Gila Monster needed

[Mark Williams]

Anybody know where I can get one ? Any laws against skinning them. What do they taste like? Roadkill okay if fresh. Have trades.

 

[rhrocker]

Anybody know where I can get one ? Any laws against skinning them. What do they taste like? Roadkill okay if fresh. Have trades.

Oh Boy Howdy, I'm anxious to see how this thread unfolds! On the edge of my computer chair. This is going to be good

But, we don't like those things here in S. Texas, so we make them stay in Az. Do you know Chuck Burrows? He has the answer to anything and everything about this type of thing, right up his alley. Surely he'll see this, and if not, I'm calling him and getting him on the go here. Yep, gonna be good

 

[insanity]

Mark, I like haveing you here. in comparison everything I do looks normal and sane. I'll bite. What are you doing with it?

 

[Steve Hayden]

They are not plentiful. I have spent a lot of time in the desert in southern New Mexico and Arizona and have only seen two. Neither one was in an area near a road or town. The ones I saw were about 18" long and were catching morning rays in the spring.

They are not classed as endangered but have been labelled as likely to become endangered.

I understand they have a venomous relative, the Mexican Beaded Lizard, that is more common, especially in Sonora. It is similar in pattern, but is larger and has yellowish coloring, instead of reddish, along with the black. I haven't seen one of these.

I haven't eaten one, but if you believe rattlesnake tastes like chicken, then I'll bet this does too.

 

[kuanomar]

Tastes kinda like chicken. . . actually, a little more like a cross between bald eagle and panda bear just less gamey.

 

[peter nap]

I really hate to ask Mark ....why....I have some frog skins if that helps

 

[severtecher]

Robert , I know they are regulated here in AZ. I would call AZ Game and Fish and ask. I have heard of folks getting fined for having them.A dead one sounds OK, but I have lived here in AZ and hiked for 43 years and I think I saw maybe 1 in the wild. They stay underground and have excellent hearing.

 

[Mark Williams]

Just getting tired of the same old Beef, pork, chicken and fish. Found this recipe.


Gila Stew



1 lg Gila Monster
1/2 c Butter
1/2 c Truffles
1/2 lb Brie
1 qt Chablis


Do NOT skin him/her, or s/he will become angry Place Gila Monster into a very heavy iron pot. Very quickly add the butter, truffles, Brie, and Chablis. Place a close-fitting lid on the pot. cook over mesquite charcoal for one hour. Carefully lift the lid. The Gila Monster may look done, but don't believe him. He has drunk the Chablis and is sublimely happy as the heated pot ALMOST equals the heat of his natural habitat: The Arizona Desert. On second thought, set the Gila Monster free and treat yourself to the Brie and Chablis

 

[rhrocker]

All right now Mark, you got me on this one )

 

[Mark Williams]

Actually I had watched a special about them and was just curious if they were very common and plentiful. I just thought they had a beautiful skin and was thinking of a a Gila skin sheath to go with a project. I guess if you had the talent the skin could be simulated with tooling.

 

[etp777]

Been a long time since I saw one in person, but looking at pictures again, the texture of the skin reminds me of rayskin i've seen. Might you be able to emulate it by dying ray skin(an dis ray skin even dyable? )