Close Call

Close Call

June 30, 2009

I have talked about Buddy in other articles, but I will refresh your memory about him. Buddy is my decoy, a true veteran of past deer seasons. Buddy has been shot many times by violators, but he is still happy to work any time we need him. He is very good at his job. I think about all the details I have worked over the years and a particular one come to mind. We were working daytime details, hoping to catch subjects hunting and shooting from the public road. We set up in an area close to the Wolf River WMA. Captain Spears, a lieutenant at the time, worked along side us during the detail. We went to Lost John Road, and if you have ever traveled this road you would understand why they call it Lost John. Wolf River WMA was on one side of the road and a hunting club on the other side. We made the choice to put Buddy on a pipeline on the WMA side of the road. I had just gotten a new camcorder, so I decided to film the action.

Captain Spears had the job of placing Buddy in the right spot and the other officers were in their trucks to apprehend any suspects who took a shot at Buddy. This was December 23 and it was a cool morning, but it had warmed up to 55 degrees. I went to work looking for the best setup where I could get all the action on film. After several moves, I finally settled on a good spot. After setting up, I looked around to see a gopher tortoise hole, and the thought of it looking like a good place for a rattlesnake briefly crossed my mind. In about the same instant that thought left my mind, I looked down to see a pile of diamondback next to my left foot. Anyone who knows, this is the time when your heart falls completely out of your chest.

I could see his tongue flicking in and out as he sat coiled up, his head in position to strike. I knew I was too close to get away, but I couldn’t understand why the snake hadn’t warned me with this rattles. Then I realized he must be too cold to have struck at me. Believe me when I tell you, I didn’t move a muscle while trying to decide what to do. After some serious thought, I made the decision to take my pistol out (hoping not to draw a strike from the snake) to get a shot behind the snake’s head. I can not explain the relief I felt when that
snake’s coiled body went limp. About that time Captain Spears said, “What are you doing?” and “Why did you shoot?” It was at that time I picked the 51?2 foot snake up and showed it to him.

I could then hear the other officers coming from both directions on the road. The other officers flew past, trying to find the violator that shot the decoy. They asked me where the violator was and I held up the snake and said, “Here he is.” It was at this time that the seriousness of the detail was replaced by the hysterics of the situation. As for me, my decoy operation was over with for the day.

I used to brag about all the time I had spent in the woods and never been close to a rattlesnake, but that is no longer the case. If anyone goes to Wolf River WMA, you had better be looking. The big ones are there. It doesn’t matter what time of year it is or how cold it is; you could end up like me and get no warning. I think the Good Lord was looking after me that day.