Rattlesnake skin

[Calif. Hunter]

My 8-year old, Michael, shot a rattlesnake this weekend. (No flames, please...it was in a campground full of small kids and dogs - the best way to get bit is to try to move a rattlesnake!)

We tacked the skin down and dried it - now what do we use to oil it or soften it? We will most likely just tack it down to a board to hang on the wall in his room.

 

[JB]

My 8-year old, Michael, shot a rattlesnake this weekend.

good job Michael!
make a hat band?maybe.

 

[Calif. Hunter]

We thought about a hat band, but he only wears ball caps. It is pretty dry and brittle now, so I need to know what to use to soften it up again, even if only to spread it out on the board to dry again.

 

[Moosie]

I actually had one... and I think I was with you when we killed it I dried it out and never asked how to soften it up. It didn't go "RIGID" but it wasn't soemthing you wanted to handle much. thats an Interesting question. I'm guessing some sort of Oil would bring moisture back into it..... Any pics ?

Kudos on the "hunt"

 

[Calif. Hunter]

Yeah, Tom and I were with you when you snapped it like a whip! Of course, it was pretty traumatized by then....

Here's the happy hunter with another kid's Dad holding the snake while I take the picture.

 

[scottymack]

I know this might sound odd but my father in law uses Antifreeze. Something in it softens up the hides real nice

 

[AZHUNTERR]

use glisern (sp) oil its used for dry hands you can get it at a drug store

put it in a spray bottle an spray the skin every day for a week or two
that how we used to do it

 

[Oak]

I've heard of soaking them in antifreeze as well, but never tried it.

 

[Moosie]

Antifreeze also works in getting rid of cats BTW

I did hear that as well. But I also heard of this 2 story brown bear that ate 16 people killed up in AK

 

[Oak]

http://www.taxidermy.net/forums/TanningArticles/06/e/06500C8368.html

Hmm, don't do that I guess.

 

[Moosie]

http://iilg.org/lkb/articles/faq704.html

They say it's OK,,, but then say it's not.

Try this :

http://www.taxidermy.net/forums/ReptileMenu.html