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It was a bad day to be a turtle.
#6215068
03/09/16 01:13 AM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 31,055
HWY_MAN
OP
THF Celebrity
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OP
THF Celebrity
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 31,055 |
On the big pond there's a spot overlooking the north side of the pond where the trees are going down into the water and the turtles get up on the limbs to sun. The bank is about a mile long but the only area I can see is about 150 yards in each direction. The shots ranges from about 90 yards to 175 yards and for once there was no wind coming down the draw. I fired 83 rounds and 7 misses. The little 17 WSM is a little stouter than I thought. It was blowing up sliders 8 to 10 inches long. I'm liking this caliber more and more, wish I could say the same for the little Savage rifle. While accurate I'm just not liking the accutrigger. To be honest it just doesn't feel right but maybe I'll get used to it. So far the little rifle has been flawless other than a few short throws on the bolt. The mag has run like a champ.
Yes! A Weatherby does kill them deader.
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: HWY_MAN]
#6215090
03/09/16 01:25 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,533
SnakeWrangler
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,533 |
I love plinking turtles.....
I believe in science and I’m an insufferable [censored] Actually, BBC is pretty damn good "You Cannot Simultaneously Be Politically Correct And Intellectually Honest!"
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: HWY_MAN]
#6215126
03/09/16 01:42 AM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,916
Simple Searcher
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,916 |
Nothing wrong with a little turtle management.
"Man is still a hunter, still a simple searcher after meat..." Robert C. Ruark
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: HWY_MAN]
#6215224
03/09/16 02:32 AM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,537
rickym
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,537 |
For us in east Texas a good turtle pond is like a good dogtown to you folks out west, a load of fun. Of course y'all get to enjoy both cause we don't have prairie dogs.
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: HWY_MAN]
#6215312
03/09/16 03:26 AM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,314
KG68
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,314 |
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: rickym]
#6215347
03/09/16 03:50 AM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,171
flintknapper
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,171 |
For us in east Texas a good turtle pond is like a good dogtown to you folks out west, a load of fun. Of course y'all get to enjoy both cause we don't have prairie dogs. I don't do it for 'fun' really, but certainly out of necessity. We have one pond in particular (stocked with fish) where the turtle population gets much too high. So from time to time...I will take my .17HMR and go thin them out. We have a large picnic table down there...so I have a good steady rest. Usually shoot off the bipod...but sometimes will 'bag' the rifle. Any turtle within 100 yds. is is big trouble provided the wind isn't blowing too hard.
Spartans ask not...how many, but where!
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: HWY_MAN]
#6215635
03/09/16 02:08 PM
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,971
Dry Fire
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,971 |
My wife's grand parents had a 2 acre pond outside of Crowell. Occasionally I would go out there and run a couple of 50 hook trotlines baited with cut perch or chicken gizzards. Next day I would have a 100 hooked turtles.
coffee spelled backwards is eeffoc. I don't give eeffoc until I have my morning coffee.
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: HWY_MAN]
#6215688
03/09/16 02:44 PM
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 374
StretchR
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 374 |
I don't have anything against shooting over-populated turtles, at all. I just wonder what predator is missing, or if there are non-native/invasive species moving in? Or is it that the only control is over population and eventual starvation?
Shooting 92% would be an "A" grade if you were in school!
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: HWY_MAN]
#6215840
03/09/16 04:11 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,358
jshouse
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,358 |
If I send my neighbors a text and ask them to give me feedback on my lawn and plant rye into a giant dong pattern, I'm probably going to get some less than positive feedback. Same goes here.
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: HWY_MAN]
#6215887
03/09/16 04:30 PM
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Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 868
Txhillbilly
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 868 |
There's nothing funner than shooting turtles. We have 3 large tanks on the lease, and wear them out several times a year. My 10/22T is what I like to use.
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: SnakeWrangler]
#6215894
03/09/16 04:34 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 11,410
Choctaw
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 11,410 |
I love plinking turtles..... X1
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: Choctaw]
#6215905
03/09/16 04:40 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 21,271
SniperRAB
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 21,271 |
I love plinking turtles..... X1 Love the Explosion
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: SniperRAB]
#6216049
03/09/16 05:40 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 11,410
Choctaw
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 11,410 |
I love plinking turtles..... X1 Love the Explosion Sitting on a tank dam with a good gun, plenty of ammo and tons of turtles is about as good as it gets.
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: HWY_MAN]
#6216954
03/10/16 02:01 AM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 35,131
Brother in-law
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 35,131 |
Turtle hunting is fun and the accutrigger is horrible!
