Rattle Snakes

[geterdone]

This weekend my friend and i were camping in kettle falls washington, north of spokane, and we shot a 40 inch rattle snake 20 or so times with a 22. Just wondering if anyone knows what it taste like. Is it true that it is like chicken? If u do eat it how do u cut it up, and what part do u eat?

[feisty's wife]

My exact philosophy, you kill it, you eat it. My guess would be to first insure that you cut the head off and dispose of that, I would then locate the anus, cut up that carefully so as to not puncture any membranes, to the neck, or where the head was, then washing out with cold water, pull out and dispose of gut's, then stripp the skin off, it should pull right off, if the body is fresh. Rinse well, shake in flour and garlic, then fry in hot olive oil....yum.Chicken

[crabbait]

Anything that I plan to eat I try not to shoot over 15 or so times. Tends to make cleaning them messy.

[Snakebite]

Can you say "overkill"? The last I got, I bonked on the head once with an axe handle. As far as eating them, My opinion is that it's too much trouble for what it's worth, but the novelty is good! I've been bitten by one. Eating one is just sort of boring in my opinion. :whazzup:

[TheTexan]

We used to go to the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Round Up every year. 70,000 lbs of rattlers is a lot!

Cut off the head and pulverize it with a hammer. Even after dead something or someone could step on the head and get poisoned. Slit from one end to the other down the middle of the belly, pull out all guts, and skin. Cut into steaks about 1.5 - 2 inches thick, roll in flour, and deep fry in oil. Kind of a greasy texture and nothing like chicken.

I hope you like rib meat!

[Striper Club]

0

[ICHTHYDEMON]

A D-back of that size has lived a good number of years--not ancient by any means--but a good sized adult. With longevity like that, it had done a pretty good job of avoiding humans...well, had.

I'm thinking it was a Northern Pacific rattlesnake and not a Diamondback.

[Striper Club]

I was assuming a western diamondback due to them being more common. I had not thought of the NP. :smile:

[8-guage]

"we shot a 40 inch rattle snake 20 or so times with a 22. Just wondering if anyone knows what it taste like."
It tastes like lead!

[SLEDDER]

8-gauge you beat me to it.

[Molly B]

I really hate to see them killed, the vast majority of bites are from people messing with them. I've run across probably thirty or so in my life time, and they were all trying their best to get away from me. They should just be left alone IMHO. (By the way I was born and raised on a cattle ranch in Eastern Oregon and am no bunny hugger by any means.)

[RODACTION]

the vast majority of bites are from people messing with them.

I don't like snakes !! I run like a big sissy. I saw a show on the Discovery channel (I think ?) it said that 70% of snake bites (refering to rattle snakes) involved alcohol !

[GRUMPYR]

This weekend my friend and i were camping in kettle falls washington, north of spokane, and we shot a 40 inch rattle snake 20 or so times with a 22. Just wondering if anyone knows what it taste like. Is it true that it is like chicken?

Well, however you prepare your "kill". I should hope you enjoy the taste. :whazzup: Then, after you eat, I suggest you put the gun away in a closet somewhere until you have developed the maturity to go into the field without impulsively killing whatever creature you happen to stumble upon. I wouldn't like to see some organization tout your actions as those of the "typical hunter".
Not only was your action unethical but it was most likely illegal as well. I have, in an addmitedly short search, been unable to find where there is a season or bag regulation on rattlesnake in Washington. Maybe you know more than I on that subject. Therefore, the "taking" of Rattlesnakes would be illegal under WDFW regulations.
In short, shooting the snake "20 or so times" was an impulsive and imature thing to do and you should be censured or even ticketed for removing an upper level predator from the ecosystem.
Just my opinion for what it's worth....
G

[TheKing]

There are no protected venomus snakes in the state of washington. The only thing that would make taking a snake illegal is if it was on a game preserve or sancutary as noted. There is no shortage of snakes in this state. I hunt them on occasion and use the skins to cover the limbs of traditional bows I build. It is about the best natural camo out there. I can take you to denning areas where you will see hundreds of snakes a day. The proper way of dispatching them is with the use of a forked stick and a knife. Use the stick to hold down the head and then cut off the head with the knife. If you fillet the meat off the bones you can use a tempura type beer batteer to make popcorn sized deep fried bites. It is better than alligator IMHO. It has a slight fishy taste.

[freespool]

Just wondering if anyone knows what it taste like. Is it true that it is like chicken?

