The not backing down is the reason I'd get bit. I don't care about being bit by a snake, though with venomous this would present a major problem. As a kid I used to catch copperheads and cottonmouths to sell to a friend who ran a pet store. I also found it much easier to catch them bare hands which I wouldn't do now because I think logical, but as a kid I did it. I was only bitten once and it was by a copperhead and it was due to another Copperhead about two feet from where the one I was planning to catch was at. So when I went down to catch it the other one popped out from by the brushes and tagged me above my elbow.