John J. Posted July 6, 2007 Posted July 6, 2007 Well I've been down to the pond quite a bit and I keep seeing a snapping turtle show his head while fishing. So yesterday for the 4th after seeing him while fishing I grabbed my 12 gauge single shot and a #1 buckshot shell. I had recently shot my .177 calibre pellet gun at his head with no luck so finally I was getting sick of this feller. Well he showed himself about 10 yards from the bank and already I was pointing the 12 gauge in his direction (seen his shell start coming, pulled back the hammer and was ready). As soon as his head broke surface I let 'er rip!! [move]BOOM! [/move] Then the next day (today) he floated at the surface...for comparison I put my size 11 1/2 shoe by him... He is a nuisance, killing a 12" bass and a few bluegill. So I got rid of the problem (I think). There might be a bigger snapper in the pond, but if he shows, I will have another #1 buckshot to greet him!! ;D ;D ;D ;D Hopefully my fish can now swim in peace!
Fish Man Posted July 6, 2007 Posted July 6, 2007 i had a similar incident last year with a black snake or some kind of snake that would stay under our aluminum jon boat for the warmth of it and scarew the sh@t out of us everytime so we got ahold of my cousin who lives there a he took care of it with a 12 gauge slug ;D P.S. great shot looks like one or a few caught em in the head
frogtog Posted July 6, 2007 Posted July 6, 2007 John J hope you did'nt trow him away, man that is some good eating.
John J. Posted July 6, 2007 Author Posted July 6, 2007 i had a similar incident last year with a black snake or some kind of snake that would stay under our aluminum jon boat for the warmth of it and scarew the sh@t out of us everytime so we got ahold of my cousin who lives there a he took care of it with a 12 gauge slug ;D P.S. great shot looks like one or a few caught em in the head Yep that's what I was aiming for. I waited until his head poked above surface then I let em rip! Frogtog I did throw him away, he didn't float until yesterday and by that time he was smelly and covered in algae. Didn't look too appetizing to me, don't get me wrong, my entire family is based out of Louisianna, I know they are a delicacy down there! Avid & niksfishinmom, If you don't think HE was the problem, then what is?? Share some light please??? The only thing I've seen in the pond that can do any damage at all is, there is a king fisher (bird) who swoops down and grabs small bluegill. There is also a Bald Eagle and a Red Tailed Hawk that hangs out down there but I've never seen either of them swooping down. And besides if any of these birds grabbed the fish, they would have eaten them thoroughly. I think it was this turtle, after all, snapping turtles do eat fish and I don't think he wouldn't have gotten this big by not eating any fish in the pond :
FL_fisher Posted July 6, 2007 Posted July 6, 2007 my bet would be that the bass died for some other reason and the turtle found the dead bass, but I could be wrong.
skillet Posted July 6, 2007 Posted July 6, 2007 Was fishing a small pond using diving crank bait and walking it up the embankment. Had one about that size grab at the bait not once but twice (if it wasn't the same one, it was his twin brother). Thankfully the first a hook got the shell above his head and the second was in his mouth and he spit it out after landing him. Must be a lot faster in the water than on land . Didn't think they were that fast... As Ever, skillet
Hooked On Bass Fishing Posted July 6, 2007 Posted July 6, 2007 Ive cought so many of these stupid turtles, and it really makesme mad. There are so many in the pond i fish. There all very big everyonebigger than that one.
BucketmouthAngler13 Posted July 6, 2007 Posted July 6, 2007 Snapping turtles hardly ever eat bass or even bait fish. They (the small ones) only eat dead things. Once they get 40lb+ then they will prey on small ducks. Baitfish/bass are too fast for them to catch. Snapping turtles are good for the bass population, and for the intire pond itself. Killing them and letting them rot is not only wastleful, but it is bad for the inviroment.
mattm Posted July 6, 2007 Posted July 6, 2007 That's not all that big... Agreed thats ones just a baby. I don't see a ton of them around here, but that would be the smallest one i've ever ran across.
Troutfisher Posted July 6, 2007 Posted July 6, 2007 Good Job!!! Regardless of what is said, adult snapping turtles are a nuisance, and they kill baitfish as well as small ducks, and duck eggs. I used to fish a pond that was owned by a man who told me to kill any snapping turtles I see or catch. There were at least three I knew of that lived there, and they wreaked havoc on his pond. They killed several small ducks, and ate the eggs that the ducks would lay on the bank. They also ate several of the baitfish, and I know they would go after the bass. Fishing there became more of a chore than fun, because if I fished with any kind of live bait, those turtles would go after it and snap through the line, or I'd have to drag them to shore. I did kill one, but several of them escaped. Snapping turtles can be a nuisance, and they can ruin a pond if introduced improperly or if they find their way in.
John J. Posted July 6, 2007 Author Posted July 6, 2007 I know it's a small turtle, he moves quickly. BMA please enlighten me on how they are GOOD for bass? And besides, I don't want these boogers to take over. There are many debates I am sure on how these turtles can be good and at the same time be bad. For me, if there are any turtles in the pond, I will take matters into my own hands and get rid of them. My parents know more about them than I do, and they want me to get rid of them. Truthfully this is the first snapping turtle I ever seen (I was born and raised here in Va), but my parents have seen bigger. For those who think me killing this turtle was a bad thing for the pond, please explain why and how this turtle could have benifited this pond??? Thanks
Troutfisher Posted July 6, 2007 Posted July 6, 2007 Snapping turtles hardly ever eat bass or even bait fish. Snapping turtles are good for the bass population, and for the intire pond itself. How are snapping turtles good for bass, if you say they never eat any smaller bass or baitfish? The only way I could see snapping turtles being good for bass is if they ate some of the smaller bass, therefore reducing the overall population and making the remaining bass larger. However,you say they don't do that though... :-?
