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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: scrub-buster on May 02, 2009, 06:22:00 AM

Title: Black snake for backing?
Post by: scrub-buster on May 02, 2009, 06:22:00 AM

Has anyone used black snake to back a bow?  If you have, I would love to see what it looks like.  I found one that was 4'9" long in the front yard thursday and it is now drying out on a 2x6 in the garage.  We don't have many cool looking snakes around me, but we do have plenty of black snakes.

Title: Re: Black snake for backing?
Post by: kodiakkid on May 02, 2009, 08:41:00 AM

Why would you want to kill a black snake?

Title: Re: Black snake for backing?
Post by: bigcountry on May 02, 2009, 01:44:00 PM

Quote

Originally posted by kodiakkid:
Why would you want to kill a black snake?

Sounds like he is wanting to back a bow with it.  

I think the title of the thread was black snake for backing.  

You ever tried it?

Title: Re: Black snake for backing?
Post by: Moen on May 02, 2009, 02:50:00 PM

Cool! Glue the skin on your bow!
Maybe the snake already was dead?

Title: Re: Black snake for backing?
Post by: Lewis Brookshire III on May 02, 2009, 03:01:00 PM

is it legal to kill a Black snake in Indiana?? I know alot of places its not legal to kill non-venomous snakes...

Title: Re: Black snake for backing?
Post by: Dano on May 02, 2009, 07:15:00 PM

Sometimes snakes just come up dead     :rolleyes:  it's a nice tribute to them to back a bow. Never done one myself, but it would be a heck of a waste of a good skin to not   ;)

Title: Re: Black snake for backing?
Post by: RAU on May 02, 2009, 08:50:00 PM

This guy did. This is one of my all time  favorite build alongs.

 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=40;t=000067

Title: Re: Black snake for backing?
Post by: rainman on May 02, 2009, 10:19:00 PM

I've used them on 2 bows. Mine wre procured through my job at Critter Control.  If the snakes is less than 4' long when the scales come off you should get a nice pattern.  The one I did with a large snake had lost most of the pattern.  15 coats of Tung Oil should make the skin as smooth as glass if you wet dry sand between coats.

Title: Re: Black snake for backing?
Post by: Lewis Brookshire III on May 03, 2009, 08:30:00 PM

Sorry Dano. just trying to make sure the guy doesnt get in any trouble.

Title: Re: Black snake for backing?
Post by: Mounter on May 03, 2009, 11:57:00 PM

It wouldn't hurt to check your laws. I know here in KS. it's illegal to posess or kill timber rattler snakes. $1000 fine if your caught with one. Bad thing is their all over around my farm. Saw one on the gravel road last week, 200 yards from the house. About 4 feet long and beautiful colors, must have just shed. Not worth the fine though!!!!

Title: Re: Black snake for backing?
Post by: scrub-buster on May 10, 2009, 03:15:00 AM

Quote

Originally posted by Lewis Brookshire III:
is it legal to kill a Black snake in Indiana?? I know alot of places its not legal to kill non-venomous snakes...

It is legal to kill them.  Only the endangered snakes are illegal to kill. I would love to have some rattle snake skins, but we don't have them around here.  I have some uncles in Texas that might be able to get me some.

Title: Re: Black snake for backing?
Post by: Pat B on May 10, 2009, 02:04:00 PM

Black snakes are not harmful to humans but are very beneficial. I would not kill one but I would use the skin from a dead one(if legal) on a bow. I killed an 24" copperhead this morning that one of my dogs found(it has been skinned and stapled to a board). I do kill copperheads and rattlers if they are around our house or areas we use frequently. I have 3 big black snakes(biggest was over 7' last year) that live around us. They are welcomed because they eat rodents and poisonous snakes.

Title: Re: Black snake for backing?
Post by: razorsharptokill on May 14, 2009, 12:10:00 AM

Yes RAU that one is a classic!