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: StretchR]
#6217529
03/10/16 03:08 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 369
Night Hunting TV
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 369 |
I just wonder what predator is missing, or if there are non-native/invasive species moving in?
Alligator would be the predator missing.
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: HWY_MAN]
#6217825
03/10/16 06:19 PM
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 374
StretchR
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 374 |
BornForIt, thanks for the reasonable answer. I don't care about people shooting turtles, I just wondered why so many.
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: HWY_MAN]
#6217854
03/10/16 06:48 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 746
TTUhunter4
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 746 |
I work for a lake management company, and I can tell you that turtles do a lot more good for your pond than bad. They tend to eat mostly invertebrates, aquatic vegetation, and dead or dying fish/animals. They do not eat enough live fish to have an impact on your pond.
The fact that they eat snails (which bring parasites into ponds that can negatively effect your fish), and dead organisms is actually a benefit to the health of your pond.
Bob Lusk, possibly the most well-known lake management consultant in the country says "If a fish gets eaten by a turtle, the fish deserved it."
I don't have anything against someone shooting turtles in their pond for fun, but if you are doing it strictly as a "management" practice to help your fishery, you should probably reconsider. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, of course, and this is just my two cents.
"God made man, but Samuel Colt made them equal."
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: HWY_MAN]
#6218005
03/10/16 08:36 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,657
colt45-90
Texas colt45
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Texas colt45
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,657 |
On the big pond there's a spot overlooking the north side of the pond where the trees are going down into the water and the turtles get up on the limbs to sun. The bank is about a mile long but the only area I can see is about 150 yards in each direction. The shots ranges from about 90 yards to 175 yards and for once there was no wind coming down the draw. I fired 83 rounds and 7 misses. The little 17 WSM is a little stouter than I thought. It was blowing up sliders 8 to 10 inches long. I'm liking this caliber more and more, wish I could say the same for the little Savage rifle. While accurate I'm just not liking the accutrigger. To be honest it just doesn't feel right but maybe I'll get used to it. So far the little rifle has been flawless other than a few short throws on the bolt. The mag has run like a champ. you can remove that blade if that's bothering you. I just ordered the Franklin 17wsm, I had the savae. sold it. I have the Winchester 1885wsm that I would like to sell.
hold on Newt, we got a runaway
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: TTUhunter4]
#6218275
03/10/16 11:42 PM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,171
flintknapper
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,171 |
I work for a lake management company, and I can tell you that turtles do a lot more good for your pond than bad. They tend to eat mostly invertebrates, aquatic vegetation, and dead or dying fish/animals. They do not eat enough live fish to have an impact on your pond.
The fact that they eat snails (which bring parasites into ponds that can negatively effect your fish), and dead organisms is actually a benefit to the health of your pond.
Bob Lusk, possibly the most well-known lake management consultant in the country says "If a fish gets eaten by a turtle, the fish deserved it."
I don't have anything against someone shooting turtles in their pond for fun, but if you are doing it strictly as a "management" practice to help your fishery, you should probably reconsider. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, of course, and this is just my two cents. ^^^^^^^ This is absolutely correct (as concerns Red Eared Sliders). ALL snapping turtles get killed in our ponds (no passes). But even sliders can become so numerous...that you can't leave fish on a stringer without them trying to eat them. They will pursue any top-water bait you throw out. They shed Salmonella (no fun if you've ever had that). IF you feed fish pellets...the turtles come flocking in and eat up floating type pellets. Generally speaking...turtles are good for a pond (more aquatic Vultures than anything else) but they can be a nuisance too.
Spartans ask not...how many, but where!
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: TTUhunter4]
#6219956
03/11/16 11:06 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,739
passthru
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,739 |
I work for a lake management company, and I can tell you that turtles do a lot more good for your pond than bad. They tend to eat mostly invertebrates, aquatic vegetation, and dead or dying fish/animals. They do not eat enough live fish to have an impact on your pond.
The fact that they eat snails (which bring parasites into ponds that can negatively effect your fish), and dead organisms is actually a benefit to the health of your pond.
Bob Lusk, possibly the most well-known lake management consultant in the country says "If a fish gets eaten by a turtle, the fish deserved it."
I don't have anything against someone shooting turtles in their pond for fun, but if you are doing it strictly as a "management" practice to help your fishery, you should probably reconsider. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, of course, and this is just my two cents. I disagree. I have caught many fish with nips from turtles out of there flesh. Keep their numbers down and they are okay. But that means one or two in a tank to me.
