One of two observed.. Not expecting to see anything in the cold temps in this area at this time, I shot passed a rat snake in the road, as I stopped to go back this guy was on the shoulder. I took a few photos of this one and ran back to find the first one, with no luck refinding it..
The rattler was sitting in some grass around a deer feeder tripod leg. This feeder is not hunted (hogs are the one exception) and has wild bird seed added to the corn to draw in more wildlife. It is about 80 feet from our cabin near a creek.
5-6 feet long. A Red-shouldered Hawk was swooping on it.
Can see an old injury it healed from (on belly and side).