I've camped all over the Mojave desert here in California and never really had a problem with rattlers. Give them a chance of escape and they'll slither off under the brush as fast as they can. That being said, I'm just careful from dusk until dawn when they're usually out and one the prowl. Spring and summer are really good times to get bitten, so be careful when getting out of your tent in the AM as they might be attracted to the warmth coming out of your tent at night and coil up next to it. They'll still be lethargic in the morning, but still able to strike if they feel threatened. Never had a problem poking them with a long stick, they tend to slither off when I've done that.