Snapping turtle season opened here last week. I was curious if anyone has had any luck?
I went to a few spots I see them regularly and was skunked. may try again briefly tonight.
Bowfishing for them Charlie?
QuoteOriginally posted by Guru:
Bowfishing for them Charlie?
Yep! Here in NY, its the only way, unless you want to cheat ;)
I shot a small carp last night and left it by a spot I see one sometimes, Hope he's back tonight, I'll see him for dinner :readit:
I have seen dozens of dead snappers in the road this year. I'm on the road 10 hours a day 7 days a week but still have never seen anything like it. On Sunday a huge snapper was trying to cross the road by my house and I hated to see him squashed so I went to help him across. He was the meanest turtle I have ever handled. Down right ornary ! A little later someone came by a picked him up. I'm sure it made alot of soup !
Bowfishing them is weak here's how real men do it in Kentucky. Hahaha, Warning don't view this with anything in your mouth. You may spit it all over your keyboard.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn8EQ0azXpQ
Tom,
That's illegal here.
My brother and I were bowfishing for carp one summer day when we were kids. We didn't see any carp but I ended up shooting a big snapper with my fiberglass recurve. After I killed it I felt terrible about it. I wondered how long it took that thing to grow as big as he was. That took place about twenty-something years ago and was the first and last time I thought about killing one. I'm not opposed to it but to each his own. Seeing this thread just brought back a memory.
We can't shoot them here either, but it is legal to gig or spear them.... some laws don't make much sense.
Thanks for the idea. I'm going to check our regulations to see if it's legal here.
Here's a few from last week here in PA.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/mote1977/006.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/mote1977/017.jpg)
Missed a nice one tonight :knothead:
I just got me one bout two weeks ago. Into the pot with them.
Those two still alive??? Would hate to have one latch on to me. Are they good eating?
Growing up in NJ, we use to always stop in the Pines and get snapper soup. One of my favorites.
Need to check the regs, hmmm...bowfishing for snappers. Mmmm...snapper soup.
Great pics.
Yeah Curt. If you think turkeys are fast, stalk a softshell in the water, and see how fast they can "tuck and dive! :D
just can't bring myeslf to kill something that will out live me by MANY years. HOWEVER Charlie can cook and and i would love to try the soup!
QuoteOriginally posted by Danny Rowan:
Those two still alive??? Would hate to have one latch on to me. Are they good eating?
Yes, they were still alive in the photos. We are allowed to use set lines with bait here in PA. They are great eating.
QuoteOriginally posted by frank bullitt:
Yeah Curt. If you think turkeys are fast, stalk a softshell in the water, and see how fast they can "tuck and dive! :D
Those soft shell turtles can Move!
QuoteOriginally posted by adkmountainken:
just can't bring myeslf to kill something that will out live me by MANY years. HOWEVER Charlie can cook and and i would love to try the soup!
Ken, I have to hit one first! :banghead: :archer:
I sure wish we could use archery equipment for them here. One of my favorite bowfishing spots is overrun with softshells and snappers. Unfortunately, in IL the only legal means of take are hook and line, landing nets, or by hand grabbing.
I've arrowed LOTS when I lived down south (lower 48). They rut in mid-late April and I've gotten doubles a couple times.
TJ its amazing how good that guy is and how crazy.
You guys are killing me. I want some turtle now. My dad,uncle and I used to run lines out by where he worked. Then I got to sit back and watch a master(my uncle Bill), try and teach two novices, (my Dad and me) how to properly clean and prepare a turtle. Uncle Bill made a killer batter for turtle and would deep fry it in a little peanut oil and some cajun spices. Thank goodness Dad and I finally figured it out, and I was lucky enough to get Dad's turtle stew recipe engrained into my brain before he passed away. Gonna have to get out and hunt me up a few I guess. Thanks for the post fellas, it brings back some great memories of my youth.
John
Charlie, here's one that went back in the river. Not sure I'd want to eat one out of the Hudson River?
(http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m84/TJReceveur/TylerandBigTurtle-1.jpg)
It's been a while since I shot a snapping turtle. More recently than this, but still a while.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/TurtleonTurkeyhunt.jpg)
Nice pics everyone! I will have one before the end of the summer.
Haven't arrowed turts since the early seventies.
This thread got me reminiscing.
Yet another great photo Charlie. I hope you have all them archived.
Very good eating...can't wait to join ya' Charlie...
(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj92/bowchild_2008/022-1.jpg)
Charlie, three words for snapping turtle mecca: "Marias Temps Claire"
Steve, That's in Missouri?
Looks like the whole river system is good!
Been trapping them for awhile but never shot any. We keep them live and don't need the holes.
Went bowfishing this morning and a saw a couple "rolling around together"....couldn't bring myself to "bother them".....maybe next time... :saywhat:
Curt, You had pics last year of a few rolling around.
I'm trying for a few again tonight.
Looks like the wife even left the camera.
Yes MTC is in Mazzoura, just north of STL. They reduced the limit to five per day and that wouldn't be tuff at all during the rut. Most of them are about 15#ish but shot one HUMONGO there once upon a time.
Nothing In range tonight. Perhaps tomorrow will bring better luck!
Not much better to eat than turtle! I picked up a huge loggerhead that had just been hit by a car. The shell was busted up pretty bad. She was barely alive. I made the best of the situation. I was a little sad for her, she was huge!
If you have a compressor a great way to clean them is put a basketball needle into the skin and pump air in. Blows the skin away from the meat and make cleaning a lot easier.