John J. Posted July 6, 2007 Author Posted July 6, 2007 Snapping turtles hardly ever eat bass or even bait fish. Snapping turtles are good for the bass population, and for the intire pond itself. How are snapping turtles good for bass, if you say they never eat any smaller bass or baitfish? The only way I could see snapping turtles being good for bass is if they ate some of the smaller bass, therefore reducing the overall population and making the remaining bass larger. However,you say they don't do that though... :-? Troutfisher, this is exactly what I asked, but yet even though I ask for an explaination, they don't give one...I asked for one earlier... I am not trying to be a jerk or create any problems, but I would really like to hear some insight on other's opinions rather than tell me that it's bad to kill them because they rot and it's a waste and it's bad for the environment, etc. and then leave it at that. And besides there are things we do in every day life that is bad for the environment. When I kill a turtle and throw it into the woods, it will create a food item for any scavangers. If I kill the turtle and leave him in the pond, all he will do is contaminate the pond. Yet if I don't kill him, all he will do is reproduce, spread like rabbits and take over, therefore smothering out all the species of fish (if they don't eat them which I KNOW they do!) and becoming a nuisance. Troutfisher, you and me see eye to eye on this. 8-) God bless
Super User Root beer Posted July 6, 2007 Super User Posted July 6, 2007 Why didnt you just relocate the turtle? The wildlife agency or zoo probably would've love to have it. Or you could've transplant it to a new habitat. Ah well what done is done. Snapping turtles can be fun to watch when their young, but when they get old, by god they turn into bunch grumpy turtles.
John J. Posted July 6, 2007 Author Posted July 6, 2007 Why didnt you just relocate the turtle? The wildlife agency or zoo probably would've love to have it. Or you could've transplant it to a new habitat. Ah well what done is done. Snapping turtles can be fun to watch when their young, but when they get old, by god they turn into bunch grumpy turtles. hmmm...good idea, grab a 'snapping' turtle and carry him to a place where he can be taken care of...just one problem with that, they get their name "snapping turtles" because of their aggressive behavior. If I was to try and ****** that booger I wouldn't even be able to type right now! I would need robotic fingers or something lol! No offense though KWC. If there was a way I could relocated him, I would have done it. But around where I live I would have to go to Richmond (a hour or two away) to find a place to give him away, because there is nowhere near where I live that would take something like him. God bless
FishingBuds Posted July 6, 2007 Posted July 6, 2007 More likely around my house I shoot to kill, thats thats about it. Well you do have that annoying DEER season I tend to get involved with, annoying 4 legged creatures! Oops forgot those annoying gobblers I tend to trick to come in and then WHAMMO, they shut up then. But, the fish - boy oh boy I won't go there.
John J. Posted July 6, 2007 Author Posted July 6, 2007 More likely around my house I shoot to kill, thats thats about it. Well you do have that annoying DEER season I tend to get involved with, annoying 4 legged creatures! Oops forgot those annoying gobblers I tend to trick to come in and then WHAMMO, they shut up then. But, the fish - boy oh boy I won't go there. Same around here, any pest or nuisance we have around here, ain't nothing better than a 12 gauge with either a #1 buck or OO buckshot! The deer are starting to get bad now during the summer getting into the garden, eating mom's flowers, etc. and we see a few turkeys but it is more enjoyable to hear them gobble, but still we shoot 'em. ;D If there is any pests, I feel a no better means of termination than a 12 gauge shotgun!! ;D
Super User burleytog Posted July 6, 2007 Super User Posted July 6, 2007 They all move fast. Once caught a 30 pounder on a golf course. Mean old SOB took metal off the head of my putter when I poked him in the nose with it. I used to have a dog that would catch and eat snapping turtles. As well as frogs and groundhogs.
Troutfisher Posted July 6, 2007 Posted July 6, 2007 John, glad we see eye to eye on things as well. Burley, your dog would catch and eat snapping turtles? How did he avoid getting bit when he went after them?
Super User Root beer Posted July 6, 2007 Super User Posted July 6, 2007 There a way to handle snapping turtles! I learn that the hardway, well actually I watch someone do it. ;D
John J. Posted July 6, 2007 Author Posted July 6, 2007 I would suggest if handling any turtles for that matter, wear havy duty welding gloves, maybe double up on the pairs lol! Another way is to take an unbreakable stick or pole and have the turtle ****** on and make sure they won't let go, then drag 'em where you want em! ;D ;D ;D Or do like I did, pop em in the head with a 12 gauge #1 buckshot and then you can move em all you want without getting bit!! Must be one tough and agile dog you got there burley to take out a snapper lol! ;D 8-)
Low_Budget_Hooker Posted July 6, 2007 Posted July 6, 2007 That's just plain sad. Your lake will probably suffer and it doesn't say a ton about your character. :-/> :( > :-/ signature reality check 4-H Sportfishing is an educational 4-H program for youth of all ages. It teaches fishing skills, conservation, ethical knowledge, aquatic ecology, tackle crafting and much much more. You sit on the board here,....treasurer,....you condone this stuff??? :-? :-/ Publicly promote it even?? Snapping turtles hardly ever eat bass or even bait fish. They (the small ones) only eat dead things. Once they get 40lb+ then they will prey on small ducks. Baitfish/bass are too fast for them to catch. Snapping turtles are good for the bass population, and for the entire pond itself. Killing them and letting them rot is not only wastleful, but it is bad for the environment. Correct on all accounts Matt, perhaps there is hope with our youth
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