Why Snakeskins on Bows

[kykiller]

Originally posted by KentuckyTJ:
I can think of no better use for a snake?

I couldn't agree more.  And a pattern such as copperhead or canebrake blends in quite nice.  Look at how close the canebrakes are to my natgear in this pic.
 

[Roger Norris]

Originally posted by Killdeer:
How well could YOU hunt with no arms or legs?
I admire the heck out of a snake, they are cool hunters, stealthy, can go just about anywhere, can taste molecules of scent in the air, can sense heat and track it down. I saw a snake catching minnows in a creek. I saw a snake raiding a starling nest high up a dead tree. Snakes helped me keep the rodent population down in the barns I worked in. I like the way they move, and like the feel of them in my hands.

I find them beautiful, and their scales remind me of beadwork, in colors and patterns that I am not artful enough to think of. God made them, made them in infinite variety, and infused them with beauty and ability. Yes, I admire them and their Maker. I like them on my bow. I think it makes the bow look far more alive than a blank face of carbon.

Killdeer      

Well said.

[Brock]

had skins on a few bows...osage selfbow, recurves, longbows....and I love them.  Each time it had a reason...

selfbow- bow had some snake in it...so put some snake ON it.

recurve- red oak limbs under clear glass had too much shine and reflection of light...so they are on their third set of rattler skins over a 20 year period....my bug spray usually ends up eating the sealant and I dont catch it before the next big rainstorm I am caught in.

longbow- bowyer put it on for appearance....and contrast to an otherwise plain bow.

Never put one on to hide anything....always been either for aesthetics or functionality.

[Caughtandhobble]

I love the look of snake skins along with great natural camo. I have been using ONESTRINGER Limbsations snake stickers on most of my bows. They're very simple to install, once installed I spray a few coats of lacquer on them and I'm done. Heck I've had a set of their Diamondback on my Bear Montana for over two years and they still look great. The best part is nobody ever believes that they are stickers and not the real thing.

[Mint]

I just love the look of them and plain to putthem on one of my palmer recurves in a couple of months. I saw a nice tutorial in the How To section.

[Walt Francis]

Almost every donation bow I make receives snakeskins, for several reasons:

They look "Kooooooool"

They raise more money at auction (live or silent) then bows without them.
 
Waterproofing

I personally do not like the the look of sinew or rawhide (antelope rawhide is my preference).

Without knowing who the final owner will be, I like to add some insurance/protection; for everybody.

As for covering flaws, I have yet to see a bow that didn't have at least one...often in the snakeskin.

Personally, a plain old osage bow with some sploches (if that is a word) of black/gray paint on the back makes the best hunting bow, mainly because of the weight sinew/rawhide and skins add to the limbs.