Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 31

Thread: Eastern Kingsnake

  1. #1
    Lone Wolf COWBOYSURVIVAL's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    In The Swamp Sumter, S.C.
    Posts
    4,514

    Default Eastern Kingsnake

    Well someone killed a real nice snake out here where I live. No, it wasn't me. I stopped as two women were hacking at it with a hoe. Most of the damage was in the head. So I kept it and now I am heading out to skin it out. I'd say about 4 1/2 - 5 ft. Beautiful animal and a durn shame.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:La...ula_getula.jpg
    Keep in mind the problem may be extremely complicated, though the "Fix" is often simple...

    "Teaching a child to fish is the "original" introduction to all that is wild." CS

    "How can you tell a story that has no end?" Doc Carlson


  2. #2

    Default

    Does the one your skinning look as nice as the picture? That's a really nice looking skin. So what ya gonna make out of it?
    I Wonder Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll squeeze these dangly things here, and drink what ever comes out?"

  3. #3
    Lone Wolf COWBOYSURVIVAL's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    In The Swamp Sumter, S.C.
    Posts
    4,514

    Default

    Looks just like it and I'd say closer to 6ft. just finished skinning and then cleaning up my tools. I knew i had a use for them scrap pine boards I brought home the other day. Will post pics of the finished hide. Didn't look to me like it had enough brains for brain tanning though! Looks like I'll be usin' salt.
    Keep in mind the problem may be extremely complicated, though the "Fix" is often simple...

    "Teaching a child to fish is the "original" introduction to all that is wild." CS

    "How can you tell a story that has no end?" Doc Carlson

  4. #4
    Lone Wolf COWBOYSURVIVAL's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    In The Swamp Sumter, S.C.
    Posts
    4,514

    Default

    Not sure what I'll make yet Welderguy!
    Keep in mind the problem may be extremely complicated, though the "Fix" is often simple...

    "Teaching a child to fish is the "original" introduction to all that is wild." CS

    "How can you tell a story that has no end?" Doc Carlson

  5. #5
    Senior Member gryffynklm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    West Virginia
    Posts
    2,082

    Default

    Sad news for the snake.
    Karl

    The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion the the effort he puts into whatever field of endeavor he chooses. Vincent T Lombardi

    A wise man profits from the wisdom of others.

  6. #6
    Lone Wolf COWBOYSURVIVAL's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    In The Swamp Sumter, S.C.
    Posts
    4,514

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gryffynklm View Post
    Sad news for the snake.
    Hope fully you spotted my reverence for the snake...especially a king snake. I am able to readily identify north american species thus I have no fear of them and only respect. If I could have saved it I would have gladly relocated it to my property.
    Keep in mind the problem may be extremely complicated, though the "Fix" is often simple...

    "Teaching a child to fish is the "original" introduction to all that is wild." CS

    "How can you tell a story that has no end?" Doc Carlson

  7. #7
    Super Moderator crashdive123's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    North Florida
    Posts
    44,818

    Default

    Batter dipped and deep fried. Yum.
    Can't Means Won't

    My Youtube Channel

  8. #8
    Lone Wolf COWBOYSURVIVAL's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    In The Swamp Sumter, S.C.
    Posts
    4,514

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by crashdive123 View Post
    Batter dipped and deep fried. Yum.
    I was thinkin' the same thing as I discarded the carcass. "The women were trying to kill a dead snake" and I didn't have a cooler on my lunch break. Though I have only eaten' rattlers we've shot while hunting. But yeah a rattler will turn himself on the grill after a hunt!
    Keep in mind the problem may be extremely complicated, though the "Fix" is often simple...

    "Teaching a child to fish is the "original" introduction to all that is wild." CS

    "How can you tell a story that has no end?" Doc Carlson

  9. #9

    Default

    Hey, kingsnakes eat rattlesnakes so i would be glad to have one on my property.

  10. #10
    Senior Member gryffynklm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    West Virginia
    Posts
    2,082

    Default

    Yes, I caught that. When my kids were grade through high school we some how managed to become a reptile and amphibian shelter. At one time we had 21 various neglected small exotic reptiles and amphibians. I usually prefer them as a participating part of our environment.
    Karl

    The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion the the effort he puts into whatever field of endeavor he chooses. Vincent T Lombardi

    A wise man profits from the wisdom of others.

  11. #11
    Lone Wolf COWBOYSURVIVAL's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    In The Swamp Sumter, S.C.
    Posts
    4,514

    Default

    I remember as a youth Dad would have us use uniodized salt rather than iodized for reptile hides. Anyone know why?
    Keep in mind the problem may be extremely complicated, though the "Fix" is often simple...

