Trad Gang

Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: TexasStick81 on March 12, 2014, 11:05:00 PM

Title: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: TexasStick81 on March 12, 2014, 11:05:00 PM
There are some copperheads that are grey black rather than the red brown tones.  Does anyone know where I might find someone who could find them?
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: Florida lime on March 12, 2014, 11:36:00 PM
I have only seen gray/black copperhead skins when the skins are mounted on a very dark limb, although like any animal there may be variations due to locale.   :dunno:
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: daveycrockett on March 12, 2014, 11:51:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Florida lime:
I have only seen gray/black copperhead skins when the skins are mounted on a very dark limb, although like any animal there may be variations due to locale.    :dunno:  
Yep.
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: South MS Bowhunter on March 12, 2014, 11:52:00 PM
You mean these...

 (http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Chimera%20Feburary%202013/fa75c6f8-e267-463a-9da6-74053f125063.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Chimera%20Feburary%202013/fa75c6f8-e267-463a-9da6-74053f125063.jpg.html)

 (http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Chimera%20Feburary%202013/file-46.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Chimera%20Feburary%202013/file-46.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: Zbone on March 13, 2014, 06:51:00 AM
Wow, unique....
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: Will Cocke 2 on March 13, 2014, 07:57:00 AM
Copperheads have  more to do with the back of the bow color.  If over carbon it makes the skin darker(grey) in color.  If the bowyer paints the limb tan the skin will appear red. Copperhead skin is super thin the only snake I know of that u can alter the color of on a bow.
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: Eric Krewson on March 13, 2014, 09:21:00 AM
There are two subspecies of copperheads that I know of, at least in Texas. Snakewood has sent me both southern(red, tan) and northern (brown, gray, black). Both are very distinctive and beautiful in their own right.

Not the best picture but you can see the difference in a southern and northern skin.

These are destined to grace the next bow I make to donate to be auctioned to raise money for children's causes. In the past I have made bows to auctioned to raise money for the Alabama's Children's Hospital and the Catch a Dream Foundation

  (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/copperheadsnorthandsouth_zps5ea5b9b5.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/bow%20making/copperheadsnorthandsouth_zps5ea5b9b5.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: Lone Ranger on March 13, 2014, 09:45:00 AM
there are 5 subspecies of copper tops in total- northern, southern,osage, transpecos, and broadband.

L.R.
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: KentuckyTJ on March 13, 2014, 10:06:00 AM
Good pic Eric. Here it is run through photoshop.

As Widowdoublelung states, you can alter the look of them both with the paint color that is under them as they are so thin.

(http://i60.tinypic.com/s1m2hf.jpg)
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: Orion on March 13, 2014, 01:55:00 PM
Can also alter the color by staining/dyeing the belly side of the skin before you glue it to the bow.
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: cmh on March 13, 2014, 07:37:00 PM
Nice looking skins.....I'm daydreaming about a Stalker with copperheads   :)
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: Duncan on March 13, 2014, 07:58:00 PM
Yes copperhead skin is thin and as already said will take on the limb color. Darker limbs will make the lighter skins appear darker.
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: Duncan on March 13, 2014, 08:00:00 PM
Also, water moccasins have a similar hourglass pattern but are much darker. Best natural camo in my opinion.
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: cmh on March 13, 2014, 08:11:00 PM
Making bows for sick children.... god Bless
QuoteOriginally posted by Eric Krewson:
There are two subspecies of copperheads that I know of, at least in Texas. Snakewood has sent me both southern(red, tan) and northern (brown, gray, black). Both are very distinctive and beautiful in their own right.

Not the best picture but you can see the difference in a southern and northern skin.

These are destined to grace the next bow I make to donate to be auctioned to raise money for children's causes. In the past I have made bows to auctioned to raise money for the Alabama's Children's Hospital and the Catch a Dream Foundation

   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/copperheadsnorthandsouth_zps5ea5b9b5.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/bow%20making/copperheadsnorthandsouth_zps5ea5b9b5.jpg.html)  
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: YORNOC on March 13, 2014, 09:53:00 PM
More variations...

