I shot a rattlesnake tuesday in south dakota. I am home today and wondering how to cure it.
Hunting & Fishing How do i cure a rattlesnake rattler?
- Thread starter 308skinner
- Start date
Re: How do i cure a rattlesnake rattler?
When I was younger, my neighbor showed me some that he got around the turn of the century in California. They were 80 years old or so at that point. He just kept them in a little box and did nothing to them. They still rattled and looked good. Don't think you will have to do much, unless you wanted them as a keychain or something like that.
When I was younger, my neighbor showed me some that he got around the turn of the century in California. They were 80 years old or so at that point. He just kept them in a little box and did nothing to them. They still rattled and looked good. Don't think you will have to do much, unless you wanted them as a keychain or something like that.
Re: How do i cure a rattlesnake rattler?
Just let them dry. Theyll be fine. If you were to do the skin use a 50/50 mix of propolene glycol and glycerine.
skin, scrape the flesh off and tack down to a board. Then use a paint brush and paint the mixture on. Let dry and repeat for 3 applications. Itll be nice and plyable and wont rot.
Xdeano
Just let them dry. Theyll be fine. If you were to do the skin use a 50/50 mix of propolene glycol and glycerine.
skin, scrape the flesh off and tack down to a board. Then use a paint brush and paint the mixture on. Let dry and repeat for 3 applications. Itll be nice and plyable and wont rot.
Xdeano
Re: How do i cure a rattlesnake rattler?
Mine has alittle meat and skin on it. What should i do to it. I can get a pic if that would help
Mine has alittle meat and skin on it. What should i do to it. I can get a pic if that would help
Re: How do i cure a rattlesnake rattler?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 308skinner</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Mine has alittle meat and skin on it. What should i do to it. I can get a pic if that would help </div></div>
Not quite the same thing but I once cleaned the meat and blood off a bullet by placing it near an anthill. It worked like a charm. That might work on yer rattle if ants eat rattler meat.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 308skinner</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Mine has alittle meat and skin on it. What should i do to it. I can get a pic if that would help </div></div>
Not quite the same thing but I once cleaned the meat and blood off a bullet by placing it near an anthill. It worked like a charm. That might work on yer rattle if ants eat rattler meat.
Re: How do i cure a rattlesnake rattler?
If the skin still has a little meat on it, just take a sharp knife with the blade perpendicular to the skin and scrap the meat and slim off. then nail it down to a board with some push pins. i also lay a string down from the head end to the tail end to center the skin on the board. Other wise it'll look lopsided.
Don't scrape to much, just enought to get a majority of the meat off, it'll come off really easy.
xdeano
If the skin still has a little meat on it, just take a sharp knife with the blade perpendicular to the skin and scrap the meat and slim off. then nail it down to a board with some push pins. i also lay a string down from the head end to the tail end to center the skin on the board. Other wise it'll look lopsided.
Don't scrape to much, just enought to get a majority of the meat off, it'll come off really easy.
xdeano
Re: How do i cure a rattlesnake rattler?
sorry i mis read what you were trying to ask, you still have mean and blood on the rattle, I'd say just scrape as much of the meat out of the rattle and let it dry. Then put a little of that mixture into that part and you'll be fine.
xdeano
sorry i mis read what you were trying to ask, you still have mean and blood on the rattle, I'd say just scrape as much of the meat out of the rattle and let it dry. Then put a little of that mixture into that part and you'll be fine.
xdeano
Re: How do i cure a rattlesnake rattler?
You don't "cure" it, it's "cured" already. Rattles are nothing but dead skin. Iffen you don't care about it's ability to "rattle", you can dip in in a varnish and it'll keep forever. I've got one from a timber rattler I shot sometimes back around 1960.
You don't "cure" it, it's "cured" already. Rattles are nothing but dead skin. Iffen you don't care about it's ability to "rattle", you can dip in in a varnish and it'll keep forever. I've got one from a timber rattler I shot sometimes back around 1960.
Re: How do i cure a rattlesnake rattler?
Re: How do i cure a rattlesnake rattler?
Dad ran a rattlesnake business till he died in 2006. My mom runs it now. We usually work up between 200-500 Wyoming rattlers every year. Everything from freeze dried mounts to belts and wallets etc. Ya really don't need to do anything to the rattles.... Just sayin...
Dad ran a rattlesnake business till he died in 2006. My mom runs it now. We usually work up between 200-500 Wyoming rattlers every year. Everything from freeze dried mounts to belts and wallets etc. Ya really don't need to do anything to the rattles.... Just sayin...
Re: How do i cure a rattlesnake rattler?
I just about had to get the shotgun and blast my laptop screen
I just about had to get the shotgun and blast my laptop screen
Re: How do i cure a rattlesnake rattler?
Have to get you a pic of a 14 button rattler from south Georgia. The Eastern Diamond Back was about 8-1/2 feet long.
They grow 'em big down there.
Have to get you a pic of a 14 button rattler from south Georgia. The Eastern Diamond Back was about 8-1/2 feet long.