    "Teaching a child to fish is the "original" introduction to all that is wild." CS

    "How can you tell a story that has no end?" Doc Carlson

  12. #12
    Administrator Rick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Central Indiana
    Posts
    58,806

    Default

    What would the iodine do to the skin? That's the only difference between the salts is the iodine.
    Tracks Across the High Plains...Death on the Bombay Line...A Touch of Death and Mayhem...Dead Rock...The Griswald Mine Boys...All On Amazon Books.

  13. #13
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    East Tennessee
    Posts
    809

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by COWBOYSURVIVAL View Post
    I remember as a youth Dad would have us use uniodized salt rather than iodized for reptile hides. Anyone know why?
    What this guy says:

    This is a quote I found on Taxidermy.net from one of the best known experts on tanning in the US (Bruce Rittel):

    "Iodized or Non-Iodized?
    This response submitted by Bruce Rittel on 10/28/1998. ( [email protected] )
    Doug - it really doesn't matter whether you use iodized or non-iodized Salt. For tanning however, the non-iodized type has always been preferred, because in bulk its usually much cheaper. The Iodine simply has no effect on your tanning. In Iodized Salt, because it was intended for human consumption, it was added simply to prevent Goiter problems. There's a new additive out too, call Yellow Prusaite of Soda. Its an anti-clumping agent the manufacturers are adding to their Salt. It wont affect your tanning - but you have to be mindful of your Ph. It slightly raises it, so your solution may be a bit higher. As long as you're aware of it, and can compensate for it, you should be OK. When you buy its always best to ask for 100% Salt. If it says anything less, check it for an additive. Happy Tanning. Bruce
    "
    http://www.outdoorsdirectory.com/akf...ting/23228.htm

  14. #14
    Lone Wolf COWBOYSURVIVAL's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    In The Swamp Sumter, S.C.
    Posts
    4,514

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by roar-k View Post
    Thanks Roar-K, I have been wondering why for years!
    Keep in mind the problem may be extremely complicated, though the "Fix" is often simple...

    "Teaching a child to fish is the "original" introduction to all that is wild." CS

    "How can you tell a story that has no end?" Doc Carlson

  15. #15
    naturalist primitive your_comforting_company's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    31º4.3'N, 84º52.7'W
    Posts
    3,969
    Blog Entries
    7

    Default

    I concur. The added iodine adds cost. At the feed store you can get a 50lb bag for a little over $5. As far as I know the iodine doesn't do anything to the skin.
    Many people who tan snake hides use a mix of alcohol and glycerine. I've not used this method and can't say how to do it or what kind of skin it produces, but what I've put my hands on felt as nice as a snake can.
    Most taxidermists (I believe) prefer to use alum tawing. The only thing I know for sure is brain tanning so I can't say about anything else from experience.

    Guests can not see images in the messages. Please register in the forum.
    Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. Helen Keller

    My Plants
    My skills
    Eye Candy
    Plant terminology reference!
    Moving pictures

  16. #16
    Lone Wolf COWBOYSURVIVAL's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    In The Swamp Sumter, S.C.
    Posts
    4,514

    Default

    Here is the results after just 24 hrs. of salt on the board....

    Guests can not see images in the messages. Please register in the forum.

    I am codgering up a project for this and a few more reptile hides now.
    Last edited by COWBOYSURVIVAL; 05-05-2010 at 11:13 PM.
    Keep in mind the problem may be extremely complicated, though the "Fix" is often simple...

    "Teaching a child to fish is the "original" introduction to all that is wild." CS

    "How can you tell a story that has no end?" Doc Carlson

  17. #17
    Banned
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Southern California, High desert
    Posts
    7,435

    Default

    Storing them in glycerin keeps them soft,,, But I believe you put them in that solution after you dry and salt,,, oh wait,, Here ya go, http://www.taxidermy.net/forums/Rept...278EBB487.html

  18. #18
    Senior Member Aurelius95's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    939

    Default

    CS - Have you done anything with the snake skin? Cool pic, but shame on those women for killing it.
    Not all who wander are lost - Tolkien

  19. #19
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    woods of east texas
    Posts
    838

    Default

    cowboy. Looking at the pic of that snake hide brings a picture of a beautiful longbow to mind. To bad those ladies didn't see the beauty in the live creature though. The wife just saw what I'm typing here and was quick to tell me that there is no beauty in a creature that gets from point A to point B without legs. We don't quite see eye to eye on all things.:>)

    oldtrap

  20. #20

    Default

    That snake has a very interesting pattern. I think you could make a good leather vest and sew the snake skin from the front to back in two strips. I don't know cowboy style but you might have the only one around.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •