Rattle snakes in Nevada desert or other dangers to watch for.

The problem with rattlers is that they don't really "see," they sense heat (hence the general categorization as pit vipers). Small heat signatures are usually interpreted as food. Large heat signatures, like those created by a 200 pound warm-blooded hunter, and generally interpreted as an enemy - the snake knows it can't eat a 200 pound meal. In general, they will try to escape from a large heat signature for two reasons: 1) they know they can't eat it and it may hurt them, and 2) if they have to defend themselves against it they'll use up most or all of their venom and won't have enough to gather a meal for several days. This is why most rattlers, when given enough space, will simply leave. When leaving's not an easy option (like when they're cold or caught off guard, they warn you away, hoping you'll leave them alone.

Of course, there are exceptions to this generalization. Some rattlers don't give you a warning and simply lay still hoping you'll pass. These, in my mind, are the more dangerous ones since you don't know they're there until you step on one and he bites you. There's even some speculation now that humans, in our senseless killing of buzzing rattlers (you know, the ones that are easy to find), are actually artificially selecting for those snakes genetically pre-dispositioned to stay quiet. Maybe killing every noise snake is creating a quieter (on average) species. There is similar speculation related to public land bull elk and reduced bugling.
 
I've never seen a gila monster in Nevada and I don't believe they have coral snakes. Most of Nevada is prime rattlesnake habitat, however. There are different types of rattlesnakes depending on whether you're in the north or the south. Either way it's not difficult to find one if you're looking but just as easy to avoid one. Just watch where you're stepping and be aware. During the heat of the day they'll get under something to get out of the direct sunlight and you can often find them coiled in a heavy piece of brush.

Whenever I make a stand I just make sure I look where I'm sitting. They're nocturnal and more active at night so you need to light up where you're walking. Anybody that hunts in the desert either has or will have a rattlesnake story or two. More often than not it's the rattlesnake that comes out on the short end of a rattlesnake/human encounter.

I've lived and hunted in the desert for a good portion of my life and though I've seen a lot of scorpions I've never been bothered by them. When you pick a spot to make your stand look for spider webs that are thick and tough and don't really have any kind of pattern. That generally means there's a black widow attached to it. It's easy to sit in the web and pick up the spider on your clothing if you're unaware.

Frankly, none of this stuff is really worth worrying about. Go hunting and enjoy yourself.
 
That's one thing I DON'T miss about the southwest - all the damned rattlesnakes. I read an interesting article a while back about how the big rattlesnake roundups in some areas are contributing to an increase in silent rattlers - that by harvesting as many noisy snakes as possible, the quiet ones are having more opportunity to reproduce and create generations of snakes that are less likely to rattle when you come across them. Interesting stuff...
 
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The problem with rattlers is that they don't really "see," they sense heat (hence the general categorization as pit vipers). Small heat signatures are usually interpreted as food. Large heat signatures, like those created by a 200 pound warm-blooded hunter, and generally interpreted as an enemy - the snake knows it can't eat a 200 pound meal. In general, they will try to escape from a large heat signature for two reasons: 1) they know they can't eat it and it may hurt them, and 2) if they have to defend themselves against it they'll use up most or all of their venom and won't have enough to gather a meal for several days. This is why most rattlers, when given enough space, will simply leave. When leaving's not an easy option (like when they're cold or caught off guard, they warn you away, hoping you'll leave them alone.

Of course, there are exceptions to this generalization. Some rattlers don't give you a warning and simply lay still hoping you'll pass. These, in my mind, are the more dangerous ones since you don't know they're there until you step on one and he bites you. There's even some speculation now that humans, in our senseless killing of buzzing rattlers (you know, the ones that are easy to find), are actually artificially selecting for those snakes genetically pre-dispositioned to stay quiet. Maybe killing every noise snake is creating a quieter (on average) species. There is similar speculation related to public land bull elk and reduced bugling.

Heres a thought from my experience. First off I'm an ex-snake breeder and former member of SWHS, and use to own a reptile store in So. Cal. Google SWHS for explanation. Of the many years I hunted snakes during the summer the outside tempature is above your body heat which is why I have literaly almost stepped on quite a few rattlers while hunting them at night. If your out hunting predators you might not be in prime areas for snakes and such, doesnt mean that there not there. Whenever out in the desert, mountains, valleys etc during warm weather watch your step. Be safe my friends.
 
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That's one thing I DON'T miss about the southwest - all the damned rattlesnakes. I read an interesting article a while back about how the big rattlesnake roundups in some areas are contributing to an increase in silent rattlers - that by harvesting as many noisy snakes as possible, the quiet ones are having more opportunity to reproduce and create generations of snakes that are less likely to rattle when you come across them. Interesting stuff...



Sounds like an Audubon Society or PETA add. I don't buy it at all. There's no guarantee that a rattlesnake will rattle, anyway. Some do and some don't. Anyone that assumes that those guys who round up rattlesnakes only catch the ones that buzz don't know much about rattlesnakes or rattlesnake roundups.
 
A couple of years ago we were calling and just killed a rattle snake. We set up at another location, a small bluff overlooking a little area. We were about 15 minutes into the stand and this "head" pops out of the brush pile next to us.

I had my 22 loaded with rat shot. I stood up and proceeded to blast the head with 22 ratshot. My dad was beside himself. After I told him I saw a snake, we started poking around in the wood pile.

What I actually saw was the head of some sort of weird fat lizard with a weird round head. Looked like a snake if you only saw the head. He was dead though, snake or no snake.
 
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Wow......that's confidence!



Either that, or they're really good at calling them in close. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Or maybe he carries a pistol with rat shot along with a rifle.
 
No, I had my 243 and my dad had his 17. After killing the first rattler with my 38 snubbie, toting around my 22 rifle with rat shot didn't seem like such a chore.
 
Realized this should be a separate thread, so as not to hijack original. Starting another thread.

Regards,
hm
 
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To answer the original questions:

I live 15 miles from Fallon and can tell you that Coral snakes and Gila Monsters are not native to this area. You could find a rattler, but they are fairly rare around here. If going out in the morning, while still cool, watch the tall sage brush as the rattlers will crawl up into that brush to warm up. Scorpions are plentiful, but are normally found under cow flops, old wood or something else that can protect them from the sun. I have been stung several times over the 53 years of living in this area and thier sting isn't any worse then a bee.

Good luck!
 
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I have been stung several times over the 53 years of living in this area and thier sting isn't any worse then a bee.




True for most people. If you have a reaction to their venom you can go into anaphylactic shock and die, and you don't know whether that's going to happen until you get stung.
We have to take my mother to the emergency room every time she gets a wasp sting for a steroid injection.

I'm just sayin.
 
...."other dangers to watch out for"........flash floods in the summers & heavy snows in winter........ah, NAS FALLON.....wheels watch and young eager schoolteachers..... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
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