76 replies to this topic

[Bobbytaz]

[Bobbytaz]

[1Defender]

I live on a lake on the south shore, we have snapping turtles the size of garbage can covers here.
Stopped swimming the lake years ago after seeing ducks with only one foot.

[Skarain]

As soon as I get around to calling the DEC I will post what they told me here.

As for the Chinatown suggestion. I might just have to try that out regardless.

[Destro]

Thanks for the replies fellas.

Reading some of your comments it seems that some of you are rather against the harvesting of snapping turtles. I didn't mean to offend anyone, but you are on a hunting section of the forums. Regardless, you have my apologies.

I will contact the DEC, however I think I'm just going to stick to freshwater fishing and leave them snappers alone. I think using a bow is impractical, and shotguns on Long Island seem controversal.

Heres a question for you guys. Isn't it common to see duck hunters (with shotguns) on LI during the season? How do those fellas do it?




Thats exactly what I planned to do.

Well, with duck hunting you do it over open water, in the air, away from land (sea ducks or river). I live down the road from the largest river on LI (Nissequogue) and come December I hear shotgun report first thing in the morning. However, even duck hunters get harassed on Long Island. Many times nearby landowners do call the police and sometimes DEC has to be called in to actually tell them that it's legal!

With duck hunting you're also in a blind or a stationary boat whereas I would imagine hunting snappers would mean navigating land or swamp with a shotgun and shooting at land level which also would likely draw alarm from any Long Islanders nearby, the majority who have never seen a gun in person in their lives. Many town ordinances on LI also prevent the discharge of a firearm (bow included) in their township. Downstate is a different world; politically, socially, and legally. You have to remember we are the minority here, so you have to navigate carefully.

Call DEC locally.

Edited by Destro, July 04 2014 - 04:47 PM.

[PandM]

Gardiner Park on the West Islip / Bay Shore border is littered with snappers.


http://www.suffolkco...CountyPark.aspx

[Banzai]

I saw an 18" turtle bite a tree limb in half, I'm guessing it was a snapping turtle. Had some pretty serious claws, too. There is no way in Hades I would plant a foot in his domain unless I wasn't particularly fond of that foot.

[incorrigible]

I saw a huge one while Kayaking down the Nissequogue river a few summers ago. Was at least 18" in length if not 24". It was up on the riverbank out of the water.

[boke]

Hey thought I would never this old thread, anyone hunt snapping turtle lately. After consideration I realize they are an apex predator. I find it annoying that the DEC only allows shotgun or Bow hunting of these animals. Is there a way to lobby the DEC to allow spear use as well?

[grifhunter]

Hey thought I would never this old thread, anyone hunt snapping turtle lately. After consideration I realize they are an apex predator. I find it annoying that the DEC only allows shotgun or Bow hunting of these animals. Is there a way to lobby the DEC to allow spear use as well?

Take a shotgun with a long barrel and tie a piece of steel fishing leader with a chicken leg to the barrel and dangle it in front of the critter. 

[boke]

Take a shotgun with a long barrel and tie a piece of steel fishing leader with a chicken leg to the barrel and dangle it in front of the critter.

That's all fine and good if local law don't prohibit shotgun use in the municipality. Sadly my town does not allow bow or shotgun use even in tidal areas. I was looking into it because I figured snapping turtle would be a good hunt of opportunity while fishing.

[Ancap]

After watching this video, I would definitely want a shotgun!

[NRATC53]

After watching this video, I would definitely want a shotgun!

There are many stupid people

[grifhunter]

That's all fine and good if local law don't prohibit shotgun use in the municipality. Sadly my town does not allow bow or shotgun use even in tidal areas. I was looking into it because I figured snapping turtle would be a good hunt of opportunity while fishing.

They ban discharging the firearm.   I suggested using the shotgun like a very stiff fishing rod. 

[Gaijin]

  I would  put my Ex's  Momma against  any snapping turtle you can find...  she's as tough as nails and will bite you harder than anything that swims-  I'll bet that the  snapping turtle is friendlier too !

[Georgeviking]

Many moons ago we would fish for gold fish then take a gold fish stomp on it, hook it with a bait caster and look for turtle bubbles ( they dig through the mud looking for dead things ) then cast in front of them. I ( borrowed ) one of dads rods and reels cause a pissed off snapping turtle digs in hard when hooked, we then let him entertain us for awhile breaking sticks, and such before we painted one square on his back with testors model paint ( we all had our own color ) anyway we carried them by the tail away from the shore and back to release them, younger kids watched us once and the following weekend were there without realizing when carrying a snapping turtle one must extend the turtle away from them as there neck is quite long, I will never forget that happy kid walking from the water smiling till the snapper chomped on his inner thigh, man did that kid bleed, never fished for them after that. But still assist them in crossing the road, they are remarkable creatures who out live us all. Anyway don't let them bite you and if you see one yellow was my color.

[pequa1]

Yes, the long neck was usually their downfall.   

[mason852]

Snapping turtles NAH! I'll just stick to snappers at least I know how to cook them

[Moosehead]

Long ago when I was a kid, I lived by Avon Manor Pond in Amityville. It was loaded with these turtles. I personally captured one that weighed about 35 lbs at that time. It bit a homemade broomstick gaff in half. There was a guy who used to come along at night and catch turtles marauding the shoreline. Not sure if he used a gaff or a noose device but he would drag them out of the water and shoot them in the head with a small 22 cal handgun (this was over 50 years ago). Like a previous poster I saw turtles in there the size of garbage can lids. In any case this guy would shoot them in the head and haul them off to sell to restaurants. I suspect that a firearm is unnecessary. Just get them to extend their necks in anger and chop off the head with a machete. 

There is no reason to believe that they are not still there. They are also in twin ponds in Centerport and likely any large pond on Long Island. 

They are quite nasty!

[the blur]

I'm following this.  DEC says firearm or bow only state wide !!     Where can I do this ?    I want to hunt turtles !!