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Post by omegahunter on Jun 4, 2013 9:51:14 GMT -5
I have two softshell and one snapping turtle in a barrel "cleaning out". Anybody got any pointers on how to go about butchering them? I have had turtle meat fried and in soup before and really liked it. Picked these guys up at the city park lake while trying to catch some catfish.
I have never attempted to dismantle a turtle before, so any help would be appreciated.
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Turtles
Jun 4, 2013 10:34:44 GMT -5
Post by Decatur on Jun 4, 2013 10:34:44 GMT -5
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Turtles
Jun 5, 2013 10:58:57 GMT -5
Post by scott on Jun 5, 2013 10:58:57 GMT -5
I agree with the method outlined in Decatur's link, I have cleaned many turtles this way but have a couple things to add to the method that may make it easier.
First, I like to take a pair of large channel locks and grab the turtule by the mouth and pull its head out, and place it over a piece of wood. Then I smack its head with a hammer or hatchet, or something of that nature, whcich seems to paralyze them slightly, before cutting the head off.
Next, I screw the turtle to a fence or a post by its tail and let it hang. Then I insert the hose into the neck as far as it will go in. Now instead of using my hands I like to take a hose clamp to make a seal(keeps you from getting wet), I do this by putting the clamp around the neck and then clamp it to the hose tightening it as tight as I can possibly get it (make sure you have plenty of neck skin all around the clamp). Then simply turn on the water, I usually let it run for a few minutes, that how long it usually takes. You will see the turtle swell up like a balloon, this is the skin seperating from the meat (making you life so much easier when it comes to skinning). In the numerous times that I have done this, the water will shoot out of its butt, thats when you turn off the water. If the hose comes out, which it sometimes does, simply reinsert it into the neck and clamp down again.
I hope this helps you out if you choose to do it this way, Scott
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Turtles
Jun 5, 2013 11:49:02 GMT -5
Post by omegahunter on Jun 5, 2013 11:49:02 GMT -5
Thanks for the info.
Has anybody ever cleaned a softshell or ate one? Are they much or any different than snapping turtles? The only reason that I kept them is that I heard you can eat them, too.
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Turtles
Jun 5, 2013 16:07:02 GMT -5
Post by throbak on Jun 5, 2013 16:07:02 GMT -5
I have eaten LOTS of softshells ...they are just harder to clean. a 10# snapper takes me less than 10 minutes to clean.
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Turtles
Jun 5, 2013 19:51:36 GMT -5
Post by duff on Jun 5, 2013 19:51:36 GMT -5
Never eaten a soft shell. They always stank so bad I couldn't even imagine eating one! How do they taste? I've eaten a few snapping turtles and they are OK. Pretty easy to clean as well.
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Turtles
Jun 27, 2013 23:31:18 GMT -5
Post by firemanphob on Jun 27, 2013 23:31:18 GMT -5
For anyone getting into turtle trapping, Jerry Schilling has a very good video on the subject. Anything from catching to eating. You can find it for sale by searching "Jerry Schilling turtles A to Z. Jerry is a friend of mine and lives around Harmony Indiana. I have seen him do many cleaning demonstrations at trappers conventions and he is good. Mike p.s. I get nothing out of this sale. Just trying to help someone learn.
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Turtles
Aug 30, 2013 6:32:32 GMT -5
Post by bigballer on Aug 30, 2013 6:32:32 GMT -5
I don't know how you could ever clean a turtle in 10 minutes.... I had a guy help me this summer on a a snapper that weighed in at more than 20 pounds. Biggest snapper I've ever seen. Well we started cleaning and it took us over an hour to clean it. How do you deal with the legs always moving even after killing it? It took both of us pulling it's legs to straiten them out to cut the meat off... I will also say might not ever do that again... I deep fried it after pressure cooking it and it is exactly what everyone says... Taste just like chicken.... So it's not worth it to me... LOL.... It was a learning experience. And I am glad I did it just don't think it's worth the work.
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