Antelope and Rattlesnakes

[manitou1]

I am always more worried about cactus. mtmuley

No kidding. I live in WY and still sit in or lay on cactus about every year.

 

[Walkathon]

I almost put my hand on a lethargic one in MT while trying to crawl under a pine tree to look into a basin. Bout crapped myself. I've seen 3 or 4 in WY when it's hot out during antelope season. My hearing is really bad, so I'm always nervous that I won't hear one when it rattles.

 

[WyoDoug]

I am heading to Wyoming soon to try my hand at pronghorn for the first time. Given we are hunting unit 106 I am wondering if folks think rattlesnakes are going to be something I need to worry much about?

Do I need to get some snake gaiters before I head out?

I have hunted Colorado and Montana for Elk but its been cooler so I really wasn't too worried about them. Thought I would see what experience folks have for those who know Wyoming from a boots on the ground perspective. I will probably have my trekking poles so if do have one get close I can use it to get it away while I get out of its space too.

Thanks

No. I have hunted an area infested with prairie rattlers and seen several but never felt unsafe and I wear tennis shoes a lot when I am hunting flat or gently rolling hills. Gators might make you feel safe but it's better that you just be snake aware same you would be bear aware up north. At worst, I would carry a walking stick and use that to probe clusters of shrubs and rocks you might be worried about snakes existing. They have issues in area where I hunt with both antelope and sheep getting bit in the face while grazing. They are out there BUT they are more afraid of you than you are of them and generally will try to scoot away before you even see them. Just be careful in snake country. That's really all you need.

 

[buffybr]

In over 40 years of antelope hunting in Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana, I've only encountered rattlesnakes once.

I was hunting in NE Montana, and as my Golden Retriever and I crossed a small coulee, there was about a 2-1/2 foot rattlesnake coiled and rattling just in front of me on the other side of the coulee. It was close enough that I just fired my .257 Ackley from the hip and killed it.

Then as I looked around, I saw 3 or 4 small rattlers that were each about a foot long and the diameter of a pencil, so I just stomped each of their heads with my boot.

 

[Wildabeest]

Be aware that it’s illegal to kill a rattlesnake in some states. From an antelope hunting standpoint, that would mean UT. Also illegal to even disturb an eastern diamondback in NC. So check your regs before going all Wyatt Earp on a rattler.

 

[Pagosa]

Im currently working between Ekalaka to Alzada and have ran across a few this fall. I seen more this summer in NW Colorado (Moffat County) than anywhere recently. Be careful for those guys pronghorn hunting in eastern Montana.

 

[Silentstalker]

Was hunting antelope this year with my Son here in Utah. Out checking waterholes for tracks walked right up on this one. He had just caught a bird.

 

[Deleted member 22670]

My horse almost stepped on one last week. I did not sign up for that rodeo.

 

[EastTNHunter]

Was hunting antelope this year with my Son here in Utah. Out checking waterholes for tracks walked right up on this one. He had just caught a bird.

That’s cool

 

[Tikka06]

We hunted 4 days south of Casper and the only snake I saw the whole trip was in the Fish and Game office parking lot in Casper itself. Did find a lion killed Mule deer doe buried under a bunch of grass on the bank of the North Platte and no shortage of cactus.

 

[INMT]

Saw these two antelope hunting in Central MT this weekend. About steeped on the one in the grass in a coulee before he alerted us. Hard to tell from the pick but he was 5’ and thick as my forearm.

 

[mtmiller]

Five foot prairie rattlesnake in MT? I would have to see that to believe it.

 

[Sheltowee]

Five foot prairie rattlesnake in MT? I would have to see that to believe it.

Not sure if you're aware, but that particular serpent appears to still be alive?

 

[mtmiller]

They tend to be more interesting.

 

[Straight Arrow]

Interesting they are ... and I never knew my wife could jump so high!

 

[Sheltowee]

They tend to be more interesting.

They tend to *make* things more interesting, that's for sure.

 

[mtmuley]

After saying I was more worried about cactus, I put my hand in a prickly pear crawling after a buck with my son on Sunday. Had to pull the big spines to get my glove off to get to the little ones. While he killed the buck. Good times. mtmuley

 

[WyoDoug]

After saying I was more worried about cactus, I put my hand in a prickly pear crawling after a buck with my son on Sunday. Had to pull the big spines to get my glove off to get to the little ones. While he killed the buck. Good times. mtmuley

Least you didn't do like @Big Fin and sit on one ending political aspirations. LOL

 

[Mustangs Rule]

I am heading to Wyoming soon to try my hand at pronghorn for the first time. Given we are hunting unit 106 I am wondering if folks think rattlesnakes are going to be something I need to worry much about?

Do I need to get some snake gaiters before I head out?

I have hunted Colorado and Montana for Elk but its been cooler so I really wasn't too worried about them. Thought I would see what experience folks have for those who know Wyoming from a boots on the ground perspective. I will probably have my trekking poles so if do have one get close I can use it to get it away while I get out of its space too.

Thanks

Below is a link for a great book, Best of Outdoor Life, 100 Classic stories. One story is about a real bad case of rattlesnake bite to an antelope hunter in Wyoming. Worth a read. The entire book is pure gold

The Best of Outdoor Life: One Hundred Years of Classic Stories from Outdoor Life's Finest Writers: Outdoor Life: 9780865730762: Amazon.com: Books

The Best of Outdoor Life: One Hundred Years of Classic Stories from Outdoor Life's Finest Writers [Outdoor Life] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Best of Outdoor Life: One Hundred Years of Classic Stories from Outdoor Life's Finest Writers

www.amazon.com

 

[WyoDoug]

What makes prairie rattlers dangerous when they do bite is they release about 20-55% of their venom which contains strong hemotoxins and neurotoxins. Sooner you get medical assistance after a bite the better.