[oucorry]

Rattlesnake huntin' time
Snake hunting in western Oklahoma is a spring tradition as much as bass fishing and turkey hunting.


Four western Oklahoma towns, all in areas of the state that produce big rattlers, are holding rattlesnake festivals this month.

Today marks the beginning of the Waurika Rattlesnake Hunt, one of four rattlesnake festivals on consecutive weekends in western Oklahoma this month.

All of the events typically feature snake pits, organized snake hunts, flea markets, arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, photo booths, carnival rides, games and fried rattlesnake meat for visitors to sample.

For more information on the three-day festivities in Waurika, call (580) 228-2553.

Next up is the Apache Rattlesnake Festival on April 17-20, followed by the state's biggest rattlesnake event, the 42nd annual Rattlesnake Derby and Flea Market in Mangum on April 25-27

For information on the Apache hunt, call (580) 588-2880. For the Mangum hunt, call (580) 782-2434.The final rattlesnake festival of the spring is the granddaddy of them all, the Okeene Rattlesnake Roundup, to be held May 2-4.

The first organized spring rattlesnake hunt was held in Okeene 69 years ago. For more information, call (580) 822-3101.

[D Winkler]

I might be a weenie but I have no desire to hunt rattlesnakes.

[DrakeHunter]

The first weekend after Easter!!! Waynoka snake hunt, and Okeene has it's hunt about three weeks later.

[birdman]

Is the beginning of the season better suited for more snakes? I believe this time of year snakes are mostly concentrated in Dens. From people i've talked to who hunt, they seek out dens in rocky / bluff areas and use a variety of means to bring em' out.