In the early 70's I was working on the lower Rogue River. We were staying in a cabin not far from the upper end of Lowrey canyon North side of the river. One afternoon we came home from work to find a 48in rattler coiled up next to the cabin. We dispatched the snake with a 22. Then that same question you have came up. Well I've cleaned my share of ducks, geese and other upland game birds. Nothing could have prepared me for the smell that came out of that snake when I tried to clean it. I just could not get past the smell, it was real bad. Oh ya it had 13 rattles and a button.


salmon hugger

[Chrome Bumper]

Don't need a snake in camp. Or did you find it in the brush? If you are going to use the carcass for food or leather , no foul. (20 shots? do you need a scope?)

I saw a show on the Discovery channel (I think ?) it said that 70% of snake bites (refering to rattle snakes) involved alcohol !

Yup, nuthin meaner than a drunk rattlesnake.

[Abalone]

That could have made a nice hat band. Did you shoot it 20 times in the head Or ?


I met some folks one time that hunted snakes. They would look for and find R-snake dens and kill them..

When I accussed them of being Criminaly insane for doing that I found myself on the Defense. It's funny how people look at snakes. No arms, No legs and people are frightened to death by them....

[Cloud-Nine]

Very poor post. You are judging a man with mean words without knowing the full story. You also let your emotions hang out for all to see.
I for one do not see any value in ANY venomous snake. Any bird prey will out eat rodents 20/1. I just don't like them and will kill any I find, sorry but that is my opinion and it's not illegal.
Dick

[lost_sailor]

I for one do not see any value in ANY venomous snake.

Let's just kill everything that you don't value, eh?

[Jennie@ifish]

Come on you guys... We don't need a fight this bad, do we?

It's so funny. Bill does NOT like snakes.
However, my kitty Molly is tickled to death with them, and brings them in the house constantly to show me how wonderful she is.

I have swept three snakes out of the house, just today! (And a lizard!)

Argh!

I keep hearing Bill yellling things that aren't allowed in the house, and I know there is yet another kitty prize in the kitchen!

It's fun to save the man of the household. We women are brave, tough strong things... aren't we? :smile:

Jen

[brshooter]

As a teen growing up in Eastern Washington back in the 70's, we had no problem finding snakes. We used to sell the rattles. They were pretty thick up in the dry land wheat country. Lots of mice for food I guess. Four of us got 70 in one day. We used to cook them up once in a while. I always thought it tasted pretty good.

[ryleysmom]

Your right Jennie, there is no need to fight.
You are also right that us woman are strong & brave.
My other half is also scared of snake, just like Pete and boy do our friends poke fun at him when they find one. It is quite ammuzing(sp)..lol

[GRUMPYR]

Guess it's a good thing I don't answer to you then, huh?
I looked further into the issue of legality and am going to have to retract my desire for a citation for our friendly snake destroyer.
I still have a hard time with the scenario where we happen upon a creature and not only kill it impulsivly but go completely overboard and shoot it 20 times. Then after killing it "real good", we look around and ask for validation. Since enough time has already elapsed between the "kill" and the query for info to have rendered the meat completely inedible. Now the meat is wasted. And what of the skin? Was there any thought of using that part of the snake? There is no mention of whether or not this snake was a threat in any way. They simply killed it because they could!?! Is this the behavior of a mature individual?
I think not.
G

[Striper Club]

Poor snakey. :depressed:

[wade]

Out of 20 shots I seriously doubt very many found their target, thus explaining the need to "brag" about it. One man that is dead-on target is GrumpyR.


Kevin

[dampainter]

mature?...I`m mature and i vote to TAKE EM OUT!!!!

[Striper Club]

Fear is a stinky cologne.

[GRUMPYR]

There's "Mature" and then there's " just plain old".
Then there's "realy old grumpy guys like me". :grin:
Done here....
G

[2LEYS]

And once again the Ifish Lynch Mob goes on the attack. It is a freakin snake. People have been killing them on site for hundreds of years and they are not in danger. If it is around my campsite it is going to die even if it takes 200 shots. Relax.

[ryser]

Well I didn't see that anyone aswered your question about the taste of rattle snake! Well it just so happens that I and my family were headed east for a trip to the sawtooh mountins and we stoped in mopen for the night. The nixt morning we went down and had breakfast at this little dive and on the menu they had a rattlesnake omlit. Yes you guesed it I had the rattle snake omlit. The meat was on the grease side and had the texture of chicken and I guess when you can't describe what things taste like we say it tastes like chicken but is does taste a little like chicken.

