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I had a lot of help, a lot, from Eric Space. He is so kind to share his knowledge and it's very appreciated. Also, I bought some hoop net traps off of beaverfoot and they are built so well, he does such a great job on them plus he answered a lot of questions for me too. So thanks Dave and Eric!! Anyone else after snappers this year???
Last edited by Catch22; 07/14/2103:52 PM. Reason: Changed gears lol
I wonder if tap dancers walk into a room, look at the floor, and think, I'd tap that. I wonder about things.....
Re: Is the old turtle trapping thread still here?
[Re: Catch22]
#7305871 07/14/2101:55 PM07/14/2101:55 PM
I just started trapping turtles using hoop nets and will have some wire ones built too. I'm trapping a 5 or so acre pond and have only caught one keeper so far. I'm using fish leavings and beef liver for bait. Any pointers???
I wonder if tap dancers walk into a room, look at the floor, and think, I'd tap that. I wonder about things.....
Re: Is the old turtle trapping thread still here?
[Re: Catch22]
#7305935 07/14/2103:14 PM07/14/2103:14 PM
I liked carp, split right down the middle as bait. I used 4' by 4' chicken wire and an old landing net to make my traps.
I saw a good sized snapping turtle on Bear Swamp Road yesterday. I stopped. I would guess it weighed around 22 pounds. Someone else had hit it and probably regretted it. It had damage high on the tail and on the back of the shell, but was still mobile. I left it where it was.
I've been thinking that I should start carrying a couple of pillow cases in our vehicles again. I usually see some pretty decent snapping turtles migrating this time of year. They are probably laying a late clutch of eggs or looking for new water as theirs drys up.
Keith
Re: Is the old turtle trapping thread still here?
[Re: newtoga]
#7306301 07/14/2110:09 PM07/14/2110:09 PM
I liked carp, split right down the middle as bait. I used 4' by 4' chicken wire and an old landing net to make my traps.
I saw a good sized snapping turtle on Bear Swamp Road yesterday. I stopped. I would guess it weighed around 22 pounds. Someone else had hit it and probably regretted it. It had damage high on the tail and on the back of the shell, but was still mobile. I left it where it was.
I've been thinking that I should start carrying a couple of pillow cases in our vehicles again. I usually see some pretty decent snapping turtles migrating this time of year. They are probably laying a late clutch of eggs or looking for new water as theirs drys up.
Keith
Hi Keith, I would have loved to see one of your traps. I'm making a couple like Eric's and a few like these. Were yours like this guys?
I wonder if tap dancers walk into a room, look at the floor, and think, I'd tap that. I wonder about things.....
Re: Is the old turtle trapping thread still here?
[Re: Catch22]
#7306307 07/14/2110:15 PM07/14/2110:15 PM
Don't leave the trap in the same place for more than 1 night. In fact only 1 night in a pond. After one night in a pond situation what you have not caught are going to be trap shy. Got to get them that first night. That makes it important to use proper bait, in Ohio that would be carp. Closer to the ocean, bluefish or bunker are available and a better option. Remember carp rots fast and snappers want bait that is not sour, so use frozen carp chunks and set traps as late in the day as possible. When setting ponds you want a pond that is a mud bottomed, not many snappers are found in gravel bottomed ponds. Best ponds are ones that were larger but have silted in to at least half their former size. I catch far more turtles in rivers and streams. I think the current putting the bait smell down in the current really helps your catch. Back to ponds, if the pond has a stream entering it THAT is a key location to place your trap. On a personal note: I have not received my permit from NJ yet (the lady that does them is on maternity leave) they cashed my check but I cannot get them to send my permit out. I sent for it as if you skip a year you are banned. I really was not planning on doing turtles again but today my buyer called and has just about convinced (connived, cajoled) me to do it again. Probably will not be until August as right now I am busy raising turkeys and freezing garden veggies. Gonna' take me a few days to shoot or catch some carp for bait. Trapping snappers is like fur trapping, the excitement is in seeing what is in the next trap. I tend to blather on but these 2 suggestions will help: #1 fasten a net trap down, a big turtle will often push the trap into deep water. #2 never walk or boat up to a net trap without a big landing net in your hands. I have caught hundreds of turtles that were on the outside of the trap fighting with another that was in the trap.
Re: Is the old turtle trapping thread still here?
[Re: Catch22]
#7306312 07/14/2110:17 PM07/14/2110:17 PM
I liked carp, split right down the middle as bait. I used 4' by 4' chicken wire and an old landing net to make my traps.
I saw a good sized snapping turtle on Bear Swamp Road yesterday. I stopped. I would guess it weighed around 22 pounds. Someone else had hit it and probably regretted it. It had damage high on the tail and on the back of the shell, but was still mobile. I left it where it was.
I've been thinking that I should start carrying a couple of pillow cases in our vehicles again. I usually see some pretty decent snapping turtles migrating this time of year. They are probably laying a late clutch of eggs or looking for new water as theirs drys up.
Keith
Hi Keith, I would have loved to see one of your traps. I'm making a couple like Eric's and a few like these. Were yours like this guys?
Jeff, my traps were very similar, except I used 4' long hexagonal, chicken wire, cut 4' wide. I tied the back wire panel on with bag ties, so I could easily open it to get the turtles out. My escape hole was exactly the mandatory 6 inch diameter. I put it far in the back of the trap at the top. I put an empty 2 liter bottle in the back of the trap to hold it up, so the turtles could breathe. The traps probably cost less than $10.00 to make and worked well. I mostly targeted painted turtles for the pet trade, but caught large numbers of snappers and other turtles too.
Someone stole all 4 traps I was using in Piqua, Ohio back in the nineties.
I made one later, but never used it. I might have it in my barn or I may have loaned it out. It was smashed. I'll look for it.
If I was making one today, I would use cheap 6' horse fence, 4' wide with a top flite throat. It would cost around $12.00 to make one.