Aaron, I applaud you for seeing the big picture. I do need to go on the record that I do not condone indiscriminate killing of snakes, no matter what kind. I also need to state that I never have and never will use gas, catch every snake I can get out of a den, nor damage a den site. As a matter of fact for the past several years I have not captured a female rattlesnake for a hunt. This is not a justification for doing this, it is managing the "herd" in the areas I collect.

ECTimaeus