Even a 12-gauge shotgun is unreliable on large rattlers. I was dove hunting near Albuquerque many years ago, and we encountered a diamondback, later measured out to 6 feet plus. I backed away a few yards and let him have it in the head several times with a 12-gauge 870, using dove loads (7 1/2 shot). The darn thing just writhed a lot. We decided to go on hunting and come back in a while to see if he died. About half an hour later, we came back and he hadn't. One of the guys had a 1911 pistol and shot him in the head. I know he was brain dead, but his body still kept writhing. We finally cut off his head, and that seemed to do it, eliminating the possibility of a nasty bite.

These are tough critters.

I took the carcass home, skinned it, pinned the skin inside out on a large sheet of cardboard, and salted it down. I sold it for a good price to a guy who wanted to make hatbands out of it.

Now, if I hear a rattler, I just give it wide berth. They are nasty to encounter.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -