Snapping Turtles 2024
sk8ter107 reply :
What do you guys do when you catch them or any turtle? I caught one today and he broke about 6-7inches off the tip of my pole. He wasn't happy with me at all and was definitely not little. Got my buzzbait back though after holding him down. So any tips on getting these monsters off?
Theangler1 reply :
I never really mess with them especially when you're talking big snapping turtles. I do not want to lose a finger! If it's not that important you're going to have to play it safe rather than being sorry later. That's what I suggest.
flyingmonkie reply :
Live action!
Little advice from me. I've caught turtles on live bait before, and can usually yank the bait out with pliers. I've caught 20-30lb snappers on trot lines before, and it was an easy decision for me to just cut the line. 
Big Ken reply :
Cut the line. Some of those big snappers can get real nasty. I have some friends that enjoy eating turtles, not me.
sk8ter107 reply :
I didn't have anything to cut the line (50lb braid) with me at the time. Next time I will have my tackle bag with me haha.
roadwarrior reply :
Outdoorsmen should ALWAYS carry a knife and fishermen should ALWAYS carry pliers.
Oregon Native reply :
On 6/20/2014 at 5:49 PM, roadwarrior said:Outdoorsmen should ALWAYS carry a knife and fishermen should ALWAYS carry pliers.
Yup....Have carried a pocket knife for years. Have only lost a few to airports when I forgot them in pocket. Not many people carry them anymore.
Keeping them sharp is good to.
speed craw reply :
My grandpa always said you carry a handkerchief and a pocket knife , now I don't know about the handkerchief but I always carry a knife , and keep a multitool in my fishing bag .
JaxBasser reply :
Two days ago first cast with a brand new LC Pointer I hooked a huge soft shell turtle. Destroyed the hooks but I got lure back and the turtle got to live.
Avalonjohn44 reply :
On 6/20/2014 at 7:37 PM, Kevin Beachy said:what i do is tease them with a stick till there head comes out then smash there head to bits and pieces.
A true genius. Oh, and here: http://www.grammar.cl/english/there-their-they-are.htm
roadwarrior reply :
On 6/20/2014 at 7:37 PM, Kevin Beachy said:what i do is tease them with a stick till there head comes out then smash there head to bits and pieces.
Well young man, I think you should consider your audience before making a post like this.
Our members are first and foremost conservationists in a traditional sense, and that does
not mean tree-huggers. Unless it is a matter of self-defense, killing animals just to watch
them die is unacceptable and inexcusable.
Bluegiller reply :
I fish from a kayak and when I see one of them (as large as a garbage can lid) a mere foot away from me, it kind of scares the heck out of me. I believe their neck can shoot out half the length of their shell ?
Kevin Beachy reply :
On 6/21/2014 at 3:19 AM, roadwarrior said:Well young man, I think you should consider your audience before making a post like this.
Our members are first and foremost conservationists in a traditional sense, and that does
not mean tree-huggers. Unless it is a matter of self-defense, killing animals just to watch
them die is unacceptable and inexcusable.
the reason i kill them is because it is in a small pond and snapping turtles are disliked there.
Kevin Beachy reply :
On 6/21/2014 at 7:29 AM, Valley Sports said:If you can't get the hook/lure ou with a pliers then cut the line and let it go. Some times if you tease them with a stick they will grab that and it makes it easier to get the hook out.
Ron
right!!
PJBoudzy reply :
On 6/21/2014 at 3:19 AM, roadwarrior said:Well young man, I think you should consider your audience before making a post like this.
Our members are first and foremost conservationists in a traditional sense, and that does
not mean tree-huggers. Unless it is a matter of self-defense, killing animals just to watch
them die is unacceptable and inexcusable.
^^^
sk8ter107 reply :
This is a private pond I was at and the owner has now told us to kill all snapping turtles as he doesn't want them to be in there. Next time he won't get to live.
Jon G reply :
I've grown up around reptiles (snakes, lizards,turtles) and have owned many species of reptiles and I know people who own snapping turtles. Most of the big snappers you see are 50+ years old and to kill them just because you dont want to deal with them is completley wrong. If you catch a smaller one you can put them in a "trance" by "hovering" them under the water. If it is a bigger one or you are uncomfortable putting your hand near one (dont blame you) just cut the line just like a fish the hook will rust out. Killing snappers or any turtles for that matter in some states is treated like poaching and you WILL be given a serious fine for killing them. So just make things easier for your and the turtle and cut the line. It is a win-win situation.