[Rank Amateur]

So if I shoot a snake with a shotgun, I'm a idiot? Lot's of shoots in one shell!!! Gee, how do some of you guys stand driving down the highway? Oh, I hit a butterfly!!!

[shadman]

"And once again the Ifish Lynch Mob goes on the attack. It is a freakin snake. People have been killing them on site for hundreds of years and they are not in danger. If it is around my campsite it is going to die even if it takes 200 shots. Relax."

Well people have been killing people for hundreds of years and there are millions of people so whats your point. You gunna shoot a person just because he happened to come into your campsite? RELAX!!

[Norski]

Snakes!!!


35 years ago in a foren country, I had the pleasure of running into my sare of snakes.

When I was a little boy, we would catch them and chase the girls with them.

After I returned home from over seas, the family went over to Maupin, fishing and at the time, I had a .410, that someone sawed off, looked like a long single shot pistol.

I came a pond a rattlesnake, and I did my best to get away, and every time I moved it got louder, I blue it's head off, and I was as scared, as I was when over seas.

I DON'T LIKE SNAKES, SPIDERS, OR LOUD MOUTHS.

[shadman]

here is a little guy I got off the road last summer before some moron ran him over just because they are so ignorant about animals that the feel like they have to kill something just because they can.

Beautiful animal if you actaully take a second to admire it instead of thinking KILL KILL KILL. Just because a certain animal doesnt contribute to your life doesnt mean it isnt worthy of living. Just my .02

[Striper Club]

I wish I had pictures of the Carolina Pigmy that I retained about 20 years ago. It had gorgeous markings. I had caught it on a golf cart path in AR. It was released in the thick woods where it was most likely to avoid a 5-iron or lawnmower.

Snakes and reptiles in general have gotten a bad rap for a ton of years. Some folks decided at some point to associate serpents with some kind of perceived 'evil' due to fear and a lack of understanding about the world around us and our place in it.

Well, I am not calling any folks here ignorant, including those that mean to destroy snakes. There is no picket in my hand nor tree in my embrace--I just like the little slithery buggers and find it appalling when snakes are needlessly killed out of fear and hatred.

Spiders, on the other hand...and badgers...well, have at them, just leave Sully, Sammy, Smitty and Fredo the snakes to eat sagerats and the like.

[shadman]

"There is no picket in my hand nor tree in my embrace"
Dont get me wrong, I am conservative as they come, but I do not condone killing animals just because its legal.

[greenbuttskunk]

without jumping on the freight train, they are good. some say like chicken. I'd say it's a bit like that. not bad at all.
Since everything exotic tastes like chicken, does that mean chicken tastes like rattlesnake??? Actually, I have a real fondness for all snakes, poisoness or not. They do have there place on our it's ecosystem. You'd really be hard pressed to get by one. They are generally very non-agressive.
still, for each his own. you shoot it, do try eating it.

[pearl]

it said that 70% of snake bites (refering to rattle snakes) involved alcohol !

Someday I'll tell the story :grin: But in the mean time lets just lay out the starring cast.

Deschutes River Canyon
Crown Royal
Youth
A "Bet"

[Irish Pennant]

Post deleted by Irish Pennant

[SeaSparrow]

:lurk: :lurk:

[Striper Club]

What a cute little snake you have in that picture, I bet you it had a mommy and daddy too. I'm glad they dont hunt snakes with dogs, other wise we would have to ban that like we did for the bears and cougars.

Hehe, not exactly like that. Once upon a time, I wanted to be a Herpetologist (reptile/amphibian biologist, fyi). Many years passed since that childhood dream, but I still love the little buggers, just as much as I love cats and dogs--you know--pets! :smile: I don't have the heart to kill reptiles, even though I have eaten rattler...yeah, sorta like free-range chicken in flavor.

My argument in this whole thing was the motivation and effort to slay the snake, nothing more. Kill it, sure...just eat the damn thing and not go after it like it molested a family member. I am a hunter. I enjoy hunting. But you better believe I will give my prey some sort of respect. Man against beast--always been that way, eh?

Anyways, I did not join in this fray as an antagonist, despite some opinions. I have my feelings and beliefs, as does everyone else.

Carry on and happy fishing.

[Flying Roast Beef]

If any single one of you guys defending the rattlesnakes ever lost a dog to one, I'm quite sure you would change your mind. I find that 20 guage trap loads straighten them out just fine. Literally.

[RussT]

There are two kinds of snakes, "Good snakes, and live snakes".
RussT