glad you didnt get bite. I had an incident with a rattler once several years ago when i was dove hunting. The area where i was at was mainly just small brush piles and dried grass. I went hunting by myself but there was several other hunters further down from where i was. I shot a dove and it went into the high grass. I usually take my gun with me when i am getting a downed bird and the other hunters were at a safe distance so i can shoot in their direction without a danger of hitting them or vise versa. As i was approaching the dove i heard the tale tail (literally) of a rattler near be. I stopped in my tracks and this rattler which was close to 6 feet, maybe longer about 3 feet to my left. my gun was pointing in that direction so i shot the snake and back up and shot it two more times. I am not sure if it was still alive or it was nerves but the snake was still moving. I always have my 7' ' hunting knife with my that my dad bought me along time ago. I stepped on the back of its head and cut it off with my knife. The other hunters had no idea what i was doing until I picked up the snake. I didnt end up cooking it but gave it to another guy. Looking back at it i think i was pretty much lucky that i didnt get bite.