Snapping Turtles Season - Game On!!!

[Bucky]

I super curious to hear how it tasted as well!

[magicman54494]

Grandpa cleaned them all the time. We used to watch him cut the head off and keep wiggling. He made the mistake of sticking his finger in the seperated heads mouth as it opened and closed. Well it closed on his finger and would'nt let go! he eventually pryed it open. Grandma made turtle chowder and we ate it. I don't remember what it tasted like but I don't remember hating it.
He used to tell us about the snapper that bit his leg and he lit a book of matches under it's but hole to make it let go!

[Sam Ubl]

I posted a report on how he tasted in the Wild Game Recipes thread...

While I thought I'd never venture to clean another one again, they taste so damn good, I'd be selling myself short if I didn't. Come next July 15th, it's gonna be on in that little channel behind my house! I lost the biggest softshell ever, which sucked bad - they apparently taste even better.

To summarize what I did, I cleaned and seperated all the meat like you do with roasts off a hind quarter of a deer. Fileted off all the silver skin, and grilled two hunks, which are the color of chicken, maybe a little pinker - not as white, but not grey like a duck or red like a steak.

Also had this stuff marinade in a mesquite blend I made for three full days, so I guess the marinade tasted AWESOME with a good textured meat, but I did NOT eat the turtle as was to see how it tasted plain. . . don't have the stomach for that after cleaning it. I still remember all too well. It haunts me.

Still have jerky left - it's crazy good.

[3dog]

I just read your whole story Sam, very honest and very funny Thanks for the laugh!!

[DropTyne]

I have eaten quite a few, and they are good eating for sure. My biggest issue with them is the prep time to allow them to pruge, the bleeding out time it takes, and then most frustrating is the part of trying to remove the tough skin from the meat. Although tasty they are alot of work.

I generally let them bleed out overnight in the basement hung from the rafters. Their heart beat is so slow that is why they seem to squirm forever. The longer you can let them bleed the less squirm you get.

I know they taste great, but did you think the outcome was worth all the prep time?

[Sam Ubl]

Honestly, I think I was just excited they tasted great... I think anything sliced jerky thin and marinated for three full days would tast great, though, so NO, I don't really think I'll do it again

...Unless we're having a couple and the boys want to - then I'll "help", but I'm not gutting their deer AND dragging it out, if you know what I'm saying..