Hard Shell! (snapper)

[JABIII]

From a cajun...



First thing I do is get some water heating up. As soon as I start the water to heat I shoot the turtle in the head. I try to place the shot towards the outer half to break the jaws for obvious reasons. Sons a betches are capable of “biting” for quite a while after. I guess it’s involuntary muscle movement but who cares- they can still clamp down.I tie the turtle up by the tail and bleed it out as much as possible.
This is home boy hanging.



(Refer to 2nd picture for next two paragraphs) After water starts to roll I dunk it in the water for about 5 seconds then I test it. If you can peel off that outer layer it’s good. I did a spot so you could see the difference. It’s similar to scolding a catfish but much easier. You can peel it off like sun burned skin.

Then I run my knife around the shell everywhere there is skin attached. From there I skin it out as much as I can while it’s still attached. It’s easier that way. My dad had me to hold the meat while he skinned it but I don’ t have any boys. (Later you’ll see I actually left this one in tact so you could better understand what is done).



(3rd picture)After that I use a hacksaw and cut the small part of the shell that attaches the bottom to the top. Then I run a sharp knife along the inside of the bottom shell to separate it. I lay the bottom part next to it so you could see.



Then I separate the legs from the shell and cut it up in the joints. Easy to figure cause there are ball & socket joints. I will post a pic, later, of what you're left with after pulling the meat out of the shell.







The neck is a white meat. I just cut it up. After all that I take some cutter pliers and cut each lil section on the underneath of the shell. Most people don’t fool with it but It’s the tenderloin- aka- backstrap. After cutting the sections, which are like cartilage and not hard to cut, I run a knife along the shell and roll out what I can with the tenderloin. Here is a picture of a shell before I cut it out and another one that it’s been cut out of earlier.

[BigBrother]

It is on my bucket list of groceries.

[Grebe]

Thanks for posting this JAB, a lot of people waste meat when they clean one.

[Foie Gras]

I can't say this about much, but I've never had turtle. Interesting read, thanks.

[Featherduster]

A-1 butchering job right there. Good eats, too.

[DK]

Now I need a good recipe with details with preping the meat.

[qwacker]

Good eatin right there

[bigtimeduckhunter]

I've never had turtle, what is it comparable to?

[ClemsnHntr]

Chelydra serpentina very cool man, never had turtle, how is it?

[HERRINGBONE]

I've never had turtle, what is it comparable to?

I have had it a few times fried...tasted like a combination of chicken and pork.

[PBiz]

Nah

[Featherduster]

The texture is like a cross between chicken and pork, the taste is more like beef X fish. Nah, it's a lot like turtle.

[Palmetto Bug]

I've always heard that if a snapping turtle bites you, you have to wait until it thunders for him to let go.

[Grebe]

Small turtles get fried, bigger ones go in brunswick stew or gumbo.

[Tater]

Small turtles get fried, bigger ones go in brunswick stew or gumbo.

Yup. Turtle is god stuff.

[Buteo2808]

Never tried 'em. Saw a twenty or so inch one in the creek next to the house last week and started thinking about it, but now I might need to give it a go.

[beech]

Y'all cater?

[willk]

Ain't nothing wrong with some cooter stew.

[willyworm]

First time I laid into one of these was at Lake Wateree. I cut the line. That sucker was uuuuggglllly. I'm glad we don't have 'em in Marion.

Next time I'll hang on to 'em now that I know how to clean one.

[dixiedeerslaya]

First time I laid into one of these was at Lake Wateree. I cut the line. That sucker was uuuuggglllly. I'm glad we don't have 'em in Marion.

Next time I'll hang on to 'em now that I know how to clean one.

as in lake marion? theres a plenty in there. used to be one at the back of ballards cove by the interstate that was as big as the top of a 55 gallon drum. saw him several times while bowfishing in there. his head looked as big as a 2 liter bottle.