Snapping Turtle Removal

[Dan Hunter]

Let us know how that works out.

Well, it has to work better than the work-release program we had before. Those critters didn't have apposing thumbs so job opportunities were few and far between.

 

[rekees4300]

Any thoughts on how to get her our of there (other than a 12 gauge ?? She is tough to see...usually hiding below the lily pads and disappears when humans approach.

Lower the water then use a rake or other tool to drag it out. You gotta be careful with snappers, one that big is lightning fast and can easily amputate a finger or toe. :turtle:

 

[whistlepig]

I like frog legs!

Ummm, but this brings up another issue. CLEANING? Can't one just cook it until it falls off of the bone, like cooking chicken? Maybe you are just referring to the "gutting".

I'm pretty tough, and can survive pretty self sufficiently, but cleaning fish is not something I like to do. How is this compared to cleaning fish? Maybe I can flirt enough to get someone else to do it for me, especially if I throw in a 6 pack of beer!

They not the most pleasant thing to butcher. The bottom shell has to come off. I then cut out the legs, neck, and shoulder meat. These things won't die either. I have had their last leg still tugging when I cut it out. Long after their head was cut off.

 

[farmgirl19]

Maybe one of you nice boys will clean one for me, and I'll make the soup!

 

[RoMad]

i have eaten lots of turtle, but not for a pretty good while. My brother and I use to catch them on trout lines and here in Florida you see a lot of them crossing the road and can just catch them by the tail. They are very good to eat. After cleaning I cut the meat into about 1' squares, my wife then rolls it in flour and fries it just like you would chicken.
If you shoot it, don't waste it, it is to good for that. If you catch it alive be careful as they dont' like being handled and as said by others can take a finger off.

 

[SPYDERLK]

We have several in our small lake. I have been concerned for safety of swimmers, but never thot they would have a telling effect on fish or vegetation. Theyve been around several years and we still have lots of both. Ill sure be on the lookout for bad effects.
larry

 

[whistlepig]

I wouldn't waste one. The taste is well worth the trouble of dressing one. I wouldn't dress up a possum, 'coon, or groundhog for supper but a turtle is well worth the trouble. I've eaten it pan fried also. Breaded with flour and fried in a skillet like fried chicken.

 

[94BULLITT]

Call Turtle man and give him some cupcakes!:turtle::turtle::turtle::turtle::turtle::turtle:

You beat me to it:laughing:

He will also take 2 dozen eggs as payment.

 

[Gator6x4]

We have a little fish pond, roughly 20' x 10'. We have kids so we had to put a fence around it. A few weeks ago this female snapping turtle who i presume was in the area laying eggs wanted to get in the pond but she was getting caught in the fence. Several times i got her untangled and pointed her away from the pond but she kept coming back and getting stuck so i eventually opened a section of fencing and went to bed. Not surprisingly, she is now in the pond and I want her gone! She is destroying all of the vegetation and probably eating the fish and frogs (though i have no proof). I tried removing another section of fencing and making a nice easy path for her to walk away on her own but she hasn't found it. The turtle is big and intimidating...the picture attached doesn't do it justice. The neck sticks out a good 8-12" and looks thick and strong.

Any thoughts on how to get her our of there (other than a 12 gauge ?? She is tough to see...usually hiding below the lily pads and disappears when humans approach.

Do what I did. I took a ten foot section of 3/4 inch schedule 40, fashioned a net on the end out of scrap screen wire. Hauled the big boy in and out onto the bank. Turned him upside down in a number 3 wash tub I use for washing parts. I then used the tractor loader to relocate to a stream across the back of the property. He seemed happy waddling down the stream bank.

I hate destroying something unless a last resort.

 

[brin]

My father in law and I trapped snapping turtles in the lake on our pond and we ate them...Turtle soup...Try it...Google for a recipe...don't waste those turtles...Take a stick and let him bite it then cut off his head with a hatchet...now your safe and then go from there...Good Eating..[/QUOTEMy Father and Grandfather used to tap Fish and Turtles on the Holston River. I love the Meat, but I don't "Give a Hoot" for the eggs. Both My Father and Grandfather loved the Eggs. They are about the size of marbles, and they whisked them like making scrambled eggs. They have quite an odor. Both of them ate the eggs with Pork Brains.

Creekbend, My Dad used to eat eggs scrambled with Calf brains in a skillet with butter...some onions I think...I never , ever tried it ...the sight of it scared me....geeez, Brains...? Yikes not me...