How to Catch Snapping Turtles to Eat
Snapping turtles often prefer ponds with some algae growing on top. If you want to catch a turtle, that’s a good place to start. Also, check the laws in your state and make certain you have any required hunting or fishing licenses and that you obey all bag limits.
Instructions
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Gather your fishing supplies and three or four stakes in the ground deep enough that the turtle can not pull out the stake and take off with your hook.
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Cut 5 or 6 feet of fishing string and tie a slipknot around the stakes you set in the ground. Tie a sinker and hook on the end and cut a 1-inch piece of chicken liver and set it firmly on the hook. Now cast your line out so the bait is resting in water that is at least 3 feet deep.
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Let the traps sit overnight. If you don’t catch anything, move the traps and repeat the process.
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Pull in the turtles you’ve caught. Take care to keeps the turtle’s powerful jaws away from your hands and fingers. Gently retrieve the line. When you get the turtle to the bank of the pond place your boot on top of the turtle and grab it by the tail. Place the turtle in a container tall enough to keep it from escaping.
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Tips & Warnings
To prepare the turtle meat for cooking, remove the head and then the legs. The legs are the best meat. Some people try to use the whole body of a turtle by boiling the shell off, but this is often not worth the effort for the small amount of meat that can be harvested.
Avoid placing your hand near turtle's mouth. Always grab a live turtle by the tail.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
