Okeene Rattlesnake Roundup A Slithering Good Time

Chris Howell, NewsOn6.com

OKEENE, Oklahoma -- Most of the year Okeene, Oklahoma is a quiet little town where not much happens.  Then the Rattlesnake Roundup comes to town.

"For 37 years I've been coming here and I've really enjoyed it," said snake hunter Calvin Gaston.  "People are all friendly, it's just a good time."

Inside a large tent, captured snakes are shown by careful handlers who swear the snakes won't bite unless provoked.

"You just keep walking around those cap rocks, pretty soon you'll come across one, just reach down and pick them up," said Gaston.

The rattlers were harder to find this year, hunters claim a warm spring drove them out of their dens earlier than normal.