butcherboy
Member
hi, i was wondering if anyone here snapping turlte hunts and how do they do it? i use lines and hooks and beef/pig parts for bait.
any tips or advice from the old pros? thanks BB
any tips or advice from the old pros? thanks BB
snapping turtle hunting anyone?
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glock36
Member
Around here it seems they just use their cars and run them over crossing the road.
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Kachok
Member
I killed thousands of them with my pellet gun and my 22. I just wait for them to come up to the surface for air and put a bullet through their head. I have also caught plenty on my trotlines too, just don't kill the loggerheads they are supposed to be an endangered species (yeah right) If you eat turtle you can shoot them through the back of the neck and they won't breath out, and they stay afloat. That is a tricky shot to make though since your target is often less then 1/4". Hit the brain though and they will sink like a brick.
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oneounceload
member
Here they live in water plants and eat the bass so folks go fishing for them with a sturdy hook/line combo and a piece of chicken or hot dog - these are for alligator turtles - they have a nasty bite!
Kachok
Member
Yeah, you gatta be careful with snapping turtles, they have a nasty bite that will take a finger off, the giant loggerheads could probably take an arm off. I have caught a few 150 pounders and one 300+ pounder, but they get alot bigger then that. I killed a monster many years ago that took five shots from my 22 to put him down, three of which were to the head. 22s trump high speed pellet rifles in every respect for tutles, just be careful 22s tend to skip along the surface so keep shots in a safe direction.
I used to catch them on limblines quite often using bream for bait. I remember shooting one that weighed about 50 pounds in the head with a .22 about 20 times before it finally died. The winning shot split the top of it's head open. I was about 12 then and for some reason didn't realize a quick shot through the top of the head would do the trick. I was shooting at it head on. Be really careful getting them in the boat with you, I swear they will attack. They will also gt themselves onto any cargo areas as well and trust me, it's not fun getting a pissed off turtle out of a cargo area.
spclpatrolgroup
Member
People around here walk around waterways and look for them, if they see them they sneak up behind them and grab them by their tail and throw them in the back of the truck.
svtruth
Member
Are they good to eat?
Zeke/PA
Member
The meat is great breaded and fried and the snappers also make a great soup.
My neighbor is quite good at preparing them for the table.
Clipper
Member
Best piece of meat on a snapper is the liver! My dad and I trapped hundreds of snappers when I was a kid, and the meat never impressed me much, but I could eat fried turtle liver like potato chips...
T Bran
Member
I've heard that the meat from snappers is quite expensive. Seems some folks make a decent profit poaching them from ponds on private property.
I have eaten lots of snappers as well as softshell turtles. I prefer softshells and they are far easier to butcher but getting the skin off is a bit of work.
We fry them in strips about 1'' by 2'' and 1/2 '' thick. Try not to cook thick pieces as they will be tough by the time the center is done. Just use your favorite fish batter and dont forget the corn fritters. Darn now I'm hungry for a batch need to go set some lines.
My prefered method of catching them is to weight a strong 2/0 steel live bait hook tied to a legnth of 60 lb mono. Bait with bacon or bacon rind then sling it into a likely spot. Tie the line off to something sturdy on the bank overnight check your lines and remove your catch by cutting the line. Dont try to unhook them cause you will get bit and bit bad. If you just wait them out they will surface for air and you can drag them to the bank pretty easily at this point I just use a big dip net to catch them.
A CB cap to the back of the head will dispatch them quickly and quietly. I just keep them alive till I'm done running my lines to avoid spoilage.
Just like running a trapline if you cant check it at least daily dont set it. Also record all of the locations you set as it is easy to forget a line and starving is a bad way to die.
Be sure to check the laws on trotlines in your state. Be sure to use unplated steel hooks that will disolve away over time in the event of a cutoff.
Good hunting
T
I have eaten lots of snappers as well as softshell turtles. I prefer softshells and they are far easier to butcher but getting the skin off is a bit of work.
We fry them in strips about 1'' by 2'' and 1/2 '' thick. Try not to cook thick pieces as they will be tough by the time the center is done. Just use your favorite fish batter and dont forget the corn fritters. Darn now I'm hungry for a batch need to go set some lines.
My prefered method of catching them is to weight a strong 2/0 steel live bait hook tied to a legnth of 60 lb mono. Bait with bacon or bacon rind then sling it into a likely spot. Tie the line off to something sturdy on the bank overnight check your lines and remove your catch by cutting the line. Dont try to unhook them cause you will get bit and bit bad. If you just wait them out they will surface for air and you can drag them to the bank pretty easily at this point I just use a big dip net to catch them.
A CB cap to the back of the head will dispatch them quickly and quietly. I just keep them alive till I'm done running my lines to avoid spoilage.
Just like running a trapline if you cant check it at least daily dont set it. Also record all of the locations you set as it is easy to forget a line and starving is a bad way to die.
Be sure to check the laws on trotlines in your state. Be sure to use unplated steel hooks that will disolve away over time in the event of a cutoff.
