Our last snake to find this day was George, another large male.  George hadn't moved much over the past few weeks, settling in on the top of a wooded north-facing slope.  We found George in the same position he was found in earlier that week - in a hunting coil facing a tree, much like we discovered Kyle earlier in the day.

George was just a few inches smaller than Sully, another successful survivor who had spent many years hunting these woods.  In Indiana, the big male snakes like George and Sully move across the forest in July, in search of a female's scent trail.  Some males move long distances in pursuit of a female to mate with.  Now it was September, and the snakes have long since returned to hunting mode; the females have given birth and are especially in need of a meal or two before winter pushes them back underground.

What a day this turned out to be!  I felt like my understanding of these snakes grew in leaps and bounds.  I learned much about behaviors and habitat preferences during my day of Timber tracking.  Some questions were answered and new questions emerged from the experience.  I fine-tuned my search image as well, which has helped me find more Crotalus horridus on subsequent field trips.  These large forest pit vipers are unique and fascinating creatures.

Greg and I camped together that night, and we talked rattlesnakes over tobacco and beer.  In the morning, we would be looking for Hellbenders, yet another new skill set for me to acquire, and another journal entry...