Joe - ha,, not Salem but perhaps some of the old farmers and their help around Williamsburg had relatives from up that way! It does sound like a bunch of hooey and probaly is but just an old family story that was stuck on me b/c I was the one who was always bringing some critter home to keep as a pet or cook.. And, after sleeping on it, I'm pretty sure it was not the farmer who held this superstition but an old black man of his employ that I would hang around when my dad was doing buisness with the farmer...
Stan - You gotta do what you gotta do in certain situations and in no way did I mean to come off as judgemental.. I follow land-owners rules to a T when I'm a guest too.. Had not heard that one about 'shackling' the gun but good to know! In that same year, I caught a king snake and thought it was the coolest looking snake around and was able to keep in the school classroom in a fish tank for a few weeks.. Learned later that they like to eat other snakes.. I've had BBQ'd rattler a time or two over the years as well and recall it being palatable.. Best of luck with the harvest this year! - jmc
