Growing up in So. Mississippi it was a routine occurrence to see snakes of all types (Cotton Mouth, Copper Head, and Rattle Snakes in abundance). During the summers while in college I surveyed timber and spent all day every day trudging through the Piney Woods of Central/Southern part of the state. The fulltime guys all wore snake boots that came almost up to their knees. They provided snake leggings for me, and they were hot and uncomfortable. I remember the one time that I didn't wear them. About 100 yards into the woods, and 3 snake encounters later I quickly went back to the truck and put them back on.
I have since lived up and down the East Coast, Hawaii, and now in Washinton State. I have never seen snakes like I did growing up in MS. We did see a small rattler in Canyonlands a couple of years ago, hanging out in the shade of a pit toilet.