McGREGOR - It's the end of October and air and ground temperatures are cooling rapidly. For the cold blooded reptiles that inhabit the rugged bluff country northeastern Iowa, it's time to head for underground denning areas.

  Prowling the winding back roads of Clayton County, DNR Conservation Officer Burt Walters is currently observing the slow speed migration. Today the skies are mostly clear, a somewhat rare event this autumn, and snakes are on the move. So far this morning, Walters has spotted more than 50 snakes --- mostly red-bellied, little brown, and a handful of garters, all en-route to the safety of limestone fissures that will offer winter protection.

  But the species Walters hopes most to encounter is the timber rattlesnake, a formidable creature most folks choose to avoid. Walters is a natural born native of the McGregor hill country, and has been actively studying these intriguing pit vipers for more than 20 years. Alarmed by the rattlesnake's dramatic decline, he conducts an ongoing crusade aimed at educating the public on the biological importance of what he considers to be a desirable member of the Iowa outdoors.

  "It's alarming," says Walters. "At the denning sites that I know of, rattlesnake populations have been reduced by at least 50 percent since the 1980s and are still declining."

  The scenario is the result of a complex chain of events, and no single factor is solely responsible for the decline, says Walters. Habitat destruction is listed among the culprits. As more and more homes are built atop scenic bluffs and ridgelines, there are less and less places for timber rattlers and other wildlife to live. Also included among habitats in decline are the so called "goat prairies" that once flourished along the near vertical slopes of bluffs and ridges and are now vanishing as cedars and other invasive shrubs take over. Historically, landowners would set fire to the goat prairies hoping the flames would destroy snakes, says Walters. Quite to the contrary, the fires enhanced prairie growth which attracted native mice, voles, and insects which provided an ample food source for rattlers, skinks, and other Iowa herpitiles.

  There is also a problem with snake poachers. In spite of being legally protected, rattlesnakes are still being harvested by poachers who supply the exotic pet trade, mostly for people who still think it's cool to have something dangerous in their home.

  "Collecting can have a very serious and rapid impact on populations," says Walters. "Timber rattlers have a low reproductive potential and it takes a male anywhere from 5 to 7 years to mature. It takes a female from 7 to 11 years to mature and after that she'll only bear young every third year. When people take snakes from communal den sites it doesn't take long to have an effect."

  Those effects became painfully apparent this spring as Walters inspected an Allamakee County den site. Trails leading to the site had been marked with strips of blue plastic flagging, certain evidence that rattlesnake poachers had already paid a visit to the den. Look as he might, Walters could only find two surviving rattlesnakes at a site that should have held dozens.

  Although scenes like that are disheartening, Walters hasn't given up the crusade to educate Iowans on the virtues of this venomous reptile. Since the late 1980s, he's traveled up and down the Mississippi River showing live reptiles and giving "snake talks" to countless school groups [more than 65 on the best years], service and conservation organizations, and just about anyone else who cares to listen to his message. One of the biggest events, he says, was the EMS Venomous Bite Day. Held for two years at Calmar, the program played to a completely packed house each time and remains one of his most requested presentations.

  "One of the things I stress is that timber rattlesnakes just want to be left alone," says Walters. "They are not highly aggressive, and most people will never see one. They are, in fact, a very valuable and desirable member of the wildlife community. Their venom is currently being used in experiments with heart disease, arthritis, and other human ailments. At this point, their benefits to humans may even surpass what people currently realize."

  There are encouraging signs that the education is beginning to pay dividends. One of those was the overwhelming public support for legislation that has now protected timber rattlesnakes in their northeastern Iowa strongholds. By contrast, similar legislation aimed at protecting remnant populations of timber rattlers in central Iowa failed miserably due to profound lack of public support.

  Earlier this fall, Walters was notified by police radio that a four-foot long timber rattler was causing something of a stir among of users of the Guttenberg City Park. When he arrived sometime later, the hefty reptile was being held at bay by a group of onlookers. Walters promptly captured the snake and safely returned it to a nearby den site.

  "Incidents like that give me hope," says Walters. "Until recently, people would have immediately killed that snake on the spot. Today, I think more and more people are beginning to realize that that isn't the thing to do anymore and that timber rattlers are a natural part of the wildlife community."

  For more information about the great hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities that abound in Iowa, visit their site at www.iowadnr.com.

  It’s that time of year again when we clean out the file cabinet and the e-mail and pass along all of the hunting tips we’ve received over the past year that didn’t make it on our site or in an issue of The Bullet. We want to thank everyone for sharing their knowledge with us and for taking the time to write in. Keep in mind that some of these may not be legal where you live so check your state’s game laws before trying them. So here they are in no particular order. Happy and safe hunting.

  When squirrel hunting with an air rifle keep your aim steady and go for its neck or head. Also pick it up and out it in a container of some sort in order to keep the other squirrels around. – Sean T.

