Has anyone used black snake to back a bow?  If you have, I would love to see what it looks like.  I found one that was 4'9" long in the front yard thursday and it is now drying out on a 2x6 in the garage.  We don't have many cool looking snakes around me, but we do have plenty of black snakes.

Why would you want to kill a black snake?

QuoteOriginally posted by kodiakkid:
Why would you want to kill a black snake?

Sounds like he is wanting to back a bow with it.  

I think the title of the thread was black snake for backing.  

You ever tried it?

Cool! Glue the skin on your bow!
Maybe the snake already was dead?

is it legal to kill a Black snake in Indiana?? I know alot of places its not legal to kill non-venomous snakes...

Sometimes snakes just come up dead     :rolleyes:  it's a nice tribute to them to back a bow. Never done one myself, but it would be a heck of a waste of a good skin to not  

This guy did. This is one of my all time  favorite build alongs.

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=40;t=000067

I've used them on 2 bows. Mine wre procured through my job at Critter Control.  If the snakes is less than 4' long when the scales come off you should get a nice pattern.  The one I did with a large snake had lost most of the pattern.  15 coats of Tung Oil should make the skin as smooth as glass if you wet dry sand between coats.

Sorry Dano. just trying to make sure the guy doesnt get in any trouble.

It wouldn't hurt to check your laws. I know here in KS. it's illegal to posess or kill timber rattler snakes. $1000 fine if your caught with one. Bad thing is their all over around my farm. Saw one on the gravel road last week, 200 yards from the house. About 4 feet long and beautiful colors, must have just shed. Not worth the fine though!!!!

QuoteOriginally posted by Lewis Brookshire III:
is it legal to kill a Black snake in Indiana?? I know alot of places its not legal to kill non-venomous snakes...

It is legal to kill them.  Only the endangered snakes are illegal to kill. I would love to have some rattle snake skins, but we don't have them around here.  I have some uncles in Texas that might be able to get me some.

Black snakes are not harmful to humans but are very beneficial. I would not kill one but I would use the skin from a dead one(if legal) on a bow. I killed an 24" copperhead this morning that one of my dogs found(it has been skinned and stapled to a board). I do kill copperheads and rattlers if they are around our house or areas we use frequently. I have 3 big black snakes(biggest was over 7' last year) that live around us. They are welcomed because they eat rodents and poisonous snakes.

Yes RAU that one is a classic!