No debate ... just sharing my opinion

[_Jon_]

I love snake skin backed bows   

Merry Christmas

Same here.  If I had enough I'd do all mine with snake skin backing.  I'm gonna try Sturgeon on my Yew. 

[Roy]

Come on Jon.
I'm a fish lover, all the fish in my aquarium just rolled over:)
Cedrik, are you a vegetarian?

[Stringman]

Hey I'm totally with you.. Shame shame on a person that would skin a dead snakes just to put it on a bow!! SHAME!! 

A most horrid sin.. Not to mention the ethics of it... Shameful behavior 

Cipriano

Umm, maybe this isn't the right place... But do you have anymore, uhh. Never mind, I'll just call ya.

Scott

[JW_Halverson]

Come on Jon.
I'm a fish lover, all the fish in my aquarium just rolled over:)
Cedrik, are you a vegetarian?

Any of them fish in your aquarium neon tetras?  Always wanted a matched set of them to back a bow. 

[JackCrafty]

It makes me sad to think of all those snakes dying out there with their skins never used for anything.  What a waste.  That's what I believe and nothing will change my mind.   

[criveraville]

Patrick you are a sick man.. You need sum serious help But a darn fine craftsman 
Cipriano

[JackCrafty]

 

[Josh B]

I must admit, I do think the snake skin thing is a bit overdone and yes I'm  guilty of skinning a few bows here and there.  But that's usually done to cover my atrocious looking sinew jobs.  I most generally save the skins from any snakes I kill, but I don't kill the snakes just for the skin. I kill snakes because they're snakes!  The skins are just a bonus.  Josh

[soy]

I've seen pictures of some Cougars that look good enough to eat:)

Me to       you scallywag

 And to answer your question he said he is a carnivore

[iowabow]

I must admit, I do think the snake skin thing is a bit overdone and yes I'm  guilty of skinning a few bows here and there.  But that's usually done to cover my atrocious looking sinew jobs.  I most generally save the skins from any snakes I kill, but I don't kill the snakes just for the skin. I kill snakes because they're snakes!  The skins are just a bonus.  Josh

USMC talk!!!! Hey Josh I got that stave from Scott.

[agd68]

I dont agree with killing an animal just for it's skin. I do agree that one can not allow poisonous snakes to go unchecked in areas where they may threaten a fellows kids and animals. I also agree that invasive species need to be culled so they dont totally screw up the natural ecosystem. Ranch raised and road kill , no problem. I would have no problem using any of these skins. What I disaree with is going out into the woods , deset etc and smacking some poor snake on the head just for it's skin.

[Stringman]

Nothing wrong with an opinion, but it's kinda like telling a coroner's joke at a funeral... You should pick ur audience. 

If it were true that this small community of bow builders could wipe out the vast population of snakes across the world by applying them to bow backs, I might seriously consider bow building full time!  In truth, I would argue that this group of people is some of the most conservation minded bunch of guys and gals you will ever run into (yourself included, Cedric.) I enjoy animals and their parts for a lot of different reasons, some parts I eat, some parts I look at.

Merry Christmas!
Scott

[gstoneberg]

I found it ironic this morning, after reading this thread, that I went outside and found a little rat snake that evidently didn't anticipate the cold weather that came this weekend.



I love snakes, always have.  However, it bothers me not a bit to kill a snake and put it's skin on a bow.  I would never kill a snake for no reason, but adorning/sealing/camo-ing a bow is a reason.  For the same reason it bothers me not at all to kill a coyote for its hide, or trap a beaver.  Using the skin/hide is a valid reason to take an animal in my book.  I have often let rat and bull snakes go when I could have killed them because I'd rather have them eating rodents, but if one shows up as I'm finishing a bow it won't go well for it.  And to be honest, normally the neighbors kill enough snakes because of their phobia's and I find enough road kill that I usually don't need to kill very many.  Unfortunately, if my wife finds out I let one live around the house it doesn't go very well for me.

George

[burchett.donald]

   Never lost any sleep for killing a snake for any reason. I use them on my bows for camo and beauty. For the meat...well the buzzards and coyotes gotta eat too. Just sharing my opinion of coarse.

                                                Don

[bowtarist]

Like my youngest son once said after I found a dying timber rattler on the road, "I like rattle snake meat."  I've still got the skin and the bones too. dpg