Good hunting
T
jimmyraythomason
Member
I don't think poaching would be necessary as all the pond owners I know would be GLAD to let some-one rid them of the fish eaters.
jimmyraythomason
Member
I caught a medium sized snapper by the neck in a brand new #220 body grip trap set in a bank pocket baited with fish. The set was intended for mink and otter. I released the stunned snapper in the creek directly below the pond's dam. The first thing to come into contact with the turtle's head was a flat riverbed rock which he promptly and securely clamped down on. He was still chomped down on it when I walked away. Glad it wasn't my finger that he had!
PastorAaron
Member
I used to just walk in the shallows and catch them with my hands....
I'm a reptile guy though.
I'm a reptile guy though.
T Bran
Member
I have a friend in MISS that keeps a few in his pond as pets. He taps on a piling with a ball bat and they come swimming to the bank walk out and take food from his hand!
No way I'm going to let one of those monsters near my hands I've seen what they can do to a broomhandle.
T
No way I'm going to let one of those monsters near my hands I've seen what they can do to a broomhandle.
T
dagger dog
Member
Jugging is the easiest, with a stout line and hook, clorox jug, and rotting chicken for bait.
Some of my buddies probe for snappers,wading in the shallow end where the ceeek runs into or out of the lake, they usually are bare footed, and use a rebar probe to locate them then dig in with hands or feet and pull them out.
Grabbing snappers by the tail is a good way to loose some meat (your's) they have LOOONG necks, it's better to grab a stick and let them bite onto that, it will keep 'em busy while you bag them.
We used to winter in Dade county FL, and cruised the gravel roads that paralell the canals, the snappers would haul out and sun, some were gigantic with heads as big as a fist, 60 lbs was small.
Shot several with head shots 22 rimfire,only to have them slide back into the canal,
had to have been a reflex action 'cause they had to be brain dead. Some of the big females would be full of eggs, like soft ping pong balls a litlle larger and a shell like white leather.
If you are doing turtle soup a pressure cooker is the way to tenderize the meat , get out the bbq sauce and put some on the grill when doing burgers .
Some of my buddies probe for snappers,wading in the shallow end where the ceeek runs into or out of the lake, they usually are bare footed, and use a rebar probe to locate them then dig in with hands or feet and pull them out.
Grabbing snappers by the tail is a good way to loose some meat (your's) they have LOOONG necks, it's better to grab a stick and let them bite onto that, it will keep 'em busy while you bag them.
We used to winter in Dade county FL, and cruised the gravel roads that paralell the canals, the snappers would haul out and sun, some were gigantic with heads as big as a fist, 60 lbs was small.
Shot several with head shots 22 rimfire,only to have them slide back into the canal,
had to have been a reflex action 'cause they had to be brain dead. Some of the big females would be full of eggs, like soft ping pong balls a litlle larger and a shell like white leather.
If you are doing turtle soup a pressure cooker is the way to tenderize the meat , get out the bbq sauce and put some on the grill when doing burgers .
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06
Member
Jugging works well. We used a stainless leader and a big hook. At the gathering last week a 14 incher took my cork under. Dragged him to within 10' and put a 380 round through his neck, pulled him close to the bank and hit him in the head with a second shot. That put a stop to his fighting. We had him shelled out and in a frying pan within the hour. Pretty tasty.
Certaindeaf
member
Isn't a Loggerhead a deep sea turtle?
dagger dog
Member
Yes loggerheads are sea turtles, only the females come to shore and that's to lay eggs, they are protected and on the endangered species list, due to nesting areas being overtaken by man.
The young hatch at dawn and make their way to the water,many are taken by gulls but the few that survive come back to the same spot to lay their eggs.The males never touch flippers to land and live their lives in the water.
For some strange reason lights from the urban areas on the shore confuse the young hatchlings and when they make ther way from the nest ,many are lost while swimming into the lights.
The National Seashore System has vollenteers that mark nesting sights and fence them off limits to vehicles that would other wise compact the beach sand so hard that the nestlings can't dig their way out or damage the eggs.
The young hatch at dawn and make their way to the water,many are taken by gulls but the few that survive come back to the same spot to lay their eggs.The males never touch flippers to land and live their lives in the water.
For some strange reason lights from the urban areas on the shore confuse the young hatchlings and when they make ther way from the nest ,many are lost while swimming into the lights.
The National Seashore System has vollenteers that mark nesting sights and fence them off limits to vehicles that would other wise compact the beach sand so hard that the nestlings can't dig their way out or damage the eggs.
MCgunner
Member
I wonder how many have been caught by "noodlers"? That's gotta leave a mark. 
One way - not the only way -, is to walk the shallow rivers with a pole (stick) sticking it to the bottom in front of you.
When you hit the turtle you will feel the hollow shell at the bottom of the pole. Then you put your foot on top of the turtle and wait for it to move. When it does, reach down in the oppsite direction and grab them by the tail. There you have your turtle !!
When you hit the turtle you will feel the hollow shell at the bottom of the pole. Then you put your foot on top of the turtle and wait for it to move. When it does, reach down in the oppsite direction and grab them by the tail. There you have your turtle !!
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