Evenin gang, I had a friend over a couple of weeks ago and mentioned to him I wanted a snake skin if he ran across one, he scuts cotton for many local farmers so the chances are pretty high he would. He called me today with great news that he killed a 5 foot canebrake sporting 12 ratles and a button. I was outof town and convinced him to take it home and hide it in the freezer for me for a couple of days. He did warn me, "if my wife finds this thing in the deep freeze she'll divorce me and kill you". So is there anything special that needs to be done or skin it and salt it down? it will wind up on a bow in short order.
NO SALT. Cut off the head split down the belly and peel the skin off the carcass. Tack the skin to a board (wet side out) scrape off any flesh that might still be attached. The skin should dry to a paper like consistancy in about a day. Take it off the board and trim it, then roll it up for storage until you're ready to use it.
Yep, no salt or borax. When I get one in that has been treated with salt or borax I have to rinse it for about 30 minutes under running water or the glue won't stick it tightly on the back of a bow.
Advice from freeman is dead-on. Something that works very well in scraping off the thin layer on the inside of the skin is a 1" wide plastic "putty knife" which can be found almost anywhere paint supplies are sold.
A tablespoon works well also for fleshing a snake skin. My wife caught me using one from the dining set and wasn't happy. Just don't get caught! :D
I never had problem with salt. Hmm.