I stepped out, went to grab my rifle and BAM, I was hit and knew exactly what it was. It was about 5' in length and 2" in girth. I never felt sick or needed medical attention only because the snake had very previously eaten a small rodent and hadn't rejuvinated enough venom to hurt me.

Actually, it was probably a dry bite. It's estimated that something like 3/4 of rattlesnake bites on humans are dry, and inject no venom. And there's a reason why even with 30 pound dogs they don't pump in antivenon until major symptoms show.

In in the last couple decades rattlesnakes are warning less and less, I'm beginning to think that my children will just have to never go near a snake, because rattlers just aren't going to warn (and be killed for doing so) anymore.