I was almost bitten by a Cottonmouth this weekend. I killed it and want to use it to back the hickory bow I'm making. Can any of you guys tell me the best way to preserve it?

Skin, remove as much tissue/meat as you can,turn it scale side down and tack it to a board. Let it air dry until it is kinda stiff and feels like paper. Don't put it in direct sunlight if it's is blistering hot sun, but in a shady place where the breezes can blow over it. Once dry, remove, roll up and put in a baggie.

Unless it's a really long snake or a short bow, you're going to need another to match.

Here's my favorite method especially for selfbows where you will be applying the skins to an uneven surface   "Applying Green Snakeskins"  I've kept green skins wrapped in alcohol soaked towels this way for over a year in the freezer...... The down side is you need to allow extra time for the skins to dry on the bow...... Here's one bow done with skins preserved this way   "Gonzo"  ..... Good Luck..... Terry

Thanks guys. Very informative. I have it in the freezer right now. I need to get back down to the Dismal Swamp and find another one. My son-in-law kills about ten a year. I've asked him to save them for me.

If it was a big cottonmouth they are wide enough that you can use one skin to do the bow.  If the cottonmouth is 34 to 36 inches the sking will be 2 to 3 inches wide.  Dry the skin and cut it on an angle from one tip to the other.  I did this with my sons bow and it worked great.

Dan Raney

What great timing for this post!  I just killed a smallish timber rattler (3 feet), and tacked it to a board.  After two days, checked on it, ants all over it!  Well, I think they cleaned it off better than I could have, and were about done.  The skin is like paper, I think it'll be ok, right?
Anyway, I was able to trim the belly scales with scissors, and roll it up and put a rubber band around it without tearing it at all.
Dan