Warning: Don't put Rattlesnakes Freezer or Refrigerator

[usabaker]

I just wanted to take a minute to warn everyone to not put your collection of dead Rattlesnakes in your freezer or refrigerator, harm in the way of broken ear drums could befall you.

Sometime ago I placed three diamondback Rattlesnakes into a plastic shopping bag. I when put them in the Deep Freezer for later processing. Quite a normal thing, right?

I heard a scream emanating from the garage, and when I investigated I found that my wife was looking for something, I know not what, in the freezer and came upon the unmarked bag reaching in produced a Rattlesnake carcass, the biggest one no less.

My mistake was investigation the disturbance. For as a result my eyes suffer loud screams of displeasure at what had just occurred. She demands was that I either remove and process the Rattlesnakes or in the trash they would go. When she dropped the rattler, the rattle broke off to my sadness.

Once the defrosting was done, I skinning and rubbing in the Borax to tuffin the bits left on the skin I rolled them up and placed all three in a ziploc bag and put them in the garage refrigerator with every intent to finish fleshing on Sunday.

Well, things happen and I forgot a week later I heard yet another scream. Coming in my home office my the wrath of wife once again entered my eardrums for she had come across my bag of snake skins in the refrigerator. My solemn apologies followed, however, I should have NOT said "Well, you told me to remove them from the freezer", this sirs is a mistake.

Fast forward to one weekend past. I was in the garage working on a project. When a resounding $heOT rang out. With my wife yelling from the freezer, bag in hand, "I thought you told me you processed the rattlesnakes!"

Well, I guess I forgot I had a second bag with two more in it.. I think my tinnitus from shooting M-60's in the SEABEES has worsened.

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[Low & Slow]

Ha! Ha! Maybe you've almost got her to the point of getting used to it! Just don't push it by tying one to a string attached to the fridge's door so that it jumps out when the door is opened. A stunt like that might end up with you sleeping in the car for a loooong time.

[browningautorifle]

All I can say to help is, you ain't the first...

[usabaker]

tying one to a string attached to the fridge's door so that it jumps out when the door is opened. A stunt like that might end up with you sleeping in the car for a loooong time.

Is this something you know from experience?

You know you are in trouble when your wife shakes a tip of a knife at you and says, "You have to sleep sometime". (My grandmother to my grandfather after a prank)

---------- Post added at 12:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:18 PM ----------

All I can say to help is, you ain't the first...

I came home from work one day and found my plastic bag that contained a large trophy size Gray Squirrel hat I intended to taxidermy one day, sitting on the counter. I ask my wife, "Why are you defrosting my squirrel?" the reaction was not as animated as my snakes, but I did get "OMG, stop putting dead things in the freezer!"

[painter777]

Talk about living on the edge...
My ears are hurting just thinking about the first couple screeches, the 3rd I'd imagine was more 'Aggressive' ?

I have 3 Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake rattles given to me from cousins. They gather the venom and sell to a couple different Universities that make Anti-venom. They hunt them in the Appalachians during summers and when cold hunt other snakes in Florida. They do quite well and have been on TV shows a few times guiding other snake hunters. Last I heard they were involved in some State of Florida Python project that pays them a hourly wage, X amount per snake and extra $ for over so many feet long.

A side note: When I was 16-17 I worked at a local tire store. We used to get a Tire Newsletter I believe monthly, with industry news... etc.
I remember reading about a guy in Arizona that was repairing a flat tire for some tourists driving thru. While feeling around the inside for anything poking it he pricked his fingers on something. Shortly after he passed out and off to a hospital. Later another tech was looking over the tire and found the fangs from a young rattlesnake. I can remember the picture showing the tire, the tech that got poked and the snakes head on the outside sidewall. Long time ago but remember it pretty well.

Bill,
Do you make things out of the skins or just sell outright ?

---------- Post added at 03:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:23 PM ----------

"OMG, stop putting dead things in the freezer!"

I don't understand...
Most everything in our freezers were alive once

[usabaker]

Do you make things out of the skins or just sell outright ?

Me and a buddie have been catching ratters since we were kids. During peak rattlesnake season in the 70's his dad use to drop us off out where the snakes were and pick us up later. We normally caught between 10 and 12 snakes in an outing, for whatever reason we would bring most home alive and keep them in pens for awhile before processing them.

I've made hatbands, knife sheathes, wallets, and other stuff like for myself and as gifts. Most skins I have now are just tanned skins that I haven't done anything with. I don't sell it is illegal to do so in California as it would be considered commercial capture and use. Just like I can't sell any sportfish I catch.

[Flying10uk]

put them in the Deep Freezer for later processing

Yer, but did you follow the correct "Health and Safety Protocol" of stating on your freezer door "Caution, Ear Protection Must Be Worn Before Opening Freezer Door!"

[usabaker]

but did you follow the correct "Health and Safety Protocol" of stating on your freezer door "Caution, Ear Protection Must Be Worn Before Opening Freezer Door!"

Don't get funnier then that.