They grow 'em big down there.
Re: How do i cure a rattlesnake rattler?
When we were about 10 or so Dad had killed a decent rattler. He cut the rattles off and stuck them on 1 tine of a pitch fork. Grab it and the next tine and squeeze them together and let go quick and the rattle would sound just like it was 'alive' again.lol
Well, a week or so later that bit of 'information' come back to bite him in the ass. You know 3 young country boys need/find things to keep them busy. Took the rattles on the fork and walked into the barn while he was milking one evening and things went south in a hurry. A South Dakota holstien knows what a rattler sounds like and don't like to hear one behind her while locked into a stancheon and being milked. There was Dad, milk, shit and one hell of a lingo of cuss words that followed. Dad never had much patience when he had to come home from farming in the heat with no cab or ac and had to milk ornery bovine. When the dust settled we had learned what NOT to do with rattlesnake rattles. In fact it is till pretty clear in my head 45yrs or so later!!!!!
When we were about 10 or so Dad had killed a decent rattler. He cut the rattles off and stuck them on 1 tine of a pitch fork. Grab it and the next tine and squeeze them together and let go quick and the rattle would sound just like it was 'alive' again.lol
Well, a week or so later that bit of 'information' come back to bite him in the ass. You know 3 young country boys need/find things to keep them busy. Took the rattles on the fork and walked into the barn while he was milking one evening and things went south in a hurry. A South Dakota holstien knows what a rattler sounds like and don't like to hear one behind her while locked into a stancheon and being milked. There was Dad, milk, shit and one hell of a lingo of cuss words that followed. Dad never had much patience when he had to come home from farming in the heat with no cab or ac and had to milk ornery bovine. When the dust settled we had learned what NOT to do with rattlesnake rattles. In fact it is till pretty clear in my head 45yrs or so later!!!!!
Re: How do i cure a rattlesnake rattler?
I get a few snakes through my fur shed each season . I use good old 20 mule team Borax to clean , dry and cure hides and Van dykes reptile tan . http://www.vandykestaxidermy.com/K7109-P188C207.aspx
The stuff goes a long way and gives you a professional finish . 1 kit will last a really long time .
I get a few snakes through my fur shed each season . I use good old 20 mule team Borax to clean , dry and cure hides and Van dykes reptile tan . http://www.vandykestaxidermy.com/K7109-P188C207.aspx
The stuff goes a long way and gives you a professional finish . 1 kit will last a really long time .
Re: How do i cure a rattlesnake rattler?
All i have is the rattler. Im wanting to remove the rest of the meat that the pic shows.
All i have is the rattler. Im wanting to remove the rest of the meat that the pic shows.
Re: How do i cure a rattlesnake rattler?
If you shot the thing, I don't reckon there is a cure for it, but Lord bless ya for trying!
Seriously though, my bro kept one we ran over a couple years back and never did anything to it and it's fine. Little borax to the butt maybe? I'd just trim it clean, personally.
If you shot the thing, I don't reckon there is a cure for it, but Lord bless ya for trying!
Seriously though, my bro kept one we ran over a couple years back and never did anything to it and it's fine. Little borax to the butt maybe? I'd just trim it clean, personally.
Re: How do i cure a rattlesnake rattler?
HathcockWannebe said:
Re: How do i cure a rattlesnake rattler?
Just cut an X on it and suck the......wait.....that's for a 'Rattle Snake Bite'......Never mind!
Just cut an X on it and suck the......wait.....that's for a 'Rattle Snake Bite'......Never mind!
Re: How do i cure a rattlesnake rattler?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Longspring</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I get a few snakes through my fur shed each season . I use good old 20 mule team Borax to clean , dry and cure hides and Van dykes reptile tan . http://www.vandykestaxidermy.com/K7109-P188C207.aspx
The stuff goes a long way and gives you a professional finish . 1 kit will last a really long time . </div></div>
Hey, another one who knows the value of that stuff! haha. I've drooled over the Van Dykes catalog every year, but never had the time to tackle even the simple projects. If I ever get a black squirrel I will try a full body mount with their kit.
-The Kid.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Longspring</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I get a few snakes through my fur shed each season . I use good old 20 mule team Borax to clean , dry and cure hides and Van dykes reptile tan . http://www.vandykestaxidermy.com/K7109-P188C207.aspx
The stuff goes a long way and gives you a professional finish . 1 kit will last a really long time . </div></div>
Hey, another one who knows the value of that stuff! haha. I've drooled over the Van Dykes catalog every year, but never had the time to tackle even the simple projects. If I ever get a black squirrel I will try a full body mount with their kit.
-The Kid.
Re: How do i cure a rattlesnake rattler?
It is simply the best stuff I've ever used . I wish I had a shopping spree at Van Dykes .
It is simply the best stuff I've ever used . I wish I had a shopping spree at Van Dykes .
Similar threads
Hunting & Fishing Official Jerky (Biltong, Chorky, jungle meat) making/recipes/tips thread
