Turtle FAQ
1. Do you or anyone you know offer guided turtle hunts?
I get asked this constantly, but right now I don't run guided turtle hunts, and I don't know anyone locally down here who does. If I ever hear of a reputable guide taking folks out in the marsh, I'll be sure to pass that information along!
2. Aren't alligator snapping turtles endangered?
They are heavily protected in most states across their historic range because of habitat loss and overharvesting, but Louisiana is a rare exception. We still have a very healthy, thriving population down here, so our state allows a tightly regulated recreational harvest. It's an old tradition we take seriously and respect so that the population stays strong for the next generation.
3. How can you tell the difference between a male and a female?
Once they reach maturity, you can tell them apart by looking at the thickness of the tail base and the location of the vent (cloaca). On a male, the tail is noticeably thicker and the vent extends out past the edge of the top shell, while a female's vent sits closer to the body, right at or inside the shell's edge.
4. Are they actually good to eat?
Absolutely—they're fantastic and an incredible Louisiana delicacy, but the preparation takes real skill and care. You have to properly butcher them, carefully trim away the fat (which can give the meat a muddy taste), and slow-cook it down in a heavy cast iron pot, usually for a rich sauce piquant or gravy, to get it perfectly tender.
5. How do you go about catching them?
We catch them using hoop nets, jug lines, and limb lines set up along the bayous and marsh banks. It's actually a very similar setup to the gear and strategies you'd use if you were running lines for big flathead
OTL Snapper Crew T Shirt
6. What is the best bait to use?
You need something tough that throws off a really strong scent in the water to draw them out. Fish heads or chicken gizzards are the absolute best baits to bait your lines and nets with.
7. What is the safest way to handle a snapping turtle without getting bit?
You have to respect their reach and never put your hands anywhere near the front half of that turtle. The only safe way to pick one up is to firmly grab the top shell right behind their head with one hand, and grip the shell near their rear legs with your other hand.
8. When is the best time of year to run turtle traps in the marsh?
Spring and summer are the prime seasons. Once that water warms up, they get highly active and start aggressively hunting for food.
9. Are there specific size limits or regulations for keeping them?
In Louisiana, there is no size limit, but you are strictly limited to harvesting one alligator snapping turtle per day, per person, and per vessel/vehicle. If you're fishing over the line in Mississippi, the rules change completely—they require a massive 24-inch minimum shell length and limit you to just one turtle between July and March, so always double-check state wildlife regulations before you set a line.
10. What is the best way to clean and prep a turtle for the pot?
You start by carefully removing the plastron (the bottom part of the shell), skinning out the neck and legs, and then processing the meat into quarters to get it ready for the freezer or the pot. It's a specialized process, so I put together a full step-by-step video showing exactly how to break one down cleanly:
https://youtu.be/7_bj2wpy6CQ?si=kwayJl7puqvW3lLx