A buddy of mine was hunting in the National forest one morning. Moving through a thicket he stepped over a log and heard the rattle of a 4' timber rattler. He eased his gun down and killed it. Went on his way and shortly got back to the road where his truck was. A game warden was waiting and asked what he shot at. He told the truth thinking it was self defense. The game warden started writing him a ticket. After some discussion the game warden went with him to "the scene of the crime". Studied the the dead snake and its proximity to his boot print and finished writing the ticket. Moral of the story--LIE or get snake bit.