General Discussion

Back in 1963, my sons' second cousin was fishing in southern Delaware County, NY. He was in his teens. At some point, he found what he thought would be good bait, and attempted to put his hook into it.

That evening, his body was found, along with a baby rattlesnake on the fish hook.

At the time, it was thought rattlers did not come north of the rock ledges and river near Hancock, NY. But they sure did. One of my late friends, a Native American, hunted them sunning themselves on rock ledges on hot days. He ate the meat in soup, and used the skins to decorate the leather-work he was known for. I have a pair of snakeskin boots still, though I haven't worn them in decades.