rubber boots will NOT stop the fangs. I've killed two over 5' long with 15 rattles and several smaller ones. After my dog got bit, my Vet told me that they are taught to tell the difference between a cottonmouth bite and a rattlesnake bite is the bruising. A rattlesnake strike can knock a grown man down and in come cases even break a bone. Rubber boots are not much help. I always carry my .45 loaded with snakeshot when in the woods. I have a 61" skin with 15 rattles hanging on my office wall right now. I almost stepped on that one!