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: passthru]
#6220272
03/12/16 03:23 AM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 746
TTUhunter4
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 746 |
I work for a lake management company, and I can tell you that turtles do a lot more good for your pond than bad. They tend to eat mostly invertebrates, aquatic vegetation, and dead or dying fish/animals. They do not eat enough live fish to have an impact on your pond.
The fact that they eat snails (which bring parasites into ponds that can negatively effect your fish), and dead organisms is actually a benefit to the health of your pond.
Bob Lusk, possibly the most well-known lake management consultant in the country says "If a fish gets eaten by a turtle, the fish deserved it."
I don't have anything against someone shooting turtles in their pond for fun, but if you are doing it strictly as a "management" practice to help your fishery, you should probably reconsider. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, of course, and this is just my two cents. I disagree. I have caught many fish with nips from turtles out of there flesh. Keep their numbers down and they are okay. But that means one or two in a tank to me. You assume the wounds you saw were from turtles and not something else. It would be much more common to see cormorant damage, for example. If you are seeing chunks taken out of adult fish, the odds are extremely low that it was a turtle (I.e. red-eared slider.) Like I said earlier, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. In this case, your opinion just happens to be the opposite of all the guys who actually have the degrees and work in this field.
"God made man, but Samuel Colt made them equal."
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: HWY_MAN]
#6220438
03/12/16 07:46 AM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,031
skinnerback
THF Celebrity Chef
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THF Celebrity Chef
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,031 |
I don't have a degree, but I know the the Red Ears eat the heck out of dove when they fall in the pond. They are often faster than you can snag one with a Zebco 202. They jerk them under quick. So, they make good target practice with a 22 pistol. I like having a few around, but keep their numbers in check like everything else....
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: passthru]
#6220635
03/12/16 03:16 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,959
txtrophy85
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,959 |
I work for a lake management company, and I can tell you that turtles do a lot more good for your pond than bad. They tend to eat mostly invertebrates, aquatic vegetation, and dead or dying fish/animals. They do not eat enough live fish to have an impact on your pond.
The fact that they eat snails (which bring parasites into ponds that can negatively effect your fish), and dead organisms is actually a benefit to the health of your pond.
Bob Lusk, possibly the most well-known lake management consultant in the country says "If a fish gets eaten by a turtle, the fish deserved it."
I don't have anything against someone shooting turtles in their pond for fun, but if you are doing it strictly as a "management" practice to help your fishery, you should probably reconsider. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, of course, and this is just my two cents. I disagree. I have caught many fish with nips from turtles out of there flesh. Keep their numbers down and they are okay. But that means one or two in a tank to me. So the professional is wrong and your armchair observation is right?
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: txtrophy85]
#6220774
03/12/16 05:21 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,445
BOONER
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,445 |
I work for a lake management company, and I can tell you that turtles do a lot more good for your pond than bad. They tend to eat mostly invertebrates, aquatic vegetation, and dead or dying fish/animals. They do not eat enough live fish to have an impact on your pond.
The fact that they eat snails (which bring parasites into ponds that can negatively effect your fish), and dead organisms is actually a benefit to the health of your pond.
Bob Lusk, possibly the most well-known lake management consultant in the country says "If a fish gets eaten by a turtle, the fish deserved it."
I don't have anything against someone shooting turtles in their pond for fun, but if you are doing it strictly as a "management" practice to help your fishery, you should probably reconsider. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, of course, and this is just my two cents. I disagree. I have caught many fish with nips from turtles out of there flesh. Keep their numbers down and they are okay. But that means one or two in a tank to me. So the professional is wrong and your armchair observation is right? Degrees don't mean poop in a lot of cases. Just another scam to get our money. I'm pretty sure they are beneficial like the man said but I would think that like any species overpopulation is never a good thing. I do know they are fun to shoot but I have never killed every turtle in a tank and with my shooting skills I probably won't. I am not ashamed to say that I kill stuff for FUN sometimes. Turtles, field mice/rats and hogs are all on the for fun menu.
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Re: It was a bad day to be a turtle.
[Re: skinnerback]
#6220776
03/12/16 05:23 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,445
BOONER
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,445 |
I don't have a degree, but I know the the Red Ears eat the heck out of dove when they fall in the pond. They are often faster than you can snag one with a Zebco 202. They jerk them under quick. So, they make good target practice with a 22 pistol. I like having a few around, but keep their numbers in check like everything else.... Skinner that's why you need to be more observant about where you are shooting!
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