Turtles, Turtles and more Turtles...

I live on a small public lake in East Texas and my dock sits on a 8 to 10 ft deep cove and there are so many turtles in my cove it is unbelievable! I heard it's against the law to kill or trap them so what are my choices? We used to be a good bass lake but the grass was so bad they put hybrid grass carp in several years ago and they seem to be dying out. But that just eliminated the cover for bait-fish. I don't care about anything except Crappie and consider bass to be bait thieves. There seem to be bass that are young and we have caught a few crappie when the weather is right. I am sinking home-made attractors and just sunk some boo for cover. Hope this helps the bait-fish until the natural cover comes back. Been using range cubes and fermented hen scratch for chum but not every day. I have a Green Magnet underwater light that I have used some but that doesn't guarantee any results either. I have threatened to develop a taste for turtle meat in hopes they would leave on their own but maybe there is another way...

I would think that there would be a daily creel limit of them but I don't know about Tennessee.

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Originally Posted by willietex75766

I heard it's against the law to kill or trap them so what are my choices?

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The link below from the Texas Wildlife and Parks seems to list turtles as a "non game" species that can be taken year round on private land...there is no closed season. There may be some restrictions on public land. Call them...they will help you sort it out.

Nongame, Exotic, Endangered, Threatened & Protected Species — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

Get a big wash tube place a board to where the turtle will climb up on to the board in the center of tub too sun. Then when they jump off the board they will land in tub. Then you can then do what you want to with them.:twocents

ATurtle makes for some food eating. Easy to catch, 1/0 hook, 2' steel leader, bait with chicken neck, tie from 2 liter pop bottle on a bank line

Here's a link to building one using PVC pipe and wire. The turtles climb into the trap using the wire to pull themselves into the trap to get to the bait. Once inside they cannot get a grip on the smooth PVC to get out. Make a bait pouch to put fish heads or such into the trap at the surface of the water. Just don't set it in a way that the turtles can use it to get a leg up and over the sides. Note the ramp on one or two sides of the trap on the outside. Hope this helps. BTW turtles are great eating even the red eared sliders. Not much meat on them compared to snappers but the meat is better. If you have as many as you say you could catch a dozen or more each time you set the trap.

"gene"

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Originally Posted by PawPaw "gene"

Here's a link to building one using PVC pipe and wire. The turtles climb into the trap using the wire to pull themselves into the trap to get to the bait. Once inside they cannot get a grip on the smooth PVC to get out. Make a bait pouch to put fish heads or such into the trap at the surface of the water. Just don't set it in a way that the turtles can use it to get a leg up and over the sides. Note the ramp on one or two sides of the trap on the outside. Hope this helps. BTW turtles are great eating even the red eared sliders. Not much meat on them compared to snappers but the meat is better. If you have as many as you say you could catch a dozen or more each time you set the trap.

"gene"

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Wheres the link ?

Thanks "G" here it is.

Langston University Goat Research Extension

Thanks...Great Information!!!

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Originally Posted by PawPaw "gene"

Here's a link to building one using PVC pipe and wire. The turtles climb into the trap using the wire to pull themselves into the trap to get to the bait. Once inside they cannot get a grip on the smooth PVC to get out. Make a bait pouch to put fish heads or such into the trap at the surface of the water. Just don't set it in a way that the turtles can use it to get a leg up and over the sides. Note the ramp on one or two sides of the trap on the outside. Hope this helps. BTW turtles are great eating even the red eared sliders. Not much meat on them compared to snappers but the meat is better. If you have as many as you say you could catch a dozen or more each time you set the trap.

"gene"

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Don't think I could knowingly eat one...I know my wife would never cook any...but who knows? maybe there is a "market" for turtle...I know I'd have to get a permit or something...