New Varmits Showing Up!!!

Noticed this guy in one of my ponds on Sunday Evening!

Then, my cousin sent me the second picture yesterday from just down the road.

I've been noticing a lot fewer hogs and zero Beavers!!!

He's just a little feller

Yep. But he has a Mama. And a DADDY!

We don't usually see these big ole Soft Shell Turtles except down on the River.

This 'un was on one of my pond dams yesterday. (a mile away from the River)

When I got too close, he snapped at me and his neck is a foot and a half long!!!!

Cajuns love them for sauce pecante. Rare in Louisiana now.

Pap

Friendlier than the gators I guess!
Walker

One of my roommates in college was from Breaux Bridge, La. His family had a house boat out on the Bayou. They got together out there regular and I got to go a few times.

They kept a few Softshell AND Alligator Snapping turtles in a big floating cage just for that.

When his Mama, Aunts, and Grandmas would get in that kitchen and start yelling at each other in French, I KNEW that something REAL GOOD was cooking!

Got him last night about 7:00 on a line, treble hook, and chicken quarter.

Finished skinning & dressing him about midnight using my Fishin' Frank and Model 19-4.

My wife had the daughters on the video call when I was skinning him and they asked how in the heck I caught him.

I told them that I took a long snort of Old Panther Piss, dove in, rastled him to the bottom of the pond, and kilt him with my knife!

The girls all knew better but the son in laws had to mull over it.

hah, nice.

Coach, about how much meat is there on that? Are you tanning the hide? Too many questions here!
I’m sure some remember “ coon skin and alligator hide make a pair of jump boots just the right size”.
Anyway, literally a nice catch.
Walker

Way to go Coach, bet you learned gater wrestling from watching old Tarzan movies. Lol. Good going!! Do you eat anything other than the tail meat? Back strap?

Pap

Pappy:

Tail, legs, cheeks, & backstrap.

Got a Family Reunion on Saturday. hehehe!

It’s too hot to cook in the house. This’un is goin’ in the Smoker!

Coach

Yea-haa, and Hoo-Rah, Coach!!!
That’s a loada’ sweet meat and, along with the pics, an even bigger pile of stories……at least a good half dozen depending on the situation and the crowd listening. Thank goodness ya’ got your ugly stick on your moped hauling the “little feller.” Shoot ya’ need to get that pic along with that tale to Shakespeare quick, including the request for advertising reimbursement.
But watch out around the grill with the boys as around here in the South (South-west VA) there’s always at least one named “Topper” who starts out each tale he tells with, “Shoot, ya’ think that’s sumpin”…..

Duke:

No toppers at the Reunion on Saturday.

But we had it in the Fellowship Hall of the Baptist Church and I caught some heat from some of the HORRIFIED old ladies for bringing an UNCLEAN BEAST into the church.

I’m already on the Prayer List on account that word got out that sometimes I cut the grass in my Duluth Drawers. Keep in mind that I live a half mile through the woods off the road.

It don’t bother me. I’ll take ALL the prayers, concern, and thoughts that I can get!

Coach

PS I got mobbed by some of teen aged boys the next day (the 4th) telling me how good it was and wanting to know if I was going to cook any more.

Keep giving ‘em reasons to keep ya on the prayer list Coach…..bound to need ‘em. AND keep those varmits piling up…..what’s your choice when they keep encroaching on your territory and attacking? Ya gotta’ defend yourself!

I caught him on a #10 treble hook and a chicken leg quarter. Leg quarter was held just out of the water by a cane pole. The other end was tied to a t post drove into the ground. Used 300lb line as the law prescribes. Dispatched with a 9mm.

I was able to retrieve the hook and I have it with the #6 Stainless hook I caught a 67 lb catfish while in college, the 1/0 hook that I used the day my Dad, Uncle, and I caught 300 crappie, and a 3/0 hook my Dad caught a 9-7 largemouth bass back in the 70s. I also have the #2 Stainless hook that I caught a large snapping turtle on when I was a kid.

I also have the hook that my cousin Harmon & I caught a 20lb grinnell and the hook that I caught a 100lb gar on. I’m not sure that I know where the last 2 are but I will find them.

As far as Im concerned, they are all family heirlooms!

PS As I said, I’ll take all of the prayers, thoughts, and concerns I can get.

I think they are as well, Coach.
Nice history for sure.
Walker