South Platte Alligator Snapping Turtles

[battle_sight_zero]

31277 3127931281



Ran into several of these in a recent fishing trip last week. This one was about 3 feet long head to tail. Much more massive one observed in deeper water that made this one look like a baby actually had two large bass following him everywhere. Either way leave trout on a stringer they will clean them out in a matter of seconds. I posted some pictures of other ones a couple years ago on here, so there still out there!

[jhood001]

I'm good with snakes, mean dogs, thugs, nuclear weapons, cancer, and pretty much everything else. But those things scare the shit out of me.

They get really big where I was born and raised and I paid them no mind while fishing and swimming in farm ponds growing up. Then I saw a really big one bite down and snap a shovel handle in two. Now my pulse races when I see one.

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

Looks tasty.

[battle_sight_zero]

When these turtles ate my fish a few years back it shocked because I could figure out what happened. I even reached down looking for my fish. Did not get chomped on but I am lucky. To this day I am surprised that our colder water and regular trout stockings are growing these guys so big. As mentioned there is a giant one out there that puts this one to shame. Dont know if I would eat one through so I guess they are safe from me and my son.

[Firehaus]

Looks like a common snapper. Alligator snappers don't get past southeast Kansas for the most part.

Head size is a good way to tell along with pronounced shell ridges.

http://www.chelydra.org/common_alligator_snapping_turtle.html

Still tasty. My grandfather always told me that there is 7 different tasting meats on a turtle.

[Monky]

They're good eating. I grew up swimming in a creek and saw two 50# snappers fighting for whatever reason.

They cook up good... One 00 shell took both their heads clean off


Sent by a free-range electronic weasel, with no sense of personal space.

[02ducky]

Jaws with legs, scary looking beasts.

[Irving]

No bag limit on those guys.

[buckshotbarlow]

only good monster is a dead one in my book. When i was growing up on the ol farm that bordered the st.vrain we'd always thump em with fish on the stringer in the slow water...used my old mans 7mag at about 5 yds. Never kept any though.

[ray1970]

As a kid I was screwing around with a decent size snapping turtle. I was poking him with a broom stick when he reached up and bit it in half. Needless to say, I went and found something else to do.

[Tinelement]

Shoulda tackled it!!

[Firehaus]

As a kid I was screwing around with a decent size snapping turtle. I was poking him with a broom stick when he reached up and bit it in half. Needless to say, I went and found something else to do.

It's crazy how strong their jaws are. Then I see a huge one at a zoo and think about it taking your leg off while swimming in a creek.

[sniper7]

What's the best way to catch them? Wrestle them out of the water?

[Irving]

What's the best way to catch them? Wrestle them out of the water?

Getting old.

[Great-Kazoo]

As a kid I was screwing around with a decent size snapping turtle. I was poking him with a broom stick when he reached up and bit it in half. Needless to say, I went and found something else to do.

Maybe you should consider carrying a broom instead of a boom stick. ;)

[ray1970]

Maybe you should consider carrying a broom instead of a boom stick. ;)

Nah.

I should carry a snickers candy bar.

That way when someone takes it from me and feeds me the damn thing at least I'll enjoy it.

[Bailey Guns]

What's the best way to catch them? Wrestle them out of the water?

Have a friend do it.

[Dr.Rob]

Great pics! Nice to see such a critter, means the ecosystem is healthy.

[GilpinGuy]

Damn! These things look like dinosaurs. I had no idea they'd get that big here.

We'd hook one every now and then when fishing back home. It would feel like you were hauling up a log. Then you see it, get that tingly feeling up your neck and just cut the line.

[Squeeze]

Yeah...remember fishing in the rivers & ponds out in southeast Iowa. You hook into one of those monsters you feel like you're wrestling a cadilac to the surface. Like GilpinGuy said, once you see what it is you get that "tingly feeling" and have to make one of two choices...deal with killing it and hauling it into the boat (if you plan on eating it), or cut the line and go back to fishing for something more manageable. I've had turtle before, it was good but I've been told they are more work than they're worth.