Mamba skins anyone?

02 December 2006, 21:17

Bill/Oregon

Mamba skins anyone?

I was just talking with a friend who makes his own selfbows and how handsome they are when backed with a matching rattlesnake skin on each limb. Of course our little bitty guys out here are typically three or four feet. Then it occurred to me that a decent black mamba skin could back two and possibly three bows. Anyone skin their mambas, adders or boomslangs? Use them on bows?

There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.
– John Green, author

02 December 2006, 22:09

ROSCOE

It is difficult to get the skin out of Africa. In fact...I am not sure if it is legal to kill them or bring them out period. Having said that I am sure there are many skins that make their way here in the states.

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And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

02 December 2006, 23:28

kayaker

quote:
I am not sure if it is legal to kill them or bring them out period.

This has been covered here before...shooting a mamba (or most other snakes) in most places I know of is illegal i.e. POACHING...you are not a wanting to poach are you?

Yoy cant take kudu without license/permission, why would a puffadder/mamba be different?

http://orionmind.blogspot.com/

02 December 2006, 23:50

Bill/Oregon

Thanks guys. Kayaker, here in the U.S. in most places it is totally up to you whether or not to kill a venemous snake. Never thougth it would be otherwise down your way where the damned things will kill a fellow a lot faster.

There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.
– John Green, author

03 December 2006, 01:48

kayaker

Bill,

To behonest, in SA it is 'functionally' the same as you say.
If you shoot snakes, no-one will really 'bust' you (firstly they would have to see you or someone would need to report you...!), and even if they did, if it was venemous and you claimed 'self-defense'/protection, that would alway work. Many venemous snakes are killed in rural homes, obviously without repercussion...its a common sense thing and laws not 'enforced'. However, for some species, you would get crap (eg pythons, gabbon adders etc).

I am always aware of people wanting to kill snakes ad lib as I think we need to be concious of their cons

Conservation status/importance, they are often not well studied/inventoried, as a result many species have declined.

Hell, i like snakes skins too...but hunters do need to be are that technically, shooting one may be akin to poaching...

Cheers

http://orionmind.blogspot.com/

03 December 2006, 03:59

Rug

I really wanted a Mozambique Cobra for a taxidermy scene, with snake rising from a basket and a baboon playing the flute. But no snake due to the laws. I thought about a local spreading adder(Hognose) but just wouldn't be the same.

03 December 2006, 09:58

kudu4u

Rug,
Glad you aren't considering killing the hognose snakes. They are wonderful snakes which are very specialized. They only eat frogs/toads and have rear teeth to puncture them when they inflate while being swallowed. Ecologically they are very important and not that commonly seen. They are of course harmless to humans but can put on an interesting show.

"In these days of mouth-foaming Disneyism......"--- Capstick
Don't blame the hunters for what the poachers do!---me

Benefactor Member NRA

03 December 2006, 16:43

Die Ou Jagter

I have a yellow cobra from the cape. I was able to export it because my PH knew the proper conservation office and the cobra was a road kill we came upon shortly after the death. Now all I need to find some who has the knowledge to tan the hide.

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

03 December 2006, 20:21

Rick R

Jagter,

I saw a lot of rattlesnake skins tanned and mounted on plaques in Texas, Carter's Country in Houston had one that was wayyy longer than any snake I want to share the woods with

You might try a taxidermist in TX.

hth