Are snake skins that have been tanned good for backing bows? Or should air dried snake skins be used?

Air dried. The tanned ones are saturated with glycerin and remain soft.

hey Roy you can use tanned skins and they will look awesome..just soak in hot water and dawn dish washing liquid for a while and then rinse real good..this will remove the oils from the skin..then just apply like air dried..I got a set on a kodiak magnum that were tanned..paid 5 dollars for both skins at a show so I figured what the heck...best looking canebreaks I got bro..freakin awesome they came out so well..the tanning process seems to give the skins a brighter and deeper looking pattern...like I said they are the best skins I have on any bow so far....gut