Taxidermy and Snakes

Warbird782

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Of all of you that have encountered snakes on your hunts to Africa, have any of you had them mounted? Is there any legalities regarding importing mounted/freeze dried snakes into the US? I say this because I encountered some night adders in the EC last year but did not even think about taxidermy as a night adder is not all that impressive. Now if I were to run into a cape cobra or puff adder things might change a little. What say you?
 
I'm thinking the US Fish and Wildlife Dept. would not be too happy. You have to have permits for everything and I don't think they will grant any for snake taxidermy.
 
I have seen some taxidermists in RSA that have prices for doing reptiles/snakes.
They do not specify species ...

Permits would certainly be the fun part.

I think most hunters are ok with pictures and I am certainly just fine with avoiding snakes all together.
 
Mmmmm a puff adder would make a very nice mount :uptosome: :heh: :devil:
 
Play with fire and you will get burned. Cobras and adders are very dangerous. Make sure your med evac and life insurance are up to date.
I do agree with Nyati, a puff adder is a nice looking skin and would make an excellent hat band or knife sheath.
 
IMG_1086.jpgIMG_1093.jpgWarbird - funny you should ask this question. I recently received a Gabon viper skin in a shipment of trophies from Cameroon. And I have absolutely no idea what to do with it. Might just have it tanned and made into a belt or something for the Mrs.

I was going to shoot the snake, which one of the trackers spotted by the side of the road, but the PH suggested I not ruin the skin, so I ended up breaking its neck with one leg of the shooting sticks! The pygmies wanted no part of that - one bite from a gabon viper and they know to go back to the hut and wait to die! A French forestry manager stopped as I was beating this poor snake to death by the side of road and said exactly the same thing as cptkirk (although in French!). And I think both were - and are - right! Not sure I would do it again, but the snake had just eaten, and it had been a chilly night, so he was hoping for some sun, I think. Anyway, now have the same problem you have.

Tried to attach a picture. Hope it worked.
 
Hank2211,
You had no difficulties importing a snake skin? Any special permits?
It is not that I am going to crawl into caves looking for snakes but to run across one I think that I would dispatch it. I seem to find rattle snakes all the time during my bow adventures in western ND so it would not surprise me to stumble on one. I just thought that a cobra or puff adder mount would be way cool!
 
Awesome skin on that guy Hank2211!
 
Warbird, I live in Canada - it seems you live in US. I had CITES stamp on the form from Cameroon and that was all Canada needed to let the skin in.

Agree the skin is awesome - the colours were impressive - not sure if they will be as impressive once the skin is tanned. Need to talk to my taxidermist . . .
 
I nominate Brickburn for understatement of the year.
 
:hmmmer:Gaboon viper boots ...yep , I am definitely in !!!
Those bad boys would be off the chain !!!
 
Thought I'd never say this but that's a beautiful snake. Pretty scary knowing it's one of the deadliest snakes in the world and it has PERFECT camouflage for the jungles of Cameroon. Yikes! Glead the trackers are leading the way!
 
Pretty scary knowing it's one of the deadliest snakes
One of the deadliest , and they also have the longest fangs of all the venomous snakes. He can inject a BIG dose of his special cocktail.
As for keeping the colors in the skin , get some snakeskin boot oil...
 
Hank2211,
You had no difficulties importing a snake skin? Any special permits?
It is not that I am going to crawl into caves looking for snakes but to run across one I think that I would dispatch it. I seem to find rattle snakes all the time during my bow adventures in western ND so it would not surprise me to stumble on one. I just thought that a cobra or puff adder mount would be way cool!


I seem to have the same problem, but for me it is Copper Heads in my home state of Missouri. Seems like I run into a couple every time I go down there. I was fishing by a farm pond down there in my youth and looked down to see a 3 footer crawling through right between my bare feet. Bugger came up from behind me and I never saw him until he was going past between my feet. Good thing I was standing still. Scared the crap outa me!
 
Hi Guys, most African snakes are not even listed on CITES so there should be no problem exporting or importing them. We have sent several species to Europe, but for some reason never to the US or Canada. The only one I am aware of as being listed on CITES is the African Rock Python, but it is also only CITES appendix II which means you would not even need an import permit. I will try and find a little bit more info but the only reason the US would not allow it is if these snakes are listed elsewhere like Brown Hyena.
 
Good info ETS. I always wondered about getting a snake skin into the US. I look forward to see what you come up with.
 
View attachment 25978View attachment 25979Warbird - funny you should ask this question. I recently received a Gabon viper skin in a shipment of trophies from Cameroon. And I have absolutely no idea what to do with it. Might just have it tanned and made into a belt or something for the Mrs.

I was going to shoot the snake, which one of the trackers spotted by the side of the road, but the PH suggested I not ruin the skin, so I ended up breaking its neck with one leg of the shooting sticks! The pygmies wanted no part of that - one bite from a gabon viper and they know to go back to the hut and wait to die! A French forestry manager stopped as I was beating this poor snake to death by the side of road and said exactly the same thing as cptkirk (although in French!). And I think both were - and are - right! Not sure I would do it again, but the snake had just eaten, and it had been a chilly night, so he was hoping for some sun, I think. Anyway, now have the same problem you have.

Tried to attach a picture. Hope it worked.

I could be mistaken, but i don't think that's a Gaboon viper; I think its a Rhinocerous (sp?) viper.....it appears to have two protrusions (horns) near the nostrils in the one photo. Very similar in color and appearance. Very cool patterns on that bad boy!!!
But then again, I'm not a herpetologist................
 
I think you're right Mr. 16 gauge - they called it a gabon viper at the time, and I think even in the CITES documentation, but I think it's a rhinoceros viper. Only thing that keeps me from being sure is the colour - it's a very vivid green, whereas the rhinoceros viper is more generally blue or blue-green with red markings.
 
Not sure what a Viper would eat but a small rodent being striked at makes a very impressive mount which doesn't require much space.

I apprenticed to do taxidermy when in high school for about one year. When I started my teacher had just completed a rattlesnake striking a fox squirrel very impressive mount. Colors looked very good. Made for a nice mantle piece. Unfortunately I didn't ever get the chance to try my hand at reptiles as there just aren't that many worth mounting in Southern Indiana and as I said I didn't stick with it. That particular one had been brought home from a gentlemans trip to Texas.
 

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