snapping turtle?????

[Adam Waszak]

Ok when i was young i had snapping turtle fried like chicken and it was one of the best tasting things ever can someone tell me how to clean them and get them ready for the fryer so they don't taste like muck and dirt. Thank you in advance

aw

[outfishin_]

What I was taught to do was, catch the turtle and basically let him set for a few days in a box or buckets or what ever. This will give it time to clean itself out. Then behead it, and wait overnight, then spilt the sides of the shell between the legs on each side..and cut and slices carefully to open up the shell. remove the guts...wash out the turtle. the meat will be seen. This is how I done the last turtle I caught about 5-6 years ago...it worked for me..

I hope this helps.

[kbkrause]

http://www.mdc.mo.gov/conmag/1996/06/50.html

[Brian S]

To cut the head off, tease him with a stick and get him to bite down on it (not hard to do). While he is clamped down on the stick, grab his lower jaw with a pair of vice grips. Now you are in control. Now you can pull his head out as far as needed, roll him on his back and either chop the head off or slice it off.

After decapitating, I put him in a bucket and cover it with ice. I usually only wait a few hours before continuing.

Most of the meat is in the legs and neck but don't forget about the "tenderloins", they are located on the inside of the top shell. You have to snip off the bones that go accross the meat and then fillet it out.

Its not hard, just take your time and don't try and rush the process.

[Beck]

I was having a chat with an older sportsman and he told me to put the turtle in a clean garbage can for a few days (keep cool) and wait for the turtle to clean himself out. Nail his tail to a tree so he is hanging about waist level, grab bottom jaw with pliers, pull out neck and cut off his head. Let the turtle hang until blood has all run out, take a garden hose and pull the neck skin over the end of it. Put hose clamp around the skin to secure it to the hose. Turn on the water and watch for him to blow up. The turtle should be puffed out of the shell after about a half hour or so. Cut the turtle’s bottom shell and skin, lop off the feet with punning shears, and gut him. Meat should pull right out.

Don’t know if it works but it may be worth a try.

[MULLSKINNER]

We Take A Snapper Put It In A 55 Gal. Drum ..change The Water Every Day For About 3 To 4 Day's ..then We Shoot It In The Head With A 22cal. Rifle ..then Cut The Head Off Hang It Up To Bleed Out For A While ..then Cut The Feet Off .then Skin Around The Shell ..then Seperate The Meat From The Shell Also Gut ...we Take The Meat And Soak It In Salt Water ..then Rince In Water And Freeze In Water Till Were Ready To Make Soup ....:)

[wild bill]

To cut the head off, tease him with a stick and get him to bite down on it (not hard to do). While he is clamped down on the stick, grab his lower jaw with a pair of vice grips. Now you are in control. Now you can pull his head out as far as needed, roll him on his back and either chop the head off or slice it off.

After decapitating, I put him in a bucket and cover it with ice. I usually only wait a few hours before continuing.

Most of the meat is in the legs and neck but don't forget about the "tenderloins", they are located on the inside of the top shell. You have to snip off the bones that go accross the meat and then fillet it out.

Its not hard, just take your time and don't try and rush the process.

thats also how i kill and clean mine. use caution even after removing the head. it will still get you.;)

[Raf]

i have always wanted to try this. the people who i hunted in PA with said they do it all the time. Except for they leave it in a 55 gallon drum and feed it corn and something else for i THINK a couple of weeks.

[LabsRock]

All of the turtles we have butchered went this way. Give them a day or two to clean out. We do not feed them anything. Then we would use a garden rake with the curved teeth to push through the snout and stretch his neck out. Whack it off with an axe. Keep all dogs and small children away from the head. We then would put it in a tub of water to scald it. The turtle has some very tough skin and this softens it up. (If you want to save the shell for decorative purposes then do not scald it.) Then pull him out and flip him on his back. Cut around where the skin meets the shell and remove the bottom shell. Then you can pull the guts out and start skinning him. Soak the meat in some salt water and you are ready to cook it. We have made chowder with turtle and just par boiled and fried it. It is all delicious. I don't find many in season here in Michigan anymore.

[RyGuy525]

Sounds like way to much work id rather just have some fried chicken!

[walleyeman2006]

You can leave a turtle in water for a month changing the water with out food but they will eat almost anything. just make sure its kept out of the sun.. the hose trick sounds interesting will have to try that one.

[andy capp]

This is a fishing buddy of mine

http://bbrocker.homestead.com/Turtle.html