Immediately upon arriving in Mason, even as we were driving in, I started scouting for trails and good hunting locations...and I found one! Three trails ran together under a big oak tree which would be easily made into a tree stand. That first evening, I climbed that tree and saw deer pass nearby every 15-20 minutes, but none of them wandered closer than 35 yards, just outside my comfortable shooting range. The next two mornings, I hunted that same spot and saw only one deer. Needless to say, that second morning, I was tired, bored, and frustrated that I had wasted two mornings. I gave up that spot a bit early in order to walk around a bit. It was cloudy, so I knew that my hunting partner would not return back to the campsite until much later. While walking, I just started praying that I would get to see more wildlife, even if I didn't get to shoot much, I just wanted to see something. As I was walking in my not-so-stealthy manner: head down, feet shuffling along the grassy trail, I came around the hill for the stock tank and two does startled me about 50 yards away. At that point, I realized that I still had 2 more days to hunt and that I should give up on my pity-party. So I stopped by the campsite briefly to change out of my morning gear and headed out to another part of the hunting section, which we call the "Big Pasture".
After crossing the fence line into the Big Pasture, I made a great effort to move more carefully as I headed toward the middle of the pasture where the windmill and another stock tank is found. Not far into my walk, I came across a turkey, the first and only turkey that we would see. Oddly enough, the turkey wasn't completely spooked by me and I ended up getting within about 15 yards from her. I knocked up and waited as she moved behind some brush ready to release just as soon as I had a clear shot. She peeked her head around the bush and then turned around the other direction and took off. I actually had a good shot, but as I drew back for a 20 yard shot, she just started to lift off the ground and at that point I noticed the ravine in the background...argh, I really wanted to let my arrow fly, but I didn't want to lose my arrow down the ravine in case of a miss, also, from my experience last year, it can be tough to penetrate all those feathers and get to some vital organs in a turkey. So I lowered my bow and noted where the turkey flew.
Soon, I came to a dry creek bed, which I decided to follow until it reached the windmill. Since I was down in the creek bed, most of my attention was on the banks and above. I noticed a nice deer rack in the creek bed, still attached to the skull. I left it where I found it thinking to pick it up on my way back. I walked for another 20 yards, and as I walked, I happened to glanced down to step around a large tuft of grass, when my West Texas instincts kicked in and I jumped back at the signature movement and sound of a rattlesnake!
Now I have come in contact with many rattlers in my life and I know that they are a type of vipers, but in all my experiences, these rattlesnakes curl up and lay low or turn and run. Not this time. This viper was true to his nature. He curled up the lower 2/3rds of his body, but he raised the uppers third like something that I have only seen in the movies. He was mad and he wanted to fight! I had one decision to make, walk away or fight back.
Having made the decision to stay and kill him, I took in my surroundings. I backed myself up near a steep rise of the creek bank that I could use for an escape if needed. Body curled, head raised to strike, and tongue licking the air, I knew that this snake was planning his move and that I needed to strike first. With my broad head already knocked, my distance estimated at 14 yards, I had my second decision to make, smote the head or pin the body in the sand? Though I felt confident with a head shot, I also didn't want this venomous creature slithering away. I aimed, drew back, and released my arrow. It drilled straight into his body and another 6" into the sand. His rattling stopped and his front half lunged to the side, but his back half was firmly planted into the ground. I did it! I had him pinned, and from the sound of it, mortally wounded as well!
I then moved around so that I could get a better angle on his front half. His head was down, but still very much alive. I nocked a blunt and released it. Though I missed his head by an inch, I still drilled his neck. I didn't see him move much after that, but I wasn't fooled. I tossed a couple of rocks at him. No movement. I then lobbed a large rock on his head, and he riled up for a second then tried moving again. I then tried and failed to drill two more blunts into his head at something less than 10 yards, but I was too close. I had never practiced at this range and on such a small target. Well I had one arrow left, a broad head, and I didn't want to use it here, so I moved around behind the snake and using my bow, I was able to retrieve one of my missed arrows from beside the snake. I then lined myself up, compensating for the closer distance by aiming a bit low. The snake, realizing his last breathe was near, opened his mouth and I put my arrow down his throat.
With the battle over and my adrenaline subsiding I decided to finish my walk to the windmill (only about 5 minutes away) and let my nerves and muscles relax a bit. About 40 minutes later, I made it back to camp with my snake, still with his piercings and the deer rack that I found. I dropped both to the ground, grabbed some cookies, sat down, and related the story to my hunting partner, Whitley.
Whit asked if I wanted to skin it, but still exhausted from my adventure, I said no. Also, at the time I could not think of any reason for keeping a snake skin. The thought did not even cross my mind that this was my first kill while bow hunting. Nor did I know how much others, including my extended family would value the skill required to shoot a snake with a bow and arrow, after all, I thought, we shoot them with a shotgun all the time. Of course my hunting partner and archery teacher was proud of me, but it wasn't until others shared that same sentiment of congratulations that I truly appreciated my accomplishment.
I did keep the rattles and I will attach them to my quiver for next year.
Enjoy!
TaylorH
P.S. - For those who care to know, I shoot a 62", 60# Bear Super Kodiak with Easton carbon arrows. The snake was 45 3/4" long.
