box turtles

[jocko]

June is normally the month for box turtles and snappers to do their migration for some reason from one side of the highway to another. I am very conscious of looking for them beforee they get smasked. Found 3 yesterday while doing my morning walk and allwere OK so I just picked them up and put them on the other side of the road aboutr 20 feet in the grass the direction they wereheaded. Today, which coming back from coffee on my Harley I passed on on a dual lane highway and I just had tomake the turn and see if I could save it from getting smashed. As I was going up the side of the hiighwy (going the wrongt way with no traffic in sight)_ I noticed a sheriffs car crossing themedian and then coming to0wards me with lights on. I was then at thescene of the crossing turtle. I picked it up and it was injured but had not been smased by a vehicle as the shell was solit but he was bleeding from benieath the shell. anywayt the sheriff's car pulled along side and said, is he OK, and I said not totally sure but I put him n the other side of the road where he washeading. The fella said I seen it also going on the other lane and that iswhy I crossed over the median, not becuase udid anything wrong. I thanked him and he said go ahead and make a U turn on this highway and I will leave thelights on to hold traffic if needed. I thanked him and he definitely thanked me for looking out for crossing turtles. I guess I just have a sofe place in my heart for those little bugger for once they get in that highway, they are easy to see in daylight but I would think ast night they wold be in deep sh-t. anyway I am 3 out of 4 for suree being OK, just not sure about this one. He may have to hump the next turtle:crazy: on 3 legs maybe..

[TheTman]

You are a good man Jocko!

[jocko]

i think it is old age catching up to me. I kan emember over 50 years ago when squirrel huntiing, we would put any box turtle we found in our game vest until the end of that days hunt and then line them up in a fork jof a tree , and well u can imagine. Didn't realize back then what a total dumb sh-t i was. Hate to tell that but it is the truth and as they say in age their is wisdon, for I leaned one thing this weekend, that Aunt Sarah Paulin taught all of us history people something. That PAUl REVERE alerted the british and not the americans. I think she also thinks Paul revere is part of THE FAMOUS PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS singing team-- u think??? I am never told to learn.

[TheTman]

Most of us did stupid things in our younger days we wouldn't think of doing now. I knew people that would go out of their way to run over a turtle in the road thinking it was fun. I like snakes and have stopped fishing buddies from killing snakes just because they were snakes. They think they are water moccasins, and we don't have any in this area, but we have an aggressive non-poisonous snake that looks like one so everyone wants to kill them. About the only thing I do kill that I don't eat is a skunk if I'm far enough away to not get sprayed, as they are bad about carrying rabies. And had to dispatch a few coons when I kept chickens. I guess something about getting older makes you respect life a lot more than when you're young.

[jlottmc]

Tman, I hate to disagree with you there, but I going to. I have no truck with most animals, the exceptions being snakes and skunks. I grew up in West Texas, and we have plenty of rattlers out there. I have also been sprayed by a skunk at point blank range. We have plenty of venomous snakes around these parts (bout the only one we don't see many of here are sea snakes, and the coral snake) I don't ask questions of mr. no shoulders. If I see it, I shoot it. Same for skunks if I can legally. I will also dispatch any and I do mean any critter that is a nuisance like coons or coyotes if I can legally do so. Most critters I leave alone though.

[jocko]

respect life is hitting the nail on the head. I use dto hunt everything that moved with a bow and arrow, today I jwould not kill a 10 point buck for anything, Just doesnt'excite me asmuch as now seeing them certainly that is old age, as I also have no desire to get up before daylight kand stand in a friggin tree staqnd in the cold of the winter. I use dot think it was macho, now I think it is for the younger set...... My how I miss some of the good ol days when life was so much more simpler at that time, B & W tv, no cell phones, certainly no computers,gas was 29.9 and premium was 32.9 (ethyl). Most kids today dn't even know what ethyl meant...

[Bawanna]

Amen brother. I was pumping gas in those days and unleaded was apparently just invented. They called it clear.

People would drive off all ticked when our regular was 28 cents, we were the highest price in town. My boss was a greek and the tightest dude I ever knew. Wouldn't buy a vacuum to clean out cars after lube jobs, had to use a wisk broom and wear it down to the nubs too.

I started at 1.65 an hour, after 3 years I was making 1.90. That was the beginning of my wealth, haven't improved much since really.

I too used to be an avid bow/rifle/muzzleloader hunter but for the same reasons you mention, early, cold and now my transportation mode I just don't miss it much. I use to absolutely live for it but no more.
I have guys all the time wanting to take me along, in Washington the game dept actually would give me keys to gates and access to just about anyplace and I can shoot from the truck, etc etc. Anybody with me can do the same. Get priority to the best duck blinds, I'm a valuable partner to some. But I just don't want to do it. I've done it, no pleasure in killing something and then watching somebody else do all the work, although work is becoming more and more distasteful too. Actually I'm not fond of it at all anymore either.

