Rattlesnakes!!...Mojave, CA trip...any pointers?

Looks like my Bodie trip will be put off due to time/money issues. I am however planning a trip to Mojave. I haven't been there so this will be somebody touristy, but most of all, I just want to talk lots of pics!

I want to see the Kelso Sand Dunes, outside of that, I really want to get some pictures of rattlesnakes. I figure my 400mm should get me safely close enough to get some good shots.

Anytips for where to looks? Near rocks, shade, bushes?

Check around for a local who can help you. The Chamber of Commerce or Tourist Bureau maight be good places to start. Most desert town have at least one rattlesnake hunter.

I get all the rattlesnakes I need in my back yard, I don't have to go hunting for them.

Rattlers like sun in the morning & evening, so they can be found sunning themselves on a rock or sunny side of an overhanging bush. During the heat of the day they can be found in shade. Your best bet will probably be morning.

As far as lenses go, the long end of your 70-200 will work fine. You may not be able to get a decent shot w/ the 400, depending on angle of the shot, rocks & bushes in the way, whatever.

Consider 10-15' a minimum "safe" working distance. Remember, where there's one, there may be more.

Thanks for the info fellas. Roger, great idea on looking for a rattlesnake hunter.

I want to get some sunrise shots of the Kelso dunes. If i'm there early, is it likely that I'll come across some just completely out in the open before it gets hot?

A very good idea to get together with someone who works with them. Keep in mind those are extremely dangerous critters, bites are by no means always fatal, but the ugly little secret is that some amputation of tissue is always involved, it can get real ugly real fast.

I don't think you are likely to see rattlesnakes at the dunes. There may be sidewinders at the dunes but I don't think they are native there.

Check along the desert just outside of the dunes. You are looking for rocky areas with out croppings and lots of hiding places. Snakes don't like to travel more then they have to so there should be sun, shade and hiding places very close together. Anyplace where you might be able to find mice and ground squirrels.

Watch were you put your feet and don't reach into anything. Pay particular attention to backing up. A lot of people get bite backing out of an area.

My tip would be to be careful. Like was said above, they aren't necessarily the most solitary critters around...

All good info thanks everybody. Yes I understand they're dangerous, I'm not some tourist with a camera hanging around my next who's just going to wander willy nilly into the desert!

I just have a fascination with rattlers. I don't really like other snakes. I just want to see some in real life, not just in captivity or on tv.

Good tips eddarr. I never thought of getting bite as I was backing out of an aera. Good idea.

And when you are done playing with them...

http://www.rattlesnake​recipe.us/

If you can get a couple of big ones, they'd make a nice pair of diamond back rattler boots.

Seriously, though, they can strike over a distance pretty much equal to their body length. So if you happen to see a six-footer, be at least 6'-1" away. If you'll be hiking around, above-ankle boots would probably be a good idea.

Snake chaps are available.
I would suggest you try to contact a snake expert in that area. Call them and tell them you are a photographer that would like to get some great shots of rattle snakes. The herp people I have met on my adventures to snake road in my neighborhood have been really helpful. I personally don't handle snakes. On some occasions, I have had the good luck to have a skilled snake person do handle and position the snake while I did some shooting. I have also shot a lot of snakes when no one else was around. I use my 100 to 400 because I can get a nice close shot and the minimum focal length is about 6'. That distance keeps me pretty safe. Be very careful as once you are bitten, you can't get unbitten. You really don't want to back into one while you are concentrating on another. Most of the snakes I have encountered have been very docile.
Remember, most snake bites are preceded by the words "Hey ya'll! Watch This! Hold my beer!"

Tandem wrote in post #5535490
And when you are done playing with them...

http://www.rattlesnake​recipe.us/

Tastes like chicken

argyle wrote in post #5536360
Seriously, though, they can strike over a distance pretty much equal to their body length. So if you happen to see a six-footer, be at least 6'-1" away. If you'll be hiking around, above-ankle boots would probably be a good idea.

Even thought I'm not a herp guy, I still bought a pair of snake boots for camping. So I've got protection up to just below my knee. Plus I'll have a 6' walking stick. I don't plan on killing any, just want to take pictures. I'll head to the Texas Rattlesnake Roundup for the eatin!

poloman wrote in post #5536649
Snake chaps are available.
I would suggest you try to contact a snake expert in that area. Call them and tell them you are a photographer that would like to get some great shots of rattle snakes. The herp people I have met on my adventures to snake road in my neighborhood have been really helpful. I personally don't handle snakes. On some occasions, I have had the good luck to have a skilled snake person do handle and position the snake while I did some shooting. I have also shot a lot of snakes when no one else was around. I use my 100 to 400 because I can get a nice close shot and the minimum focal length is about 6'. That distance keeps me pretty safe. Be very careful as once you are bitten, you can't get unbitten. You really don't want to back into one while you are concentrating on another. Most of the snakes I have encountered have been very docile.
Remember, most snake bites are preceded by the words "Hey ya'll! Watch This! Hold my beer!"

Good info. I just signed up on a herp forum and will hopefully get some people to go out with me. I have my 70-200 and just got my 400 5.6. I imagine some extension tubes would be helpful in this situation huh?

Yea, I agree with looking for someone who does this often. The reason being is you're going to have to get into a lot of areas where you'll be close to them to find them. You won't see them just moving about...it will always be in some sort of crevice or underneath a rock. They will sun bath in the morning and late evening as was said, but they blend in so well that you might not even notice them. I kind of disagree with the gentleman who said you would have a hard time finding them in Mojave. As a matter of fact, one of the more notorious snakes in that area that has traveled into some of the nearby towns is called the Mojave rattler. It's a generic name, but there out there. It's been said a million times and you know this for sure, but be careful! The speed of these animals' strike is never fully understood until you've seen it in person...it's best to see it from about 15 feet back! --Joe
P.S. If you want to find some rattle snakes, get into some of the various foothills in California and search to about 3-5,000 feet in elevation. Tons of food, lots of places to hide and these guys are rampant in those parts.

poloman wrote in post #5536649
Remember, most snake bites are preceded by the words "Hey ya'll! Watch This! Hold my beer!"

Hey, who told you about me! Haha! Yea, wouldn't want to be on the business end of that bite, but if so, a few coors lights might dull the pain, at least a little bit! But I will not be testing this theory. --Joe

vwjoe76 wrote in post #5537471
P.S. If you want to find some rattle snakes, get into some of the various foothills in California and search to about 3-5,000 feet in elevation. Tons of food, lots of places to hide and these guys are rampant in those parts.

Good info, I'm sure there are tons near me. I just like the idea of being in the desert since HOPEFULLY i can find them sunning somewhat out in the open so I don't have to go rootin' around the rocks, bushes etc.