What's the best way to kill a snake for taxidermy purposes?

[RedWolf7]

I killed yet another big fat copperhead snake in my yard yesterday, and I'll admit I did not have mounting in mind.  It's not only merely dead but really most sincerely dead.  I chopped it in 3 pieces with a shovel.  If I were to save the next one for taxidermy, what is the best way kill so that the hide can be mounted or used as a fashion accessory?

[gade04]

Hit it on top of the head with a boat paddle. LOL.  A well placed .22LR.

[aspenangler (Shane)]

freeze it

[Bob Scott]

As things are nowadays, I must suggest that you run away screaming like a little girl, quarantine the area, and call various representatives of local, state, and federal agencies.

But I would drown it at the end of a long stick.  Then freeze it, they don't mind being handled once drowned.

[joeym]

I scoop them up with a pool net.  Then detach the net from the handle into a deep freezer.   Shut the lid and don't open for a day.

[buckwounder]

x3 or 4 on the freezing

[Marty Dupertuis]

I scoop them up with a pool net.  Then detach the net from the handle into a deep freezer.   Shut the lid and don't open for a day.

I always have to open it up and look.  Had a huge Cottonmouth that I thought was dead.  Scared the hell out of me when he moved as I touched him.

The only way is to freeze them.

[Yeager1]

If you can't bring yourself around to freezing them live, a shot to the back of the head with a .22 rat shot isn't too bad as long as it isn't point blank! You shoulda chopped it up one more time so it would fit in the garbage bag easier.

[BIGLAWE]

freeze em

[crowskinner]

Insult them until they lose the will to live.... or just drown them, but be careful, they can take some serious time under water

[Thefishen1]

  Believe it or not you take a stick and tap it on the head....I use a long stick, and I tap it pretty good. BECAREFUL freezing them, when they thaw it seems like they come back to life, and they can still bit when there dead.....