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Freshwater
hey guys i leave in east kentucky and ive noticed over the past couple of years with our dry summers and falls that my farm ponds have been more and more populated with snapping turtles are there any suggestions that will help me keep these menaces out of my farm besides taking a day out of my what would be normal fishing day to catch these turtles any suggestions would greatly be appreciated
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When we have turtle problems in our ponds we just sit on the bank with a .22 rifle and shoot them. If we are lucky we get them while they are sunning on the bank but once the shots start flying they retreat to the water. When they are in the water we just wait for them to surface their heads then try to pop them. Its pretty good target practice. You do need to be careful that there are no buildings or roads behind the pond because .22 rounds are light and like to ricochet back into the air. The best thing would be to have a long field or some trees on the opposite side. If you hit them in the body, most of the time they will sink in the pond because their air pocket is popped so they cannot float to the top.
This is also a great thing to do with kids. It works on accuracy and it is fun. It is like a double bonus, they learn and have fun and you get rid of your turtles. If you want you may be able to take the ones that you shoot on the bank and get the meat out of them.
This is how we deal with our turtles, does anybody have any other ways?
I like to fish for snapping or softshell turtles with cut bait. Sometimes when I'm trying to fish for catfish the darn turtles get the bait before they do, which is how I discovered this in the first place. I don't really have the option of gunning for them, so its either fishing or trapping for me. I suppose I could try to use a bowfishing set up...Hmm.
For snapping turtles the best device is a snagline ,just like a trotline just put your drops about four inches apart take red bricks tied to the line to keep it on or just above the bottom you can use anise as a soaked in bait just pour on the mainline.These turtles are different than regular water turtles and do not haul out to sun they burrow in the mud and only surface to get air .They will desimate the fish population of a pond if not controlled.Be careful they can bite a finger off.Good luck
Alabamaoutlaw
Post a Reply (200 characters or less)
When we have turtle problems in our ponds we just sit on the bank with a .22 rifle and shoot them. If we are lucky we get them while they are sunning on the bank but once the shots start flying they retreat to the water. When they are in the water we just wait for them to surface their heads then try to pop them. Its pretty good target practice. You do need to be careful that there are no buildings or roads behind the pond because .22 rounds are light and like to ricochet back into the air. The best thing would be to have a long field or some trees on the opposite side. If you hit them in the body, most of the time they will sink in the pond because their air pocket is popped so they cannot float to the top.
This is also a great thing to do with kids. It works on accuracy and it is fun. It is like a double bonus, they learn and have fun and you get rid of your turtles. If you want you may be able to take the ones that you shoot on the bank and get the meat out of them.
This is how we deal with our turtles, does anybody have any other ways?
I like to fish for snapping or softshell turtles with cut bait. Sometimes when I'm trying to fish for catfish the darn turtles get the bait before they do, which is how I discovered this in the first place. I don't really have the option of gunning for them, so its either fishing or trapping for me. I suppose I could try to use a bowfishing set up...Hmm.
For snapping turtles the best device is a snagline ,just like a trotline just put your drops about four inches apart take red bricks tied to the line to keep it on or just above the bottom you can use anise as a soaked in bait just pour on the mainline.These turtles are different than regular water turtles and do not haul out to sun they burrow in the mud and only surface to get air .They will desimate the fish population of a pond if not controlled.Be careful they can bite a finger off.Good luck
Alabamaoutlaw
Post a Reply (200 characters or less)