2 years ago I was scouting during the early bow season with my two sons.
We came up on a nice looking oak hammock and I told the boys to stay right there while I went throught the palmettos to check it out. I walked in and looked around a bit and as I was walking back out, ( on the same path I went in) I got nailed by a 5 ft. diamond back. He never rattled once until after he bit me. Im guessing I must have alerted it when I first walked in. After a screaming 30 yard heeby jeeby fit I managed to collect myself and took off my rubber boot to see just how bad he got me. Fortunatley the fangs went through the rubber boots, through my jeans and barely scratched the skin on my leg.
I now wear 18" Bass Pro Snake boots. I never had wore snake boots during the 20 plus years before that day. But I realize now its good insurance.