Stan;
In the area where I grew up I never saw a cottonmouth in my life, we just weren't "Blessed" with them around here. We had Rattlers & Copperheads, but no Cottonmouths. There were always just plain ol water snakes but I didn't pay them much mind.
If my memory is correct I think the first live Cottonmouth I ever saw was at Fort Stewart GA, used to go there for summer camp with the National Guards.
If the area where you were frog hunting is anything at all like the area around Stewart I wouldn't call it being Chicken, just Smart.
