Rattling Rifle Range

track

track

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
89   0   0
Location
Okotoks
I spent this weekend with my son at the Medicine Hat Rifle Club conducting load development. A shooter on my left cautioned to be careful that a Rattle snake is behind us. Sure enough, a three footer and I rushed for the camera. It was long and slender, my guess a female where it did not show to much aggression. Next morning at the crack of dawn I was back at the range, but this time I paid close attention for a slithering serpent. Prairie rattlers are not known to inject fatal bites, but victims suffer with severe illness.
 
Kool.. I like snakes... only seen Garter & Water snake in Ont. so far.... my cousins have a few as pets!
 
Cherrybum said:
I didn't think there were any in bc
Click to expand...

I played golf on a course near Osoyyos and we were constantly watching them slither in front of us. I was told quite firmly that if you shank a ball into the tall grass, drop another ball !! They are there without a doubt.
 
The Kamloops/Savona area of BC has plenty of those rattlers as well.
I was hunting muleys one day in September [nice warm fall day] in the Savona hills.
Saw 4 rattlers that day, out warming up. Probably missed seeing twice as many.
Regards, Eagleye.
 
Lots of Eastern Massasauga rattlers here in Ontario, I see one or two every trip up the Bruce.


Lead Loader said:
If its poisionous, its a dead snake for safety sake.
Click to expand...


They are protected all across Canada. here's that "if I don't understand it I kill it" mentality again. There have been no known fatalities in the last 40 years, but lets kill them all just in case. Ontario and Michigan have the highest concentration of these snakes and 1-2 people a year get bitten and treated.
 
Last edited:
So you mean in/around the Hamilton/Grimbsy area? I have Hiked allot in those areas.. Would Love to see one!!

Canadian_Zuk said:
Lots of Eastern Massasauga rattlers here in Ontario, I see one or two every trip up the Bruce.





They are protected all across Canada. here's that "if I don't understand it I kill it" mentality again. There have been no known fatalities in the last 40 years, but lets kill them all just in case. Ontario and Michigan have the highest concentration of these snakes and 1-2 people a year get bitten and treated.
Click to expand...
 
Johnyy said:
So you mean in/around the Hamilton/Grimbsy area? I have Hiked allot in those areas.. Would Love to see one!!
Click to expand...


I was talking about the Bruce Peninsula, not Bruce County. But, they are there as well. Limestone outcroppings is were they are most easily found sunning themselves. I used to dive a lot in Fathom Five between Tobermory and Manitoulin Island. I've come across a few hiking the trails in the area. I remember my grandfather shooting one on the step of his chicken coup 30 years ago in the Ottawa valley, it was the first rattle snake I had ever seen. I have never seen another one in that area, but the West shore of Georgian bay seems to have it's fair share of them.
 
HIGHRPM said:
I played golf on a course near Osoyyos and we were constantly watching them slither in front of us. I was told quite firmly that if you shank a ball into the tall grass, drop another ball !! They are there without a doubt.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's like hitting a ball near a water trap in Florida, don't go near the water in Florida and stay outta the weeds in the southern Okanagan!
 
I agree with Dave , my brother-inlaw was bitten on the calf while picking wild asperigus along the Thompson river near Ashcroft BC.
Got a little ill , and swollen up / bruised golf ball sized. Figured it to be a young snake.That was 30 years ago now.
 
If you read about them they are pretty interesting. Our Massasauga Rattle snakes have venom that is more poisonous than most other species of rattle snake, but they inject MUCH smaller doses than other species do so fatalities are virtually non existent.
 
338 Imperial said:
I agree with Dave , my brother-inlaw was bitten on the calf while picking wild asperigus along the Thompson river near Ashcroft BC.
Got a little ill , and swollen up / bruised golf ball sized. Figured it to be a young snake.That was 30 years ago now.
Click to expand...

And he had the best bar story for years!

There's a shocking dearth of snakes in Nunavut.
 
Canadian_Zuk said:
If you read about them they are pretty interesting. Our Massasauga Rattle snakes have venom that is more poisonous than most other species of rattle snake, but they inject MUCH smaller doses than other species do so fatalities are virtually non existent.
Click to expand...

In my experience with the massasauga rattler, it takes A LOT to get them to strike.. They hiss and puff up make a lot of noise but rarely bite. Timbers are a little more aggressive but still not the violent killing machines that people like lead loader seem to believe. Most of our native colubrids have more of a mean streak than any of our venomous species (at least the 3 that I've dealt with in Ontario )
 
skip1600 said:
In my experience with the massasauga rattler, it takes A LOT to get them to strike.. They hiss and puff up make a lot of noise but rarely bite. Timbers are a little more aggressive but still not the violent killing machines that people like lead loader seem to believe. Most of our native colubrids have more of a mean streak than any of our venomous species (at least the 3 that I've dealt with in Ontario )
Click to expand...

Ain't that the truth. I've been bitten by more water snakes than I care to think of. They are far more aggressive than massassaugas. I've been bitten by virtually every one I've handled.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom