Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: gstoneberg on April 14, 2012, 02:48:47 pm
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Walked into the shop this morning and saw something scoot around the corner into a storage area. Wasn't sure what it was. Turned out to be a 4 and a half foot rat snake...
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7244/6930804652_65a13729ea_z.jpg)
Sure hate to kill a snake, but he's gonna look good on a bow. I couldn't help myself.
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5151/6930805354_0cc71a6f40_z.jpg)
George
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Nice! Great before and after photos!
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Sweet. All I ever find are mice.
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Nice skin George. Any snake that wonders into a bowyers shop is askin' for it. I wish our rat snakes had that nice of pattern. By the time they are that size, they are almost all black.
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Very nice looking snake. He looks kind of slender. Our gopher snakes are long and skinny compared to the poisonous snakes, but would still be considerably fatter than that.
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He seemed to be narrow across the back for sure. That's better for bow use anyway. The big rattlers are so big around the pattern doesn't even come close to fitting on a bow back.
George
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He seemed to be narrow across the back for sure. That's better for bow use anyway. The big rattlers are so big around the pattern doesn't even come close to fitting on a bow back.
George
I agree, they fit so much better. Long and skinny are built for longbows. On occasion I find one on the road without to much damage that is 6 feet. 1 snake for 1 bow is great and the pattern fits. Nothing worse than loosing half the diamond pattern when using a diamond back.
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Very Nice!
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Nice catch George!!
Cipriano
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That's a pretty snake, George! Ida killed it, also.
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Thanks guys. When I took that second picture I had the scales side up to show it off but I tacked it down scales side down. In just a few hours the white inside of the skin is gone and it looks the same from the inside. Always amazes me as that happens.
I had a 16yr old young man over mowing yesterday and he found the head. It went home with him. Not sure what he intends to do with it. It has a .22cal pellet sized hole in it.
George
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Shoot. I thought you had tacked it down like that. I guess I'm the only one that likes to tack them scales up. As long as the skin peals off cleanly, I don't see what difference it makes. That sure is a nice pattern on that snake. I have a feeling it is going to back a sweet character osage bow in the near future.
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I don't know, I do it the way I do to promote it drying quickly. Here's what I meant, this is the scale side down after 1 day of drying.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7191/6935284820_7516649207_z.jpg)
See where I slipped with the box cutter I was using to skin him...and I was trying to be sooooooo careful. Good grief. If you've never skinned a freshly killed snake you just haven't lived... :o
I'm sure he'll go on a bow. I've been holding out for gar skins on my trade bow, but you never know...
George
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Chihuahua George!!! I need to give you lessons next time I see ya.. >:D
Cipriano
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What'd I do wrong? You'll see me again in 5 days. ;D ;D Looking forward to it.
George
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You'll see me again in 5 days. ;D ;D Looking forward to it.
Just be carefull which cooler of his you open!! :o
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Our rat snakes look different here, they are usually solid black, but I've seen some albino yellowish ones. I wouldn't kill 'em though, I prefer having them around as I've had rats in the attic a couple times. Seen the hawks snatch them up and carry them away a few times though!
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That's a Nice looking Snake George!
I'm sure it will look Great on a bow!
-gus
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Yes Bevan, I'd probably shake his coolers to check for rattles before opening.
I agree Parnell, the only reason I killed this one was my unbacked trade bow, sitting about 10' from where he was, was awaiting a skin of some kind.
Thanks Gus.
George
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Steve, what kind of Rat snakes do you guys have? ??? The ones up here are yellow or red rat snakes. I just turned loose a 4' yellow rat snake lose in the shop this afternoon.
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I'll as a stuped question. What is the difference between a rat snake like you got and a bull snake?
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Not very much, if any difference. I suspect they're misidentified all the time. In Nebraska, every snake that looked like this is a bull snake. Down here, every snake that looks like this is a rat snake. They're for sure 2 different species, but I'm not good enough to tell them apart. So, I go with the local flow.
George
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Just be carefull which cooler of his you open!! :o
I already asked Cipriano to bring some live ones to Cross Plains... so we could play with them...
He wisely declined as he is bringing "Big D" with him and it would be Bad Form to transport "Live Ones" along with Family in a in-closed vehicle.
So we won't be seeing the Rattlesnake Grease Dance unless we find a live one out there... :)
-gus