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Morris Rattlesnake Roundup offers a variety of sports
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| RATTLESNAKES WERE ABUNDANT over the weekend. Hunters brought in 70 of the reptiles during the Morris Rattlesnake Roundup over the weekend. |
by Lee Ed Thomas II
Amos Osborn will remember the 48th Annual Morris Rattlesnake Roundup for a very long time.
Osborn has been the pit boss at the annual event for several years. He will not only remember the event due to the largest tally of snakes - 70 - since the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission put restrictions on the number of snakes which can be caught by a hunter to one.
"Since they changed the restrictions to one snake per hunter, this was our biggest year," Osborn.
He will also remember this year as the first year he was bit.
"They brought the snake in, dumped it out of the bag and he took right off," Osborn said. "I caught and pinned him and was getting ready to pick him up to measure."
Osborn prepared to pick up the snake as he always had, placing a thumb and finger on either side of the head, placed index finger on top and reached down to get the body, when it all happened.
"He rolled and twisted his body and his head came around. He knew what he was after," Osborn said of the reptile.
The snake struck and bit him on the tip of his finger, but Osborn remained calm.
"As soon as I got bit, I dropped the pinner and walked calmly to the ambulance," Osborn said. "By the time I got there, they had the ambulance running and waiting on me."
Osborn was taken to Soldiers and Sailors where he was given an antivenin but was later flown to Robert Packer after having an allergic reaction to the horse serum.
"It's quite common to have allergic reaction, breaking out in hives, shortness of breath and a lot of itching," Osborn said.
One day later, Osborn was back at the Snake Pit.
"I came home Sunday around 4 p.m. and went back to the pit," Osborn said. "I didn't work, but I was down there."
Osborn and other pit workers were kept busy Saturday as a steady stream of snakes were brought to the pit.
Eighty-three hunters signed up prior to heading out into the surrounding area Saturday morning seeking snakes.
Doug Cohick made his yearly trip into the mountains along Pine Creek, accompanied by his usual entourage comprised of mostly family members.
According to Cohick, snakes were abound on nearly every rock as they basked in the sun.
"I think the weather made a big difference," Cohick said. "It had been cold and damp enough that the snakes were close to their den."
Cohick's group was comprised of his son Derrick, cousin Jeff Keltz, his son Jared and four additional hunters.
The group had their most successful harvest in several years.
"We all got a snake," Cohick said. "I've probably hunted more than 25 years and this was the best year we had."
Cohick began taking part in the hunt with his father when he was a eight years old. Today, he is passing the tradition on to his son.
This year the Cohick group was overwhelmed at the number of snakes they say along the broken rocky ridges.
"We came to one rock and there were 11 snakes," Cohick said. "It was neat to see them. It amazed me that there were that many together. We had more fun watching the snakes than catching them."
The Cohick group only bagged three snakes out of the group and was content to watch the others slither off into their den.
At another spot, an old car, five snakes were found. The group took a few pictures and moved on, allowing the snakes to enjoy their ride.
Once again the group found another rock. This time six snakes were sunning themselves. Two were harvested and the rest were left alone.
"When the snakes started moving we just stood still and let them go right by," Cohick said.
The largest snake the hunting group bagged was a 36.75 inch rattler but it was not large enough to earn first place.
Alvin Osborn of Morris was the eventual winner with his 50 inch reptile. Second place was a 45.75 inch reptile captured by John Templin of Lebanon.
Mike Powell traveled from England to participate in the roundup and received an award for traveling the farthest.
The harvest was up from last year's tally of 50. But no one overcame the record snake of 55.5 inches bagged in 1980.
"I think is was because of the weather that the harvest was so good. That morning it was overcast, warm and the snakes were out laying," Osborn said. "People told me they would walk to a place and there were as many as 20 snakes laying out."
The snake pit wasn't the only big activity at the event.
The One Pitch Softball Tournament was another highlight of the annual event.
This year eight teams competed for the coveted title and once again it came down to two familiar teams.
Gates Logging and Colonial Inn of Covington faced off again this year in the championship game of the double elimination tournament.
Colonial Inn overcame an 8-1 deficit to defeated undefeated Gates logging 11-9. The win forced a second game for the championship.
