Catch Clean Cook Snapping Turtle

[John Galt]

Anyone in the Huntsville/Trinity area have experience catching and cleaning snapping turtles?
My pond is infested and I think that is why I can't keep any other stock fish. I have zero experience with turtles other than having caught a couple while fishing that were HUGE.

Looking for anyone that wants turtle meat to come out to my place and catch a few snapping turtles and show me how to catch, clean and cook them. You, of course, will get to keep ample amount of meat (ie; most).

 

[Axxe55]

Anyone in the Huntsville/Trinity area have experience catching and cleaning snapping turtles?
My pond is infested and I think that is why I can't keep any other stock fish. I have zero experience with turtles other than having caught a couple while fishing that were HUGE.

Looking for anyone that wants turtle meat to come out to my place and catch a few snapping turtles and show me how to catch, clean and cook them. You, of course, will get to keep ample amount of meat (ie; most).

I know a lot of old-timers use to catch them and eat them many years ago.

Maybe someone will be able to help you out.

 

[baboon]

Where Turtleman from TV when you need him?

 

[Axxe55]

 

[ZX9RCAM]

View attachment 262942

Not in his pond....

 

[candcallen]

I was gonna say call turtle man but he died.

 

[John Galt]

I know a lot of old-timers use to catch them and eat them many years ago.

Maybe someone will be able to help you out.

That's the hope. I've watched a few videos and think I have an idea, but it is so much better when a live human says, "Here's how I do it."

A while back I tried shooting them with a .22 LR. After about 20 minutes of "hunting" a Sheriffs Deputy shows up and asked what I was doing. I told him I was shooting turtles. He replied, "No you're not." I said, "Yes I am." He replied, "There are no turtles in the house up the road that you just shot the window out of."
Apparently, the .22 LR rounds were just skipping off the top of the water and going wherever. No wonder I never hit one.

 

[Axxe55]

 

[John Galt]

@Axxe55, thanks for the info. Would be much more fun and informative if someone that knew what they were doing helped out, but if push comes to shove, I will try it on my own and let y'all know how it turns out.

 

[Axxe55]

@Axxe55, thanks for the info. Would be much more fun and informative if someone that knew what they were doing helped out, but if push comes to shove, I will try it on my own and let y'all know how it turns out.

I have eaten turtle in the past, but I have never personally cleaned or cooked one. I figured those videos might be the best next source for you if no one could offer some personal guidance for you.

 

[John Galt]

I appreciate that @Axxe55

 

[1911'S 4 Me]

Ask your game warden, or county extension agent.

 

[baboon]

Bait up like your going after big catfish heavy hook, steel leader, heavy line trout line jug float. Multiple hooks if the pond warrants it. Bait with chicken livers, gizzards, hearts & necks.

If you catch big catfish and no turtle it might be a big catfish eating everything!

 

[justmax]

Growing up, we had a small (<acre) pond on both sides of the road. Although it is a state highway, think two lane country road with about 10 yards of land to the water.

Mom was always the spotter. Her view from the kitchen was good for both ponds and the crossing. she would yell out for me and I would run and catch them while crossing. I would take them to the next door neighbor who would give me a dollar or two.

I do remember a couple of times the neighbor sent back some of the finished product. Once it was battered and fried like chicken, and once it was some type of stew. Don't recall if I even tried it or not.

Mom was always good at spotting new groundhog activity, and providing advise on the muskrats come trapping season as well.

 

[EZ-E]

Set out a trot line...youll catch em.
As a kid when running trot lines we always had a few on, when we checked em.

 

[Army 1911]

Alligator snapping turtles are a protected species in Texas. Common ones are not.

 

[Axxe55]

I appreciate that @Axxe55

You're welcome sir. I wanted to learn a few things myself.

 

[Glenn B]

Did not watch the videos so maybe they mentioned this already or maybe not: Snapping turtle fat is know to hold toxic chemicals/substances/elements that may be in the water they inhabit such as mercury and lead among others. It is supposedly a good idea to cut away the fat and discard it before cooking the meat. Just throwing that out there.

Me, I'd rather take the chance and eat it because the fat is what makes any meat taste good (at least any meat I'd eat and snapping turtle is one, they make an excellent soup).

 

[Glenn B]

Apparently, the .22 LR rounds were just skipping off the top of the water and going wherever. No wonder I never hit one.

One of the rules of firearms safety before some idiot abbreviated them from 12 to 15 to only four was that:

Never shoot a 22 caliber bullet (meaning 22 LR, L or short when that was a rule) at water because of the danger of ricochets (same went for shooting at live trees with a 22). Damn, I am showing my age as that was something I learned in summer camp.

 

[EZ-E]

because the fat is what makes any meat taste good

Except alligator... you need to trim the fat or it taste like chit.