The first run-in I had with a snake was when I went to buy my first truck. Damned thing had me hypnotized, so much so that I never really looked at what I was signing!!!! At least we can learn from our mistakes.

Second run-in with a snake was on an October muzzleloader hunt for mule deer above Vantage. I had seen about 15 or so mulies moving down to the river from about a mile away and decided to follow them down.

I parked my "second" truck (no snakes directly involved) and started cutting over the series of ridges between me and the deer. The deer had gone down one of the many gullies in the lower part of the gorge, so I decided to run/trot part of the way to close the distance a little quicker. About halfway there I came to a small boulder field and started making my way across. Two steps into the boulders I felt a slap on my pantleg and heard this loud buzzing sound. I looked down to see a 3 foot rattler trying to get back into a striking position. Those two steps in became one long leap out. After I backed up and checked the ground around me, I looked across the boulder field and saw a fair amount of movement. There were at least 50 rat sized animals moving all around this field. They turned out to be what some folks call "greydiggers". I looked a little closer and also saw 5 rattlers in this boulder field that was about a 200' long and 50' wide. I checked my leg, no bite!

I found a way aound the boulders, and only walked in open terrain on my way down to the mule deer. I got within 50 yards and there were no legal bucks, only 2 points and spikes. It was a 3 point or better unit.

I spent the next three days above the 2500 foot level, saw two legal bucks but couldn't get close, shot my limit of grouse each day, and didn't see another snake.

I still go back for the grouse and deer up high, but I won't go down there again without snow on the ground.

Andy