  When setting up your stand, don’t only consider your scent trail and cover but which way the sun will be. Looking directly into the sun in the morning after you set it up in the evening is a big eye strain. - Bill

  When hunting, always keep still. – Austin Weyant

  To keep boot laces from coming untied and/or getting caught in brush and causing you to trip and possibly fall, tie your laces in a square knot instead of a bow knot. – Mike Peterson

  While squirrel hunting, keep your hands as still as possible. It scares the squirrel, and it won’t come back. - Brian Salvitore

  When hunting out of a tree stand remember to never urinate near it. The deer will smell it and stay away from it. – Gilbert Stull

  When cleaning a squirrel cut the head off at the base of the shoulders then cut down the center to gut. This makes it much easier and faster to skin. - Josh Hochgesang

  Home brew scent killer recipe. If you are making the widely known mixture of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, unscented soap, and distilled water, be sure not to use hydrogen peroxide that you buy at most stores. They have stabilizers in them that give off a scent. Try Baquacil from a swimming pool supply store. Just remember to dilute it down to at least 3%. - Grant Ellis

  Always carry a little toilet paper with you. Especially when hunting in areas where most of the plants have few leaves and very long thorns. - Carter Luman

  While hunting deer always keep the wind blowing in your face. You can be wearing your strongest cologne (I don’t recommend it) but as long as your wind is right you’re guaranteed a good hunt without being winded by a deer’s nose... which is his best defense. - Charles Botts

  When hunting buffalo or other large game with either a single or a double rifle, instead of having the spare bullet in your mouth (which is potentially dangerous), have them in your off-hand protruding through your fingers. With practice it is fast to reload. Also take plenty of water when in a dry or hot environment. Yes, you may think it obvious but too many hunters come to Australia and don’t think of water. A "camel back" is a good, cheap, easily usable water source. - David Mickel

  Chewing tobacco fouls your breath which is detectable by deer. If you decide to chew, spitting on your trail/path can also be their trail therefore alerting them that something is not right. Get yourself a styrofoam cup with a lid and a straw. Tape the straw to the lip to prevent the noise it makes moving up and down. Use it to spit in. You will also need to poke a small hole in it for relief pressure. This makes a very quiet spittoon. Also clean up after yourself and leave no trace. – M. David Lee

  If you ever walk to your tree stand in the dark you may like this tip. Take a pop can and cut 1x1 inch pieces out of it. In the morning or in the daylight, take some gum and stick it on the back and stick them to trees and stuff to mark your trail. This way you can see where you’re going. - Jesse Griep

  If an approaching buck looks as if it may pass within range of your stand without stopping, and this sounds crazy, but believe me it works, make yourself belch but keep it muffled. He will stop in his tracks! I have a 2 six pointers that will attest to that! My burps sound exactly like a Primos grunt call. Give it a try! – Chris Lee

  When deer hunting with a bow, shoot it when it is almost parallel to you with its hind end facing you. This way it doesn't have to go through the ribs which could throw it off course. When hunting with a rifle shoot it broadside. - Seth Haymes

  A heater that deer can not smell is an old medal coffee can with a roll of toilet paper stuck inside. Pour on a bottle of rubbing alcohol and let it soak for a day or so. When you light the roll it will burn for about 6 hours. - Shane

  When squirrel hunting, always make sure to thread on soft ground and always shoot at still targets. - Jammy

  When hunting with a buddy if one of you carries a shotgun and the other a rifle you can shot squirrels running or sitting still. Also, the shotgun is great for getting them down out of trees and you can shot them on the way down with the rifle. – Mark C.

  When hunting keep your eyes open at all times so you know about your surroundings. – Josie Waldo

  When hunting with a single shot shotgun try to get comfortable holding an extra shell between your index and middle fingers of the hand that holds the forearm of your gun. It will make it easy to jam a shell in for a quick follow-up shot instead of digging in your pockets. You could also carry a 3 inch shell in your hand for distance. – Sean

  To keep moisture out of your black powder rifle, put one of those moisture bags from a medicine bottle in the barrel then put bore butter in the barrel. You can also put the bags in your gun cabinet. – Steven Harris

  Send us your tips and we’ll post them on the site or use them in a future issue of The Bullet. Our e-mail address is mail@backwoodsbound.com.

  Have you ever felt like you where alone...been overlooked...neglected...no one cares? These feelings all stem from the human race caused by someone in the human race. Take note! Do not allow these people to make you feel this way! Maybe they feel better or stronger by doing this.

  Wake Up! You are never alone. Look to nature and its creatures. They are always there and close by if you take the time to look. They will never desert you. I feel they are always glad that you are there and will put on a show for you. Notice what they are doing, how they do it; and it seems to me they know you are watching and will look at you.

  I really feel you can erase the alone feeling give you by the human race and feel better within yourself by watching nature. I feel you and nature will be happier...so give it a try. Nature can bring a smile to you and change your life for the better. It just takes some quiet thought time and look around. Gee, even on a quiet personal day on the lake one of nature’s creatures may visit you! You are never alone with nature.