Alonerankin2 reply :
If you're capable, remove hook/ lure... Otherwise cut the line and let it be.
kfelton0002 reply :
The thought of someone smashing a turtle makes me cringe.. please don't kill animals for pleasure unless you are going to eat them! Be humane and cut the line. If the turtle is going to die anyway (due to deep hooking) at least give it a fighting shot. They're tough as whit leather. My brother kills them when he catches them but he gives them to a buddy who eats every one he gets his hands on. I caught a smaller one once on a shiner and I wasn't too afraid of a little guy. My husband had me stretch his neck out and then he grabbed its head and used pliers to remove the hook. No blood or anything and the turtle was fine.. even went after another minnow after he was back in the water. lol
kfelton0002 reply :
If the turtles are not wanted put it in the back of your truck and relocate it. Treat is as you would want to be treated. They are just trying to survive, and like a previous post said some of the larger turtles are quite old. Please don't kill them just because they are unwaned. If the pond owner wants the turtles dead let him do the killing. And alligator snapping turtles are prohibitated from being killed and are to be returned to the water unharmed if possible. Regular snapping turtles can be "harvested" but that means taken and not killed and left on the bank to rot.
Bluebasser86 reply :
A lot of places you can't relocate them because of the potential to spread unwanted species like zebra mussels, gobies, or snakeheads.
People love to eat them around here so I have no problem finding someone who wants to eat them.
kfelton0002 reply :
On 6/22/2014 at 1:17 PM, Bluebasser86 said:A lot of places you can't relocate them because of the potential to spread unwanted species like zebra mussels, gobies, or snakeheads.
People love to eat them around here so I have no problem finding someone who wants to eat them.
I don't mean reloacate them to another state or continent, maybe just to the nearest river where they are naturally or a nearby silt pond or creek. I understand relocating them to somewhere those organisms aren't currently would be bad. There are people my brother know that eats them regularly. They actually go out and throw a rope with a heavy hook with bait to catch them. I've heard they are delicious and taste like chicken but yuck.. I couldn't bring myself to eat one.
tatertester reply :
Turtles are delicious. My uncle was a turtler ,and, that was his only occupation for 40 years. He always drove a new truck and had folding money on him at all times.
jigabooyah reply :
I caught 3 in one day while river fishing for catfish and rough fish. I cut the line. I didn't want to hurt them any more.
I had no idea what to do. That day I was using 4/0 hooks thinking the turtles wouldn't take it. It made me sad. I don't even like to kill bugs.
Guess turtles like nightcrawlers.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 6/22/2014 at 10:54 PM, kfelton0002 said:I don't mean reloacate them to another state or continent, maybe just to the nearest river where they are naturally or a nearby silt pond or creek. I understand relocating them to somewhere those organisms aren't currently would be bad. There are people my brother know that eats them regularly. They actually go out and throw a rope with a heavy hook with bait to catch them. I've heard they are delicious and taste like chicken but yuck.. I couldn't bring myself to eat one.
Even one pond to another would be enough to get a hefty fine in KS in the right/wrong situation. My best suggestion is if you aren't going to keep them, just release them back into the water they came from.
No way I'd eat one either, and I've eaten some nasty stuff. One of the guys that I used to give them to said that they had 9 different colors of meat in them? 
Maybe it's different other places, but here if meat was 9 different colors, it's rotten 
Bankbeater reply :
I use to catch them every once in a while out catfishing. I would either get the hook out with pliers or cut the line. I don't want to leave my hand near a snappers mouth any longer than necessary.
Ratherbfishing reply :
Growing up on a farm we had/have a creek which meanders through a cow pasture behind our farmhouse. If we found a snapping turtle, having great respect for those powerful jaws, my brother and I would spend hours trying to capture it. Who needs a computer or smart phone when you have THAT kind of entertainment?! (Incidentally, we would always let the turtles go afterwards). I guess having been exposed to that kind of thing gives me a different perspective. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to cozy up to one in bed or have one over for drinks but I think they are pretty cool.
Fly fishing a few summers back I was catching small bluegill (lots of stunted fish) and a big old snapping turtle rose to the surface a few yards out in front of me. I began swinging the fish over to the turtle where he had himself a lovely feast. I know it probably wasn't wise as now sen'ior turtle probably associates people with his (her?) next meal but I couldn't help myself.
I rarely, if ever, use live bait so catching turles on a hook and line hasn't happened (yet).
tatertester reply :
Turtle are very good eating....Hate to say it, but, kinda like chicken, no wild or gamey flavor....Your missing out if you haven't tried it .....Better than many other wild game .
DILLY07 reply :
I have caught snappers before. Its cool to hear them hissing like cats. but I usually try to pick them up by the shell and remove the hook and bait. Let it go. I usually get them in 20 pounders and sometimes 30s. They can get big here. I've noticed they like pork scented lures like Net Bait.
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