Ah, yes. I guess I just don't equate 'fishing license' with 'permit'. A permit sounds like something that would need to extensively be applied for, when in reality, you can walk into any bait shop or hardware store and pick one up.
Btw, rattlesnakes are not protected, at least the most common species. There's no bag limit, even. As far as I know (and don't take it as gospel...) as long as you are over 18, you can legally posses a native rattlesnake. Sounds pretty crazy, but I'm fairly sure it's true. I don't recommend it, lol.