Florida in the drier areas has plenty of rattle snakes,
Ive run into them dozens of times,
I try to keep a 7-9ft distance and ignore them,
they usually but not always try to do the same,
generally they know your there but won,t be aggressive,
if you don,t move or look like a rat, you generally get ignored,
we have plenty of large rattlers,in the palmetto thickets , we hunt,
and
yeah you learn quickly to watch where your putting your hands and feet...or choose too sit...
obviously putting some 6-9 feet of distance between you and the snake is a good idea,
but don,t move quickly if you can,t easily move away,
your too large for lunch and will usually be ignored,
if your not seen as a threat.
btw its not unheard of to find on in a permanent tree stand either.
wet areas hold cotton mouth snakes they tend to be bad tempered if disturbed,
most
cotton mouth moccasins act like an ex wife ,
that got nothing in a divorce, and have a bad hangover,
they will strike given the option more often then not in my experience
but generally hiss and move ,giving you a second or so to find someplace else you rather be.
so watch your surroundings at all times
http://venomoussnakesfl.com/cottonmouth.htm
https://www.sciencedaily.com/release...1221154151.htm
http://www.247wildlife.com/venomousnakes.htm
I generally just ignore and try too avoid them,
I don,t go around shooting snakes,
as long as they don,t get aggressive.
most rattlers give you warning and move away,given the option.
I generally will duplicate that option,
and just give them space to go find mice and rats,
move toward me,in a threatening manor,,,
and yeah, your life expectancy as a snake drops rapidly