DAILY REVIEW (Towanda, Pensylvania) 23 June 08 All rattled up: Public 'gets a feel' for snakes at hunt (Eric Hrin)

Monroeton: Rattlesnakes slithered on the ground as their rattles buzzed.

But that wasn’t the only sound at the Monroeton Rod and Gun Club Sunday.

As people watched the reptiles — separated from the crowd by an enclosure — all kinds of comments were made.

“That one’s staring at me,” one little boy said.

“He’s rattling at you,” a mom remarked.

It was part of the more-than-40-year tradition of the Rattlesnake Hunt at the rod and gun club that was held this weekend. The snakes that were found were on display.

Other activities at the event this weekend included a chicken and rib barbecue, horseshoe toss and children’s games.

Inside the fencing, men with hooks walked among the nine rattlers, showing the snakes to the onlookers. Betty Roof from Wysox thought the scene was “amazing.” “Those guys can stand right in there,” she said. “It doesn’t bother them.”

Dave Schwechtje, one of the men with the snakes, said they were gathered from Barclay and Kellogg mountains.

Not all rattlesnakes are allowed to be caught, Paul Dodge, director of the Monroeton Rod and Gun Club, pointed out. Hunters first need a permit to hunt for the rattlesnakes, and each person is allowed to catch only one rattlesnake.

Also, only male rattlesnakes that are more than 42 inches long are allowed to be caught. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission sets the regulations. Males can be differentiated from females by counting their scales.

At this traditional, annual event, Dodge said, the rattlesnakes used to be cooked; however they don’t allow this anymore.

The event lasts two days, he said, and once the event is over, the snakes have to be taken back to the exact same place the hunters found them.

“Some snakes won’t be able to find their way back to their den if they’re put in another place,” Dodge said. “They could die if they’re not taken back.”

Devon Klawonn, 7, of Hornbrook, touched one of the rattlers under Schwechtje’s supervision. A tube was used so that it couldn’t bite anyone.

“It feels so soft,” he said.

His father, Paul, saw that the snakes weren’t being aggressive.

“He is more interested in getting away and being left alone than biting anyone.”
All rattled up: Public 'gets a feel' for snakes at hunt

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