I do enjoy seeing the critters and want to get a rig I can run up in the logging roads again. Haven't been up there for many years.

[Jeremiah/Az]

I used to live to hunt too. I don't hunt anything but doves now. At 74, I don't walk too well anymore, so I just chase women!:D

[jocko]

I used to live to hunt too. I don't hunt anything but doves now. At 74, I don't walk too well anymore, so I just chase women!:D

things., we never outgrown:D

[O'Dell]

respect life is hitting the nail on the head. I use dto hunt everything that moved with a bow and arrow, today I jwould not kill a 10 point buck for anything, Just doesnt'excite me asmuch as now seeing them certainly that is old age, as I also have no desire to get up before daylight kand stand in a friggin tree staqnd in the cold of the winter. I use dot think it was macho, now I think it is for the younger set...... My how I miss some of the good ol days when life was so much more simpler at that time, B & W tv, no cell phones, certainly no computers,gas was 29.9 and premium was 32.9 (ethyl). Most kids today dn't even know what ethyl meant...

Good for you Jocko. I got talked into going on a deer hunt in 1972, and had to borrow a 30-30 Marlin from one of the other guys, because I didn't own a rifle. I got a deer in about 15 minutes, before the other guys even got to their stands. I have felt guilty about that for almost 40 years, and have never since even considered shooting an animal. I just can't do it. I feel bad all day when I see an animal that's been hit by a car. Now a person, under the right circumstances, that's another story.

[jocko]

comes with age O'dell as u well know, somethings are less important as one gets older. I have no issues with anyone who hunts. I just have for over 55 years sorta ":been there done that" it used to be around here where I live back 50 years ago, I could go anywhere and hunt, now many areleasing big hunting areas for a few select and I just will not kiss anyone's ass to hunt. It is getting to be all about money for many bigger land owners, and I respect that but I don't have to like it..

[TheTman]

I'd be a lot more leery of snakes too in Texas jlottmac, we just don't have any bad ones around here, and they do a good job of eating rodents and such.

As for hunting, I'll take a nice round of sporting clays over bird hunting these days. The variety of targets makes it interesting, and they have facilities for handicapped and older people that can't walk the course. I find it just as much fun as I ever did hunting and there's nothing to clean up afterwards except your gun. Those clay pigeons sure do taste funny though. Never did go deer hunting. Probably would have enjoyed it in my younger days. I had a nice place to hunt but enjoyed watching them more than sitting in a stand in the cold. I do enjoy good Kansas grain fed venison when someone is fixing it though. Even fishing I throw em back, don't like to mess with cleaning them anymore. Don't really like fish that much anyway.

[Rainman48314]

I used to live to hunt too. I don't hunt anything but doves now. At 74, I don't walk too well anymore, so I just chase women!:DThere are ways to make women come to you....but then you lose at least half the exercise. Carry on.

[Bill K]

Can you pick up a snapper just as you would a box turtle? Maybe have it bite down on a stick before picking it up?

We need to be careful not to put ourselves or others in jeopardy in the process of rescuing an animal.

[jocko]

or by the tail is the best way, or just stick your finger in front of him and then u will be able to pick it up and carry it where ever u want,. preferably to the nearest hospital. seem to me most snappers i SEE CROSSING THE HIGHWAY are in the 20# + class, and most will gohome with me , as if properly done, nothing better eating than turtle, . but a ***** to clean. I normally now just move them over to the side ofthe road and go on. They don't take kindly even to one even trying to help them.

[jlottmc]

I'd be a lot more leery of snakes too in Texas jlottmac, we just don't have any bad ones around here, and they do a good job of eating rodents and such.

As for hunting, I'll take a nice round of sporting clays over bird hunting these days. The variety of targets makes it interesting, and they have facilities for handicapped and older people that can't walk the course. I find it just as much fun as I ever did hunting and there's nothing to clean up afterwards except your gun. Those clay pigeons sure do taste funny though. Never did go deer hunting. Probably would have enjoyed it in my younger days. I had a nice place to hunt but enjoyed watching them more than sitting in a stand in the cold. I do enjoy good Kansas grain fed venison when someone is fixing it though. Even fishing I throw em back, don't like to mess with cleaning them anymore. Don't really like fish that much anyway.


I don't eat fish, and since I don't kill anything I don't eat (pests and snakes aside, though I have eaten them), I release them too. It's rare but sometimes I'll clean and cook fish after I catch them, but I let others eat it. Still gets eaten, and still good like that, but not for me, I am quite happy turning them around.

As to the make women come to you, that's easy: lick your eyebrows.