Purging snapping turtles

Ok gang,,, how many guys here purge their snapping turtles?? I’ve never noticed any difference between purging them a few days before butchering as compared to same day catch. Only thing you accomplish,, imo. Is clean out the digestive tract,,, and I certainly ain’t eating that.

I agree 44

No need to purge. Your not gonna change the taste of the meat in a week or so. I do them the same day.

The only thing I've ever noticed from purging, clean water changed out regularly, is they are a little bit easier to clean if the river muck is washed off of them.

I just lop off the head and hang by the tail to bleed out.

Yep. I think that's why some say they taste bad because when cutting them up the knife gets some of the muck in the meat. I pressure wash mine and they are clean!

Only reason I ever leave one in the tank is so I can catch more and make it worth dirtying the cleaning table. I like to have 5 or 6 to clean at one time.

I've only had snapping turtle once. Was with a group out camping that got a turtle. They simply cut the neck area to bleed it out & laid it on the hot campfire upside down (belly up). when the shell started coming loose it was ready. It tasted great

I have never purged a snapper.

only good it does if you're trying to confirm if they ate some ducklings

Only had snapper once. Didn’t purge him. Wasnt bad but it don’t hold a candle to the taste of softshell.

Never purged one. Have eaten hundreds

I never purged them until that one that was so full of snails.......

Agree that softshells are good eats,,,, I dunno why they aren’t as popular as snappers are…

X2

Softshell or rubberbacks as we call them around here are just as good as snappers to eat. Around here they aren't as popular because they are a little harder to butcher and don't have as much meat as a snapper.

That is pretty interesting. I have never heard of that before.