In my youth, there was a full-page advert in papers and magazines that showed a rather disappointed-looking military man, likely a marine, holding a stick with a piece of meat on the end of it in a campfire. The caption was, "Tonight we're having rattlesnake."
Believe it or not, this was meant to encourage recruitment, as it supposedly appealed to White guys eager to prove themselves tough and manly. Why a rattlesnake? Out of crayons, I guess.
My rattler tasted great. Skinned, gutted it (easiest thing ever), cut it into 2 inch sections and butter, pan fried it. It was GOOD. It's all in the seasoning. It should not have been caught on the front porch.
At Ft Sill OK, on the live fire obstacle course, a recruit encountered a rattler. He jumped to his feet and ran towards the start point screaming snake! Two drill sergeants were running the opposite direction, knives in hand also yelling snake. Luckily the live rounds actually pass about thirty feet overhead.
Consumed a bunch of it when I was a Boy Scout. We were all trying to be more manly than each other. No, it didn't taste great, but neither was it horrible. It tasted like gamey old rubbery chicken at Walmart Deli counter that's been under the heat lamps too long.
I thought it was a good addition to a diet of C-rats. Now instead of saying it tastes like chicken I say it tastes like rattle snake. Ate them in the field regularly.
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Beats starving. But that's about all you can say about it.
ReplyDeleteIn my youth, there was a full-page advert in papers and magazines that showed a rather disappointed-looking military man, likely a marine, holding a stick with a piece of meat on the end of it in a campfire. The caption was, "Tonight we're having rattlesnake."
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, this was meant to encourage recruitment, as it supposedly appealed to White guys eager to prove themselves tough and manly. Why a rattlesnake? Out of crayons, I guess.
I went to a rattlesnake roundup in Opp, Alabama a few times, it was a good time and the fried rattlesnake was not bad, needed more seasoning..
ReplyDeleteJD
I’d forgotten about the Opp Rattlesnake Roundup, they used to advertise it all over the state.
DeleteMy rattler tasted great. Skinned, gutted it (easiest thing ever), cut it into 2 inch sections and butter, pan fried it. It was GOOD. It's all in the seasoning.
DeleteIt should not have been caught on the front porch.
Alex. It's been 20 years since I've been so I don't know if it's still going on.. It was fun when I went
DeleteJD
Not sure if its still there, but The Fort restaurant outside Denver offered an appetizer of snake and eggs. Rattlesnake and Quail eggs
ReplyDeleteI thought it tasted more like dirt than than a midsummer bullhead filet.
ReplyDeleteIt's better wrapped in pastrami and steamed. What a protein rush!
ReplyDeleteAt Ft Sill OK, on the live fire obstacle course, a recruit encountered a rattler. He jumped to his feet and ran towards the start point screaming snake!
ReplyDeleteTwo drill sergeants were running the opposite direction, knives in hand also yelling snake.
Luckily the live rounds actually pass about thirty feet overhead.
The two times I ate it, I thought it tasted like chicken fried steak.
ReplyDeleteHad it, wasn't impressed. Tasted like gator.
ReplyDeleteRattlesnake makes good jerky.
ReplyDeleteConsumed a bunch of it when I was a Boy Scout. We were all trying to be more manly than each other. No, it didn't taste great, but neither was it horrible. It tasted like gamey old rubbery chicken at Walmart Deli counter that's been under the heat lamps too long.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a good addition to a diet of C-rats. Now instead of saying it tastes like chicken I say it tastes like rattle snake. Ate them in the field regularly.
ReplyDeleteCheers Thor
First rattlesnake I had, I fried quickly in butter, then salted it. Tasted pretty good. Big secret: don’t overcook it.
ReplyDeleteAte rattlesnake once, and alligator another time. The gator tasted much better. Only if starving would I eat rattler again.
ReplyDeleteTastes just like chicken ya say? Thanks for the heads up......I'll be havin' the chicken, thanks.
ReplyDeleteCottonmouth school Austin TX. Fried rattler. Unremarkable. 1980, it was a very good year to be a young man.
ReplyDelete