Gates Logging eventually won the tournament with an 11-4 win over Colonial Inn.
Finishing in third place was L&H mechanical of Gettysburg while the local team of Costy's of Mansfield finished in fourth place.
Osborn has been the pit boss at the annual event for several years. He will not only remember the event due to the largest tally of snakes - 70 - since the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission put restrictions on the number of snakes which can be caught by a hunter to one.
"Since they changed the restrictions to one snake per hunter, this was our biggest year," Osborn.
He will also remember this year as the first year he was bit.
"They brought the snake in, dumped it out of the bag and he took right off," Osborn said. "I caught and pinned him and was getting ready to pick him up to measure."
Osborn prepared to pick up the snake as he always had, placing a thumb and finger on either side of the head, placed index finger on top and reached down to get the body, when it all happened.
"He rolled and twisted his body and his head came around. He knew what he was after," Osborn said of the reptile.
The snake struck and bit him on the tip of his finger, but Osborn remained calm.
"As soon as I got bit, I dropped the pinner and walked calmly to the ambulance," Osborn said. "By the time I got there, they had the ambulance running and waiting on me."
Osborn was taken to Soldiers and Sailors where he was given an antivenin but was later flown to Robert Packer after having an allergic reaction to the horse serum.
"It's quite common to have allergic reaction, breaking out in hives, shortness of breath and a lot of itching," Osborn said.
One day later, Osborn was back at the Snake Pit.
"I came home Sunday around 4 p.m. and went back to the pit," Osborn said. "I didn't work, but I was down there."
Osborn and other pit workers were kept busy Saturday as a steady stream of snakes were brought to the pit.
Eighty-three hunters signed up prior to heading out into the surrounding area Saturday morning seeking snakes.
Doug Cohick made his yearly trip into the mountains along Pine Creek, accompanied by his usual entourage comprised of mostly family members.
According to Cohick, snakes were abound on nearly every rock as they basked in the sun.
"I think the weather made a big difference," Cohick said. "It had been cold and damp enough that the snakes were close to their den."
Cohick's group was comprised of his son Derrick, cousin Jeff Keltz, his son Jared and four additional hunters.
The group had their most successful harvest in several years.
"We all got a snake," Cohick said. "I've probably hunted more than 25 years and this was the best year we had."
Cohick began taking part in the hunt with his father when he was a eight years old. Today, he is passing the tradition on to his son.
This year the Cohick group was overwhelmed at the number of snakes they say along the broken rocky ridges.
"We came to one rock and there were 11 snakes," Cohick said. "It was neat to see them. It amazed me that there were that many together. We had more fun watching the snakes than catching them."
The Cohick group only bagged three snakes out of the group and was content to watch the others slither off into their den.
At another spot, an old car, five snakes were found. The group took a few pictures and moved on, allowing the snakes to enjoy their ride.
Once again the group found another rock. This time six snakes were sunning themselves. Two were harvested and the rest were left alone.
"When the snakes started moving we just stood still and let them go right by," Cohick said.
The largest snake the hunting group bagged was a 36.75 inch rattler but it was not large enough to earn first place.
Alvin Osborn of Morris was the eventual winner with his 50 inch reptile. Second place was a 45.75 inch reptile captured by John Templin of Lebanon.
Mike Powell traveled from England to participate in the roundup and received an award for traveling the farthest.
The harvest was up from last year's tally of 50. But no one overcame the record snake of 55.5 inches bagged in 1980.
"I think is was because of the weather that the harvest was so good. That morning it was overcast, warm and the snakes were out laying," Osborn said. "People told me they would walk to a place and there were as many as 20 snakes laying out."
The snake pit wasn't the only big activity at the event.
The One Pitch Softball Tournament was another highlight of the annual event.
This year eight teams competed for the coveted title and once again it came down to two familiar teams.
Gates Logging and Colonial Inn of Covington faced off again this year in the championship game of the double elimination tournament.
Colonial Inn overcame an 8-1 deficit to defeated undefeated Gates logging 11-9. The win forced a second game for the championship.
Gates Logging eventually won the tournament with an 11-4 win over Colonial Inn.
Finishing in third place was L&H mechanical of Gettysburg while the local team of Costy's of Mansfield finished in fourth place.
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