 (http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab246/yornoc/bracken001.jpg) (http://s868.photobucket.com/user/yornoc/media/bracken001.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: YORNOC on March 13, 2014, 09:56:00 PM
 (http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab246/yornoc/Brackenbury022.jpg) (http://s868.photobucket.com/user/yornoc/media/Brackenbury022.jpg.html)

Skinned up nice and dark gray...
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: TexasStick81 on March 13, 2014, 10:47:00 PM
Man guys. Sorry for the slow response.  I hadn't gotten an email saying anyone commented until tonight.  I really appreciate the feedback.  I'm thinking about them over black glass or carbon.  There does appear to be natural variation though.  If you google grey copperheads you'll see images of live copperheads that are a beautiful grey.  I killed 5 last year bust most were smaller and red brown.  

Yorndoc - that last pic is exactly what I'm looking for.
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: KellyG on March 13, 2014, 10:59:00 PM
TexasStick,

If you don't want them plain ole redish brown ones, shoot them my way.

Love them on Osage bows. If you make your dream bow share with us. Sounds like it will be a looker.
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: TexasStick81 on March 13, 2014, 11:11:00 PM
Will do Kelly, I think most of these were too small for a limb.  I had one crawl in the ground blind with me and was so close I had to stab it with my broadhead.  Not fun.  Crazy thing, when I pulled my arrow out of him it pulled a snake out of his belly that was longer than he was.  They are some aggressive little boogers.  I prefer rattlesnakes, they make noise so you know they're there most of the time.
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: Zbone on March 14, 2014, 08:52:00 AM
I really like the grey phase too....
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: SELFBOW19953 on March 14, 2014, 01:02:00 PM
Yeah, rattlesnakes make noise, sometimes before they strike, sometimes after.  If it's after, hopefully they missed!!!
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: Bob Morrison on March 16, 2014, 03:16:00 PM
There is no grey phase..... copperheads over black back ground makes the gray.
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: YORNOC on March 16, 2014, 03:37:00 PM
Actually, there is. Not terribly common but I get them from time to time.
One of the snake hunters I deal with had two this fall. A taxidermist got them before me. I'll see if I can find the pictures.
Mother nature always throws a curve ball in there!
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: YORNOC on March 16, 2014, 03:52:00 PM
Normal

 (http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab246/yornoc/normalcopperheads.jpg) (http://s868.photobucket.com/user/yornoc/media/normalcopperheads.jpg.html)

Grey phase


 (http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab246/yornoc/greycopperheads.jpg) (http://s868.photobucket.com/user/yornoc/media/greycopperheads.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: YORNOC on March 16, 2014, 04:12:00 PM
Here's some pics from online of live critters:

mature grey


 (http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab246/yornoc/Maturegreycopperhead2.gif) (http://s868.photobucket.com/user/yornoc/media/Maturegreycopperhead2.gif.html)
 (http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab246/yornoc/maturegreycopperhead1.jpg) (http://s868.photobucket.com/user/yornoc/media/maturegreycopperhead1.jpg.html)

Mature normal

 (http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab246/yornoc/Maturenormalcopperhead.jpg) (http://s868.photobucket.com/user/yornoc/media/Maturenormalcopperhead.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: TexasStick81 on March 16, 2014, 07:14:00 PM
Hey Yorndoc,

That second pic down is exactly the one I've seen.  Incredible looking copperhead.
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: nineworlds9 on March 17, 2014, 01:54:00 PM
Fascinating Zane.  Good luck in the search for a bow worthy pair.  Keep me posted.
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: Bob Morrison on March 17, 2014, 04:18:00 PM
I stand corrected. I've had a bunch of them and have never seen a grey one.
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: Mike Yancey on March 17, 2014, 09:43:00 PM
There might be grey phase but you can still take one that is as copper as a penny and put it over black back ground and they will look black/grey, a bull snake will do the same
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: KellyG on March 26, 2014, 10:47:00 PM
I like the bull snakes and corn snakes are awesome! But man them copper heads are so pretty.
Title: Re: Grey copperhead skins
Post by: Sixby on March 26, 2014, 11:18:00 PM
I did a set of copperheads over cocabola for a customer and they turned out grey. I honestly was not too happy about that. lOl
I painted florescent green on the back of a bow and put a set of prairie rattlers on it and got the nicest shade of green rattlesnakes you ever saw. Its a keeper and hanging on my personal rack.
Snakewood has done some amazing things with different colors under copperhead skins.
God bless, Steve