Archery season opens in August in some western states.
This is a good time for rattlesnakes to be out soaking up the sunshine.
If a hunter is in lawful pursuit of game while archery hunting one can almost always come upon a rattler unexpectedly.
These meetings can be quite interesting between person and snake especially when one suddenly finds oneself face to fang with a nice size snake.
It seems to me rather insane not to carry a small caliber pistol for just such occasions.