I should have expected that Jim Brown plans to up our adventure level when we meet him in Gold Canyon. Up until now, I counted an off road trail ride a success if no-one had to be rolled back over onto their wheels and each vehicle returned to camp under its own power or at least in tow behind another Jeep. But those standards are way too low for Jim.
An Arizona Rattlesnake Hunt
Jim rents a quad RZR for the three of us to share on a ride to Box Canyon. I start to become concerned when Gail shows up for the ride in her certified snake stomping boots. I overhear conversations in the group referring to our chances of catching rattlesnakes on this trip – I mistakenly think they are joking.
Shortly after we hit the trail, a red-tailed hawk dives to the ground across a wash from us. His wings flail as he claws into flight dangling a rattlesnake from his talons. After a brief airborne struggle, the hawk drops the snake beside us in the wash.
Jim, who is leading the group, stops and points to where he believes the snake landed. Everyone except me runs into the wash to try and find the injured snake. I stay by the RZR hoping they find him before he finds them. I also believe from my vantage point, I can outrun everyone else if the snake makes a comeback.
The only way to hunt SNAKES (in general) is with a sawed off SHOTGUN with plenty of shells of buck shot. Snake Dentist and a MAD WOMAN, and not necessarily in that order scare the living heck out of me. There must be something loose in poor Gail’s head to stomp on a live rattler. Mercy, keep an eye on that girl, she even wants to take them home. Did you try to eat it??? They say it taste like chicken but I could not swear to that. ;>)) Looks like the folks that took you guys had been on that road before, they sure knew which forks to take when they came to them without thinking about it. I may watch it again just for the music, that was GREAT. Thanks again and be safe out there. GOD BLESS
JD
Jim
I was exaggerating a little when I said she stomped it to death (although that what was I thought of when I first saw her boots!). One of the couples was hoping to catch a snake for the skin – they are making hatbands out of them. They came properly equipped to achieve their goal. I don’t think anyone ate the meat, they just skinned it and saved the rattle.
I knew some day it would come to this.
Come home immediately.
N Clement
I know that you warned and warned us about this. If it makes you feel any better, we are moving away from the snake (and tarantula and scorpion) infested areas in the very near future 🙂