MinnesotaWaterfowler

MattKeller · Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 9:27 pm Post subject: Turtle Hunting

When you come face to face with one of these prehistoric monsters, there's something inside you that makes you want to conquer and eat it.

This may be the largest snapper we've seen up here in northern MN. He put up quite a fight but we were able to get him in the canoe and make the 2 mile paddle back without him eating us.

Here he is. All 50+ pounds of him:

Some HUGE claws:

Once the head is removed, we stuck the garden hose in it and zip-tied the skin to the hose. You then fill him with water and the meat separates from the skin.

Here it is full of water:

B cleaned it up tonight and I look forward to some grilled turtle here in a couple weeks.

Matt Wendorff · MNWaterfowler Greenwing Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 4

i've cleaned lots of turtles, but have never heard of filling them with water. i'll have to try that. always up for tricks to cleaning turtles

Locked'n'Loaded · Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 10:06 pm Post subject:

Your Nucking Futs!!!!!

duck smuggler · Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 10:40 pm Post subject:

snapper NOW THATS GOOD EATS.....

it fun when you clean one buy getting then to bite onto something, and then cut the head off. then come back two hr. later and it head is still got a hold of what ever you used.....

pout_poker · MNWaterfowler Blackduck Joined: 26 Apr 2009 Posts: 199

gotta keep um alive in a barrel full of clean water for a few days after catching them and they taste alot better

The Duck Squad · Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 11:40 pm Post subject:

dang thats a monster!! we caught a little one tonite (15lbs), turtle stir fry is on the menu tomarrow. i'll have to try the hose and zip tie trick with next one i catch. Nice job guys!!

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rollie · MNWaterfowler Mallard Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 165

Just another excuse for Matt to try and show off his guns. Rolling Eyes

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wildwings · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 6:25 am Post subject:

I think Matt has been hanging around the southerner's to long ! Pretty soon he will be growing the long beard and not shaving it for the whole year.

wooduck26 · MNWaterfowler Family Joined: 03 Apr 2005 Posts: 2499

I havent eaten Turtle in about 20+ years......Thats a Big boy no doubt! I caught one fishing Cats this spring that was almost that size.....I had my hands full! Shocked

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MattKeller · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:02 am Post subject:

Once in my life I snagged a big turtle (not this big though) by the back foot. I was pretty sure that I had a world record something...Talk about a fight!

TJ Bauer · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:14 am Post subject:

Should be good eaten.

wooduck26 · MNWaterfowler Family Joined: 03 Apr 2005 Posts: 2499

Any pics of the meat?
_________________
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|..Blowin the Brass..| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|...,]
"(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)***''(@)

2006 Benelli Teal Shooting Co-Champion

Internet Bully Pro-Staff

MattKeller · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:09 am Post subject:

Cooking it for Brian's bday which is in about 9 days. I'll take some then.

9manfan · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:39 am Post subject:

I used to hunt them alot, cleaned quite a few of them, but have never seen the water trick, I always wondered how old them big one's are,,,,,,,
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MudCatKid · Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 10:17 pm Post subject:

Nice Matt! I want to see a dinner feast photo!

When I come across turtles, I like to make sure they are placed out of harms way before going back to my own business.

This one was under the canoe until I jumped out, reached underwater and saved it in mid-swim.

Oh the joys of being a river rat. Laughing

Some year I need to eat snapper. Although I am sure there are a few better places in MN to find good turtle meat other than the Lower Miss.

THe CRiPPLeR · Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 10:37 pm Post subject:

I helped a turtle cross the road today Neutral

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The best way to secure a future for hunting is introduce someone new to the outdoors.

MudCatKid · Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 10:39 pm Post subject:

How do you guys like to prepare turtle?

Quikshot · Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 10:45 pm Post subject:

If any of you guys want some snapper, berger and I have a hot spot in spring at a local metro lake.

Some crazy stuff if you ask me. I didn't know what to do with it once we had it in the landing net.

Jmnhunter · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 11:08 am Post subject:

haven't had turtle for awhile, but its really good! Matt, after you fill the snapper with water, how long do you keep it like that? then do you just split the shells and take the meat out of the skin?
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MattKeller · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 12:06 pm Post subject:

When you fill it with water you will see/hear the meat separating from the skin. Release the hose and then go to town cleaning like you normally would.