I've done probably 40 or so bows with snake skins. I use Titebond 2 watered down, with it being around 75% glue and 25% water. Size the back of the bow with a coat of the watered down glue and as its drying take the skins or skin (however even if its one skin I cut it in half so I can work on just one limb at a time) and get them wet. I usually get some hose water and a bowl and let them sit for about a minute. Then working fairly quickly I add another coat of the watered down glue to one bow limb and to the underside of one of the snake skins and starting from the handle I lay the skin down over the whole limb. Then starting from the handle to the tip again I go along and center the pattern to whatever snakes or curves the bow may have by tugging on the skin that hangs over the edge, pulling in out and downward manner. You have to keep messing with it for a about 10 to 15 mins as the glue sets up, I use the flat part of palm to kind of lightly 'squeegee' out and excess glue or air bubbles, again working from handle to tip. I never have used the wrap with ace bandage method and think its a terrible idea. Of course after that you go on to the next limb. When both limbs are done and the glue has dried for at least 24 hours I use a fine file to take the excess skin off the edges, working only as wide as the file at a time. Meaning you don't do long sweeping strokes like you do with wood as it will tend to tear the skin. After they're on and trimmed I use a gummy eraser to rub off all the scale platelets that cover each individual scale, you can see where they are since they darken the actual color of the skin and pattern of the snake. After that you're ready for finish. I have never messed up a skin job or ran into any problems with this method.
On a side note, I feel that snake skins for sure can add more than just looks, camo, and weather proofing to a bow. Just a coat of wood glue alone adds some splinter lifting protection to a bow, not to mention that many of the bullsnake skins I've used are fairly thick and a lot like goat skin as well as using python skin which is thicker than deer hide. Hope I helped.
dan
