Found out I have a Copperhead problem on my new place north of Argyle, so will be putting a plan together to de-snake the property. Thought I'd document some of the plans to turn them into wallets and hat bands.

Step 1.. Invite crazy brother from Arizona to advise on the project and let him catch a big one bare handed. NOTE - If you don't have a crazy brother from Arizona who's adept at wrangling snakes, skip the live handling part and go directly to Step 2.



Step 2.. Remove business end of snake with a sharp instrument. Then skin snake by slicing up the belly with sharp scissors, and scrape “fat” off the skin with the flat side of a razor blade being careful not to knick it (forgot to take picture of this step)



Step 3.. Borrow your wife’s pin cushion and find a stiff piece of card board or sheet rock. Then pin the snake skin scales side down to the board. Be careful not to over stretch the skin.. you only want enough tension to get it to lay flat.



Step 4.. Make a tanning oil out of 2 parts Glycerin (ask a pharmacist for it) and 3 parts Denatured Alcohol (buy from Lowes or any paint store). A cup or two total will do several skins. Once you mix the oil be sure to keep in air tight bottle so alcohol doesn’t evaporate. Apply tanning oil to snake skin with a brush twice the first day and then once per day for 4 more.



Will document the rest of the process as I get there.

As a side note , I’m going to be doing a lot of brush clearing and dirt work to get rid of the snake habitat on my property. If anyone does pond/dirt work out in the Argyle area please let me know.

that dude is crazy

Nice job! Makes me wish I had killed the one I saw last weekend... Biggest one ive ever seen. If I see him again He will end up like that!

After seeing the first picture, I am beginning to doubt you have a crazy brother...

That's just You looking back at You in the Mirror!

I could do a bad a rifle sling out of one of those. If you get an extra let me know

Your brother is 100% crazy

Purty snake.

snakes...... yikes

Nope.. not me. I tend to handle snakes using a looong handel shovel. He's a bit nut's and catches a lot of live rattlers in Arizona for different projects like snake breaking dog's or for giggles and grins. And yes... in the top pick that is venom dripping from the snakes mouth.

I'd sure like to see a sling made out of one. Neat!

WOW

Holy cow! No way I'd mess with that thing. Interested to see the finished product.

Very cool.

Very cool.....I'm going to use your technique for a rattlesnake skin I have in the freez.

that dudes nuts

thats a good size copperhead

Was over 30 inches live. Don't think they get much bigger than that.

Dave,
That is one of the biggest copperheads I have seen. Your brother definitely favor each other.

Thought Killer would have commented by now.........

Man that is crazy I killed one a few weeks ago with about a 6' stick.lol

The only good Copperhead is a dead one. I hate those things.

Very cool. Can't wait to see more

Very cool project. I'll definitely be following this.

I killed a 28" one once and thought it was big. Dang pretty snakes but they don't get a pass from me.

There was one on the road two nights ago. i ran over him and backed up to make sure the job was done. Ran over him again and he popped, snake gut went everywhere. I have never heard one pop like that one did