Snapping Turtle

[FishHawk11]

My girlfriends dad got a hold of a snapper this weekend and wants to cook it a the cabin this weekend. Anyone know how/or a good way to do it? Any info pleese

[raymondk]

Watch it i think that snapping turtle are off limits in may and June check the fishing regs...

[Hammer Handle]

Snapping turtles are protected during their egg-laying season, between May 1 and June 30.

So, the turtle you have now is not legal unless caught quite some time ago.

They are great to eat, but due to the decline in numbers they have a lot more laws protecting them...and rightfully should have.

[kaz2611]

I mix creole seasoning and black pepper in with flour take pieces of turtle dip in an egg wash and then put in ziplock bag with flour and seasoning mix and shake until coated. tlbsp of butter in pan and I just fry it on medium high heat and turning often.

[BLACKJACK]

How'd the turtle cooking go? And better yet, how did the cleaning of the turtle go??? If you've never done that, it can be quite the experience!!!

My brother likes to grab up a turtle now and then if he can find a big one but personally I'm not that crazy about them. Who wants to eat something thats been sitting in the bottom of a swamp for 30 years, soaking up every chemical thats been dumped or sprayed in the area?

[Bigsmitty]

I agree with Blackjack. I think 30 years is even being conservative. It would be interesting to know if the DNR has consumption warnings on them.

I used to trap them for my neighbor when I was a kid. We would get hundreds of them over the summer and he would sell them to restaurants. This was back in the early 70's. He ate them all the time. I never tried them though. Kinda funny.... he lined the shells up and down the driveway on both sides... about 100 yards.

Trapped them in the Mississippi between Elk River and Monti.

[smg04]

i've had it rolled in seasoned flour and fried in butter/oil, its pretty good,kinda greasy but good taste to it, kinda like thigh meet on a chicken, there was an old guy that lived in my hometown that would trap them and make some pretty neat wall clocks with the shells and then sell them to craft stores if i remember right he got pretty good money for them like 60$ for the big ones, this was back in the late 80's early 90's

[FishHawk11]

Back from the cabin now. The turtle that we had was hit by a car and he picked it up on the side of the road. We cut up an onion, sesoned it with salt pepper and seasoned salt and fried it in the pan adding water for about an hour. We had about 30 people out there almost everyone tried it with no complaints. Most came to the conclusion that it tasted like pork. It was perfect. Will definately try again if the opportunity is there.

[jigginjerk]

I flour the pieces and fry them brown then throw them in a roasting pan and bake them for a couple of hours. They turn out falling off the bone tender.

[jimlovestrout]

Don't forget Turtle SOUP

[fisherking01]

I like pork! 6 months old! Not into eating things older than me. Can't say no exceptions though... Brent

[toughguy]

If the shell wasn't broken when it was "hit by a car" you can make a pretty cool clock out of the shell too.