South Platte Alligator Snapping Turtles

[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.