SnowWalkerPrime Looking To Set World Record For Biggest Snapping Turtle
The World Record for a common snapping turtle is 73 lbs. The monster turtle caught (and released) by Michael Merchant above weighed 45 lbs and estimated to be around 50-100 years old. He was "awesome" says Merchant. Merchant believes he can best the World Record and knows exactly where to find them.
"I am looking for the world record. Which currently is 73 lbs for the common snapping turtle, but I know of a place that has one, I suspect is much larger than that."
Check out Merchant's 45 lb snapping turtle below:
first bitches!
ReplyDeleteAwesome really cool..!!
ReplyDelete50-100 years old huh? Vage enough? Wow. Really shawn ? Are you serious? You miles well have said "Michael caught this turtle. It is either a boy or girl."
ReplyDeleteIt's a *boy* or a we like to call them Males, and I know this due to subtle morphological differences. That and he inverted his hemipenes. And it is extremely difficult to estimate the age of these creatures. If you think you can do better; take a stab at it. My educated best guess, was at LEAST 50 years old, and more then likely closer to 100 years old.
DeleteAnd I'm curious as to how you would age this turtle smarty pants. Walk up and ask it?
DeleteIts cool,scary to handle?they are powerful.
DeleteI'm looking for a way to contact you- I know where a snapping turtle in Minnesota is that will easily beat the record. I've caught multiple 45-50 lb turtles... I know what huge is.
Deletethemetroduck@gmail.com
I'm looking for a way to contact you- I know where a snapping turtle in Minnesota is that will easily beat the record. I've caught multiple 45-50 lb turtles... I know what huge is.
Deletethemetroduck@gmail.com
I had a juvenile as a pet(I eventually released him in a snapper filled pond) and was impressed by the length of the neck. When fully extended, it was about the length of the 5 inch shell. The huge adult SWP held did not seem to have a very long neck so I guess there are different kinds of snappers.
ReplyDeleteThere are several different types, the 2 main species are the Alligator and the Common. This one did have a very long neck, he just didn't extend it during the filming. Glad to hear you are a fan of turtles. A lot of them sadly get run over and many people have a irrational fear of them.
DeleteThanks SWP, and good luck.
DeleteToward the end of the video he was really taking his chances by putting his face right there near the turtles face. I don't care how docile or well behaved they may seem. They are still a wild animal and can strike at any second.
ReplyDeleteIt bit my face off. But I had it reattached.
DeleteI like turtles.
ReplyDeleteMe too :)
DeleteAre they any good to eat?
ReplyDeleteA lot of people eat snappers, I have never eaten one, their flesh contains a lot of heavy metals and other toxins.
DeleteAlthough while starving nearly to death in the wilds of Venezuela, I captured a number of Side necked turtles and they tasted quite a bit like...chicken. ;) Honest.
Michael, since you are into snapping turtles I think it would be a blast if you could get together with the greatest turtle hunter of all, that being the Turtle Man from Kentucky. That would be turtlerfic.
ReplyDeleteTurtle out.
Chuck
If he was to invite me to tag along, I would be game.
DeleteThat may be a record for that particular species of snapper (the "common snapping turtle"). But down in Louisiana, alligator snapping turtles (a different genus from the common snapper) can come in at over 200 lbs. I suspect prime's snapper weighs somewhere between 40 and 60 lbs.
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely correct. Alligator snappers are the largest fresh water turtle in North America.
DeleteThe common snapper is much smaller, and this one weighted 45 lbs. And up here in Maine about 20% of the Males will weight 40 lbs.
About 2% of the Males will weigh 60 lbs.
And the world record is 73 lbs. :)
WoW!! Thats crazy big! I'm always saving turtles here in Florida. I have a "Cooter" thats 22 years old. I raised him from a hatchling, found him crossing in front of my car one morning while getting in my car-still had the horn on its nose.
ReplyDeletehe's a smart turtle!
Mark
Splinter? Is that you!
DeleteI was going to post a comment, but I gotta go. I'm turtleing! :0
ReplyDeleteDAMN NATURE! YOU SCARY!
ReplyDeleteAm I not turtley enough for the turtle club? Turtle, turtle, turtle.
ReplyDeleteMeh, after the snappers in my pond started killing off my trophy bass and after I actually saved a Blue Herons leg because one of these shit eaters had clamped down on it's foot and wouldn't let go (the turtle got shot and his head was removed) I now hunt them and try to keep my pond snapper free. When one is caught on hook and line, remove it from the water, grab a piece of wood and get em' to bite down on it then pull out his head and when the neck is extended, take a sharp knife or ax (the latter I prefer)and quickly remove the head. If you want to eat said creature, which is decent table fare, after it's caught put em' in a large trash bin filled with water, not to much so it can stick it's head up and breathe and start feeding em' apples, carrots etc... for a few days. Clean the water twice a day, and after three days their intestines will be cleaned out and they are ready for slaughter. I like it fried.
ReplyDeleteWhy kill the turtles off to save the bass when the turtles are way cooler animals? Think of the bass and Herons as turtle food.
Delete