I killed a rattlesnake, now what?!?

[Paul the Viking]

I dispatched a rattler that wouldn't get out of the way this morning.  After a quick skinning and disection with the kids (they loved seeing the heart beating 30 minutes after I removed its head)I have the first half of my new limbcovers.  But now I don't know what to do. I've rolled the skin up and put it in the freezer.  I didn't flesh it out, salt it or add anything else.  Please advise me on how to clean up and preserve the skin for my recurves limbs.  I've seen 'How To's' on applying them to limbs, but not on the work of getting the skin ready.  I found some tanning advice, but I don't know if that is what I need to do for limb covers.
Thanks,
Paul

[walrus]

first make sure the hide is not to brittle by dampening it with water then tack it up on a piece of your choosen wood , and VERY carefully take the flesh of the membrane with a razer blade ,the sharper the better .usualy if you tan it weakens the hide so I would just mount it on your bow as soon possible after fleshing it.

[NW]

My method, as a Taxidermist. Lay it out flesh up. Using a dull knife or spoon, scrape the flesh off, going from side to side. If your careful you won't damage it by scraping side to side. Do not scrape length ways. When it's clean, rinse with cool water, then tack it out to dry. Just my preferd method, but it works very well.

[Guru]

NW's right on the money...no need for anything sharp,too much risk for disaster that way....just scrape with a spoon... and tack out straight, leave it to dry in the sun for a few hours,or inside for a day or so....

[ber643]

NW and Guru, thanks for those special little tidbits of easy and safer method, for future refernce.

[Talondale]

Paul I just went through the same thing.  Here's my thread with pics.
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=048406;p=1

[Wile E. Coyote]

Just remember when you tack it out try not to stretch it. If you stretch the skin you will expose the area between the scales which is white or off colored and this takes away the beauty of the pattern and coloration. It is best to dry with the scales as close together as possible. Even after rewetting to put the skin on the bow those areas won't close up if you've stretched them and dried them that way.

[insttech1]

Eat it.

[Nakohe]

Amen on the eat it. Taste like chicken.  

Bread and deep fry it. MMMMMM MMMMMMM Good.

[JEFF B]

well congrats thats one i dont have to worry about. go get em    . wolfman