Rattlesnakes not rattling?

[Stan R]

PLease explain how the lesson to not rattle is spread from snake to snake.

[TxAg]

PLease explain how the lesson to not rattle is spread from snake to snake.

Did you read all the posts?

[chris1911]

He left a grapefruit sized venom spot on my jeans.

you sure that was venom?

[SMOOTHboar]

So there is a really good Nat Geo Documentary Called King Rattler. It's great and has a very good explanation about why rattle bugs don't rattle like they used too.

[DidIDoThat]

I think it is possible for this to happen, not only because of hogs but also and maybe mostly because people kill the ones that buzz. But I think it will take many generations of snakes for this to happen. But the last 3 rattlers I saw all buzzed. Of course how do I know how many didn't buzz that I walked right passed?

[Mike Javi Cooper]

I been hearing this all my life... seems plausible considering that the snakes that rattle are most often killed and eventually in a million years or so the evolution will be complete..

To the fellow who ain't never seen a snake while hunting... you'd pee your britches if you knew how many you've stepped over and just didn't see them..

[Stan R]

Did you read all the posts?

Sure did.....

[jmac2410]

So there is a really good Nat Geo Documentary Called King Rattler. It's great and has a very good explanation about why rattle bugs don't rattle like they used too.

What was the explanation?

Don't see hogs contributing to it much. Hogs could find a rattlesnake using its nose before it finds them after hearing them buzz.

[team obsession]

Yea I had buddy get popped by one a few weeks ago. Never rattled!

[TxAg]

Sure did.....

If hogs truly are affecting rattlesnakes rattling, it is by an evolutionary process called natural selection. A few good examples are listed above.

[Throwin Darts]

For me, the jury is still out on the rattlesnake/hog thing, but you've explained the evolution correctly. Theoretically, the ones that rattle most often get eaten. Rattle less, more likely to live and spread your genes. It's not the snakes can reason or communicate to each other to "not" rattle.

I agree with the theory but this would take years and years and years for this to be observed. Definitely not something that would happen in a person's lifetime.

[swineslayer]

all of this "stoping rattling" stuff is making me parinoid and im gonna go buy some snake boots lol
I personally have never encountered a rattler or any kind of poisonus snake while hunting and i have been hunting since i was 5 or 6. I dont want too encounter one but ill be prepared for when i come across one.
Ill be watching this thread

a hog hunter that has never come accross a poisonus snake? you are either blind or lucky as hell. i suggest a lottory ticket

[cosmiccowboy]

It's not just hogs...there are a whole lot more people out there and a lot more roads. I remember when highway 16 was a little 2 track road (just recently paved...blacktop used to stop in Poteet) and there were no high fences and dang few ranch roads...nobody had 4 wheel drives or ATV's or UTV's...If it rained you walked or stayed home. The snakes just weren't used to people and would rattle like crazy...I have killed dozens if not hundreds driving down ranch roads with the windows down (no air conditioning) and heard them way out in the brush rattling at the truck driving by.

[eradicator]

If most of the above statements were true, then turkeys wouldn't gobble anymore, elk wouldn't bugle anymore, etc. Don't get me wrong, more vocal birds get shot over silent ones. However, I've been hunting the same place for years(public land) and can see no discernible difference in the amt. of gobbling. It all sounds good in theory, but eventually rattlesnakes would not rattle at all and have no use for the rattle. Thus, they would morph into copperheads, moccasins, etc. I'm not biased, rattle or not they all get axed.

[dsb6446]

only time i have them not rattle is when it is cold