Question on snakeskin backing

[cvarcher]

Does the skin have to be tanned or just freshly skinned? for a 66" longbow how long and wide do I need?Im thinking of trying to find that nice Copperhead skin for backing.

[freeman]

Air dried is what you need. I think someone posted a thread on this recently on pow-wow. Do a search and you'll find all kinds of good info...

[horatio1226]

Skinned and dried is what you want. Tanned can be used but needs to be soaked in a soap solution.
Good luck on the copperhead hunt Corrado!
Brian