Jonas has caught a few nice size turtles, maybe 30 lbs or so, at the farm. A slough runs along the back edge of the property. He's bragged, to some of his friends, about his catches. Turtle meat, on the hoof, is going for about $17/lb, around here.

This morning, while working on a coffee table, a friend of Jonas called. The friend took his teenage daughter and 3 of her friends turtle hunting, down near Jeanerette, La. This is what they're catching... they weren't keeping anything under 80 lbs. He sent Jonas this pic.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/438361...posted-public/

Sonny

On 05/20/2015 12:47 PM, Sonny wrote:
Jonas has caught a few nice size turtles, maybe 30 lbs or so, at the farm. A slough runs along the back edge of the property. He's bragged, to some of his friends, about his catches. Turtle meat, on the hoof, is going for about $17/lb, around here.

This morning, while working on a coffee table, a friend of Jonas called. The friend took his teenage daughter and 3 of her friends turtle hunting, down near Jeanerette, La. This is what they're catching... they weren't keeping anything under 80 lbs. He sent Jonas this pic.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/438361...posted-public/

Youza. Serious "vice grips" on that critter! How do they catch them?


--
Kevin Miller
Juneau, Alaska
http://www.alaska.net/~atftb
"In the history of the world, no one has ever washed a rented car."
- Lawrence Summers

On Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at 4:49:47 PM UTC-5, Kevin Miller wrote:

Youza. Serious "vice grips" on that critter! How do they catch them?

I'm aware they are sometimes found by probing a pole into water, where bubbles rise to the surface.... most Atchafalaya River Basin areas (swamp-like) aren't very deep. The pole taps onto the back of the turtle. I've heard rumor some (crazy) guys jump into the shallower waters and crab them.

Jonas and most turtle hunters set baited traps - a wire cage, kinna like a extra-large dog kennel/carry, with floatation foam inside, to keep the turtles from drowning, once they enter.

On fishing outings, a baited line is used. In that pic, there seems to be a weighted line hanging from the turtle's mouth. Jonas's friend said they tried several kinds of bait and found beef kidney was the only bait they were biting on.

Sonny

On 5/20/2015 7:36 PM, Sonny wrote:
On Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at 4:49:47 PM UTC-5, Kevin Miller wrote:

Youza. Serious "vice grips" on that critter! How do they catch them?

I'm aware they are sometimes found by probing a pole into water, where bubbles rise to the surface.... most Atchafalaya River Basin areas (swamp-like) aren't very deep. The pole taps onto the back of the turtle. I've heard rumor some (crazy) guys jump into the shallower waters and crab them.

Jonas and most turtle hunters set baited traps - a wire cage, kinna like a extra-large dog kennel/carry, with floatation foam inside, to keep the turtles from drowning, once they enter.

On fishing outings, a baited line is used. In that pic, there seems to be a weighted line hanging from the turtle's mouth. Jonas's friend said they tried several kinds of bait and found beef kidney was the only bait they were biting on.

Turtle sauce piquant ... can taste it as I type it.
Camp food deluxe.
What I wouldn't give for a bowl about right now.

--
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Swingman wrote:


Turtle sauce piquant ... can taste it as I type it.
Camp food deluxe.
What I wouldn't give for a bowl about right now.

Ya hadda go bring up exotic dishes - gives me a craving for a good woodchuck
fricasee...

--

-Mike-

On Wed, 20 May 2015 13:47:26 -0700 (PDT), Sonny
wrote:

Jonas has caught a few nice size turtles, maybe 30 lbs or so, at the farm. A slough runs along the back edge of the property. He's bragged, to some of his friends, about his catches. Turtle meat, on the hoof, is going for about $17/lb, around here.

This morning, while working on a coffee table, a friend of Jonas called. The friend took his teenage daughter and 3 of her friends turtle hunting, down near Jeanerette, La. This is what they're catching... they weren't keeping anything under 80 lbs. He sent Jonas this pic.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/438361...posted-public/

Sonny

You could use that turtle to trim down a branch suppose.

Jonas has caught a few nice size turtles, maybe 30 lbs or so, at the farm. A slough runs along the back edge of the property. He's bragged, to some of his friends, about his catches. Turtle meat, on the hoof, is going for about $17/lb, around here.
This morning, while working on a coffee table, a friend of Jonas called. The friend took his teenage daughter and 3 of her friends turtle hunting, down near Jeanerette, La. This is what they're catching... they weren't keeping anything under 80 lbs. He sent Jonas this pic.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/438361...posted-public/
Sonny

Great photo and nice turtle. Are they on the IUCN list?

".. May 23rd is World Turtle Day. It is a day of celebrating the many
unique and ancient species of turtles and tortoises around the world,
and bringing awareness to their need for protection. Of the 207
species of turtle and tortoise alive today, 129 of them are listed by
IUCN as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. That's an
incredibly 62% of species!"

On Thursday, May 21, 2015 at 9:35:25 AM UTC-5, Casper wrote:


Great photo and nice turtle. Are they on the IUCN list?

".. May 23rd is World Turtle Day. It is a day of celebrating the many
unique and ancient species of turtles and tortoises around the world,
and bringing awareness to their need for protection. Of the 207
species of turtle and tortoise alive today, 129 of them are listed by
IUCN as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. That's an
incredibly 62% of species!"


Yes, but are of least concern.
Reference: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/163424/0

"Justification:
While the Snapping Turtle is widely exploited and impacted by a wide variety of other factors, the species is adaptable and widespread, and has a relatively high reproductive potential. Local declines have been documented, but overall the species does not approach a 30 percent range-wide decline over three generations (likely around 50 years), nor is it likely to approach this level in the near future. As such, the species is assessed as Least Concern."

This Saturday is World Turtle Day? Good timing. I didn't know that. Jonas' son, Ian, loves turtles, as pets. He will no doubt like to hear this WTD news.

Sonny

"Sonny" wrote in message
...
Jonas has caught a few nice size turtles, maybe 30 lbs or so, at the farm.
A slough runs along the back edge of the property. He's bragged, to some
of his friends, about his catches. Turtle meat, on the hoof, is going for
about $17/lb, around here.

This morning, while working on a coffee table, a friend of Jonas called.
The friend took his teenage daughter and 3 of her friends turtle hunting,
down near Jeanerette, La. This is what they're catching... they weren't
keeping anything under 80 lbs. He sent Jonas this pic.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/438361...posted-public/

Sonny

Blimey, that's some beast.
As a matter of interest, what happens to the shells?
I would be interested in acquiring one, although I'm not sure of the
legality of sending one to England.
Nick.

On Thursday, June 4, 2015 at 8:55:19 AM UTC-5, Nick wrote:

Blimey, that's some beast.
As a matter of interest, what happens to the shells?
I would be interested in acquiring one, although I'm not sure of the
legality of sending one to England.
Nick.

I doubt it's illegal to send/ship a shell from here. It would be your country's policy, as to it entering your country legally. These particular turtles are not on the endangered specie list.

The whole shell intact? Usually, when cleaning it, the shell is cut across both bridges (connection from top of shell to bottom). But I've never seen a large turtle cleaned, so maybe they don't cut the large shells.

As for as I know, they may discard the shell, otherwise, I would think we'd see them for sale in the tourist shops and/or maybe at bait stands and the like, similarly as cleaned & bleached alligator skulls are often sold.

In many cases, at least for small shells, the shells have a tendency to fall apart, i.e., come apart along its seams (sutures or synarthrodial joints), if left untreated/unsecured in some way. I've never dealt with them, so I really don't know. I'll have to ask about preserving them.

Sonny