Anybody turtle trap?

[smith06]

Looking for a couple diagrams on turtle traps.  I've found the "ramp and box style" traps.. And read of guys running lines.  What works for you, what kinda traps do u run?

[Freebirde]

Check your local game laws to see what is legal.   Here are some you can buy.   http://www.memphisnet.net/category/traps_animal_turtle     One that you can make is to make a square of logs and cover the bottom opening with hardware cloth.    Drive nails into the logs with the head angled down, then cut the heads off.    The nails snag the shells preventing turtles from climbing out of the center section of the trap.   Size, spacing, and length of nail left out determin the size of turtle kept in the trap.   Larger, well spaced nails for larger turtles and smaller, close together nails for smaller turtles.   You can mix to catch all size turtles

[smith06]

Ive seen these before..

I remember seeing one before that had two inward funnels on each end, that worked like a giant minnow trap.. Any experience with these?

[r_w]

Anyone have hints for catching snappers?  They don't seem to go into "normal" traps.  They keep taking out the ducklings 

[Freebirde]

For snappers, try a setup similar to the one used for alligators.   Use a strong, smaller hook and a wire or chain leader to suppend a bait a few inches above the water.    If legal in your area, a lead injection, .22 cal works, to the head is another method of controlling snappers.

[ksdon]

easy turtle catching / fishing.
strong line , small strong hook, a soup can with a hole punched in the bottom and a bicycle inner tube.
Tie the line to a good tree to anchor , then tie line to the inner tube, leave a fair sized loop of line and tie to the bottom of the inner tube.
Then run the line through the hole in the can bottom ( open portion of the can should be facing the hook end of the line )  tie on the hook and bait with tough meat ( chunk of fish/ clam/ beef melt basicly any meat)
set like a normal limb line so the bait doesnt touch the bottom( this helps to keep crawdads from stealing it)
you may well catch fish as often as turtles.
whats the can for ? well thats simple if you have ever dealt with a snapper , its to cover the turtles head so it cant bite you .
Now you can set these right at the edge of the bank with the hook and bait inside the can  if you dont want to chance catching a fish, Of course then you may be taking the chance of catching a coon (BTW they get really mean when they have a hook in the gut and 5 ft of line to work with)
    Nothing new about this method, My GrandPa taught me ,so its been tried and true for at least 4 generations

[oldcountryboy]

Been years since I have used this method, but we used a 55 gal drum. Top cut out and holes in the bottom. Used floatation, usually scrap styrofoam, to keep top about 8 inches above water. Then a board hinged to side and bait stapled under edge that will be inside drum. Play with the length to get a balance that does not take to much to flip up and dump them. A small piece of floatation under the outside part of board will help.  Don't know if legal now or where you are at.

[russel]

http://thesurvivalpodcast.com/forum/index.php?topic=36140.0 there is one in the hunting sub

[The Meat Trapper]

I use a Quarles turtle trap. It's a floating trap and it works great. It is my favorite method for catching snappers. Here's a video of it: http://meattrapper.com/2013/03/31/hunger-in-america/

[Mandevu]

Newt Sterling, a trapper in New Jersey, has a DVD out called "Turtles by the Ton."  I have not seen  the video but he is well thought of in the trapping community.  Might be worth a look.

You can find it at his online store:

http://www.snareone.com/videos.html
 
Or at other trapping supply houses. 

[The Meat Trapper]

Newt Sterling, a trapper in New Jersey, has a DVD out called "Turtles by the Ton."  I have not seen  the video but he is well thought of in the trapping community.  Might be worth a look.

That video is what got me started in turtle trapping, specifically with the Quarles trap. He covers hoop nets, the Quarles trap, using a stealth submerged cage trap, trapping location, and has the best footage of cleaning a turtle I have ever seen. He shows two different methods  - one for making soup using the shell and one for the meat. I thought I knew how to clean a turtle until I watched that video. I used to catch turtles with hooks, but had a lot of robbed hooks, broken lines and I also caught small turtles and couldn't release them as they die when they get a hook in the throat.

Between my trap and that video I invested about a hundred bucks - but I can catch as many turtles as I want now - easily.

Newt is quite the character! I recommend the video to anyone wanting to learn how to catch turtles in a serious manner.