The heck with this turkey hunting!

[turkey_slayer]

Went back to where I killed the rhododendron turkey.  Sure enough one was gobbling his fool head off at daybreak down in that holler.  Instead of calling him up through the laurel I figured I would get on his side this time.  He was gobbling every breath on his own.

An hour and 15 minutes later got to where I wanted to be and he hammered above me about 60 yards.  I was sitting facing up the ridge.  I had a ridge to my left and a ridge on my right.  Both were about 40 yards from me and I could see about 40 yards in front of me.  He was at about my 10 oclock.  I yelped and he triple gobbled.  Few seconds later I could hear him drumming and walking in the leaves.  He kept going back and forth and wouldnt pop his head up over the ridge.

He started going to the right and down the holler. I didnt want that cause it would have been a super close shot if he popped up just a little below me.  I decided to get up and get to where he was when we started.  We were playing musical chairs  

I get up and take about 10 steps and was getting ready to step over a log.  Well I dont know where the turkey went cause he probably thought that was a really stinky hen.  I was about to set my foot on a rattler!  I jumped back, took my pants off, wiped my rear, sat down and gathered my thoughts for a sec.  Hmm what to do now?  I got up walked around the log and was looking at it.  This is the first one I've ever seen so I was both in shock and in amazement.  

After all the thrashing that turkey is probably in another county by now but I was shot after that and didnt really care lol.  Looks like he died of natural causes    I sat there for a few minutes and decided it would be best for me to go home.  A 15 minute walked turned into an hour.  I looked behind every tree, rock, stump, log that I came upon.  Heres some pics of the rascal.  Took with my cell phone as I left my camera on the computer desk  

[Basser69]

That is the main reason us boys down here in the south wear snake boots!

[bowhunter84]

That is the main reason us boys down here in the south wear snake boots!

you got that right

[CASH]

That is the main reason us boys down here in the south wear snake boots!

Heck ya.  Please tell me you don't wear those shoes in the woods with snakes like that around.

[ShotgunDave]

Nice story up until the part where you killed the snake.  There is absolutely no need to do that. 

I hate it when people kill snakes for no reason.

[SinGin]

Nice story up until the part where you killed the snake.  There is absolutely no need to do that. 

I hate it when people kill snakes for no reason.

The only good snake is a "DEAD" snake

[Hognutz]

I actually liked the ''killin' the snake'' part..Mike

[catdaddy]

Nice story up until the part where you killed the snake.  There is absolutely no need to do that.  

I hate it when people kill snakes for no reason.

Killing the snake was my favorite part of the story.

WTG man--that one could have messed up your whole turkey hunt.

[CASH]

Nice story up until the part where you killed the snake.  There is absolutely no need to do that. 

I hate it when people kill snakes for no reason.

HUH?  Kill em all!

[WyoHunter]

I don't mind the non-poisonous ones but I kill the ones that can kill you!

[tiggere]

Here in NC the cane brake and diamond backs are protected...I will kill the hell out of a copperhead/moccasin though...the others get a free pass and my recently ruined drawers dropped on them...LOL...

He doesn't look that old...how many rattles did he have?

they are starting to come out and I agree with others...if your in an area with the chance of running into one you need on snake boots...those shoes you have on ain't gonna stop them one bit...I was told by many that they would hit you around the ankle to 6" up on the boot...mine are up to the knee and I would still like them to be higher...

[4nwtf]

Kill em all

[turkey_slayer]

That is the main reason us boys down here in the south wear snake boots!

Heck ya.  Please tell me you don't wear those shoes in the woods with snakes like that around.

Sadly yes and these are an upgrade.  I usually just wear my under armour running shoes if I dont have to cross a creek or walk through dew soaked grass.  Boots get hot and heavy walking these mountains. In 18 years of turkey hunting this is my first one I've ran across.  We have copperheads as well but only seen them during the summer.  The past few days have been unseasonably warm with temps in the upper 80's so it has them moving earlier than normal.  You got any snake boots you recommend that are light and dont get hot?

[turkey_slayer]

Nice story up until the part where you killed the snake.  There is absolutely no need to do that. 

I hate it when people kill snakes for no reason.

I can agree with you to a certain extent.  You need a little of everything to keep a balanced eco system but what if I left him alone and he got me the next time.  They way I look at it I did a little balancing myself!  So dont you go shooting those turkeys cause there really is no need to do that!

[turkey_slayer]

Here in NC the cane brake and diamond backs are protected...I will kill the hell out of a copperhead/moccasin though...the others get a free pass and my recently ruined drawers dropped on them...LOL...

He doesn't look that old...how many rattles did he have?

they are starting to come out and I agree with others...if your in an area with the chance of running into one you need on snake boots...those shoes you have on ain't gonna stop them one bit...I was told by many that they would hit you around the ankle to 6" up on the boot...mine are up to the knee and I would still like them to be higher...

6.  Hard to see them cause they are black like the rest of his back half.  Should have took a pic of them.  How big can a timber rattler get?