Snake skin question?

[LURP DOG]

Just killed a rattler and want to apply it to some wooden items I've made and want to know if the dried out skin can be applied to the wood with the scales on it of should I use tape to remove them?
Sure looks prettier with them on but I'm affaid they'll come off.
I plan to glue the skin on the wood and then give the whole thing a few coats of poly.  Will this prevent the scale coming off?
What is done when skins are applied to bow limbs?

THANX

[loyd]

tape them off. loyd