A few hiking pictures from today.

[Snow Walker]

Since we celebrated Mothers Day yesterday I decided to take a drive to one of my favorite locations and go for a hike this afternoon. This is an area I escape to if I don't want to run into ANYONE!

Here are a few pictures I wanted to share.

*Snapping Turtle

*Who can identify the second one? I forgot to lay something down for a comparison, but it can be identified without one.

*Moss on the South side of tree.

*Moss on the North side of the same tree.

[Diesel]

black bear ;)

looks like a nice get away thanks for sharing

[Snow Walker]

black bear ;)

looks like a nice get away thanks for sharing

You got it, good job!

[PT945]

Nice looking country to go hiking in.

[Echo2]

round here most the stuff has filled out nicely....

how did you prepare the turtle?...:)

[badkarma]

great pics, thanks for sharing.

[Snow Walker]

round here most the stuff has filled out nicely....

how did you prepare the turtle?...:)

It's funny you said that. I plan on getting a few this year, I've never taken any before, but have tried it and I love it!

[slowz1k]

That's a scary looking turtle. I had no idea how long their necks are until I was trying to load one into my wheelbarrow one day.
I guess I should explain that last statement....
A big Snapper like the one pictured, had buried himself in an area we were trying to clear for a small garden. I came home from work one day and my wife asked if I could help her dig up the "big rock" that she was standing on.(aka big snapper shell) About a 12" round section of the shell was showing above ground. I saw what it really was and after explaining this to my wife as she gave me the "You're full of ...." look, I started the slow process of digging up the turtle. After getting him out of the ground, I had to figure out what to do with him. I know... I know... They taste good... But that wasn't really an option at that time. I decided to relocate him a few hundred yards into the woods, in a nice swampy section. I had a long round tip shovel and was easing it under his backsides when he reached all the way around and struck the shovel with his beak hard enough to knock it away from him. Scared me to death. I had no idea they had that kind of reach. Anyway... Finally got him loaded and moved into his new diggs... Haven't seen him since.
Sorry for the off topic ramble.


Thanks for posting the pics!!!

[Snow Walker]

That's a scary looking turtle. I had no idea how long their necks are until I was trying to load one into my wheelbarrow one day.
I guess I should explain that last statement....
A big Snapper like the one pictured, had buried himself in an area we were trying to clear for a small garden. I came home from work one day and my wife asked if I could help her dig up the "big rock" that she was standing on.(aka big snapper shell) About a 12" round section of the shell was showing above ground. I saw what it really was and after explaining this to my wife as she gave me the "You're full of ...." look, I started the slow process of digging up the turtle. After getting him out of the ground, I had to figure out what to do with him. I know... I know... They taste good... But that wasn't really an option at that time. I decided to relocate him a few hundred yards into the woods, in a nice swampy section. I had a long round tip shovel and was easing it under his backsides when he reached all the way around and struck the shovel with his beak hard enough to knock it away from him. Scared me to death. I had no idea they had that kind of reach. Anyway... Finally got him loaded and moved into his new diggs... Haven't seen him since.
Sorry for the off topic ramble.


Thanks for posting the pics!!!

No need to apologize! Great story!

This is a good sized one in the picture, but they get alot bigger around here then that. You are SO RIGHT!!! The reach on them is why so many people get fingers caught in their mouth. Most wouldn't know they can do that.

Like I said I haven't tried to catch any yet, but I did help a guy clean one and it is AMAZING!!! Two guys works really well. When you stretch that neck out to cut it off the length will shock you even if you know what to expect. Once the head is cut off we let it sit with the what's left of the neck down to bleed it out. After that we cut it up which might be a few hours later and the heart will still be beating!!!!