Well, I wouldn't say they taste like chicken, more like iguana. [] That was a nice big female. A kid from down the road killed an 8 ft female at the edge of my driveway and all she had was 13 and a button. Plenty of field rats and marsh rabbits to keep them fat around here.
Rattlers don't come around as often as they used to. I have cats and snakes stay away from cat inhabited areas. Something to do with cat excrement.
Hey Cap, How could you tell that that was a female? I don't take the time to say Howdy Mam, or is it Sir? If they come in the yard, they answer to the tune of a 12 ga. Remington 1100. I can see where the cat urine would work. Sulphur is good and also mothballs. I think that it has something to do with their skin being very sensetive to certain chemicals. They also taste the air with their tongues, and this might mess up their sense of smell/taste.
Doug, is that a pigmy rattler? Looks like he is puffing to make himself larger.