, and a long, durable  thumping stick...it was safer, his 44 mag 240 gr slug bounced back, skipped in the dirt and hit the inside sole of my foot, it stung quite a bit like a paint ball bruise. Today I leave them alone, I'm too old and they are far enough away...but I still go where they are seen, if I see one I will still terminate its existence, with extreme prejudice.
				
			
	









	
