Cottonmouth skins for bow backing?

[Papa Matt]

Anybody know if cottonmouths have good skin for bow backing? Not that I'll be heading out to the river to try to catch one, but I ask because snakeskin is often used to back a sinew backing to protect it from moisture, and perhaps since the cotton is a watersnake, it's skin might have a higher resistance to moisture? Or maybe all snakeskins make good bow backers as long as they're big enough??

Anybody ever used cottonmouth?

~~Papa Matt

[knightd]

I have used them to great success after drying them they are treated just like any other snake..

David

[adb]

Correct me if I'm wrong... but, I think any dried SS can be used as a bow backing.

[Papa Matt]

That's what it is beginning to look like ADB. I didn't know if any snake worked and if a water snake skin offered more protection from moisture or not.

Thanks for the comments ADB and David 

~~Papa Matt

[mullet]

  All the same to me except a python. I had to use a knife to skin one and it was almost like fleshing a deer skin. They are tough and attached to the back.

[Pat B]

I think that any snake skin will work for bow backing and except for adding over sinew, it is strictly decorative. Some snakes like pythons(like Eddie said) and large Eastern D-back skins are thick and IMO not appropriate for bow backing.

[Papa Matt]

Thank for the input everybody!

~~Matt

[medicinewheel]

  All the same to me except a python. I had to use a knife to skin one and it was almost like fleshing a deer skin. They are tough and attached to the back.

does that mean python is not good, or would it have the same sort of protection then deerhide??

f.