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I want to go plunking for turtles along the creek and river beds in Denton County. Does anyone know the laws concerning this or where I find them?

Now why in the heck would one want to go shoot turtles?

I mean if you plan to eat them or they are mutant Ninja turtles getting ready to attack you, then blast away.

But it they are anything like the turtles hanging out at my local lake swimming and bobbing along I just don't see the sport in it.

As someone who has stopped my car to move a turtle along to his destination, I frown upon using them as plinking targets. That being said, you don't need to lead them too much.

They really enjoy eating fish eggs during the spawning season.

That's called the circle of life. Sorry if it inconveniences you.

I too have pulled over to the side of the road to move terrapin to the side, they are good to have around eating bugs and such. Turtles I’m speaking of are the ones that live in creeks small rivers and stock ponds. I remember fishing and camping out along the creek side as a young teen and listening to the bull frogs at night. Go to the same area now and sneak up to the edge of the creek and all you see are turtles sitting on fallen tree limbs. I’ve counted as many as a dozen at a time. Now, no fish in the creek or in the evening, no frogs crooking. The turtles I’m speaking of eat fish eggs and small tadpoles. Sorry if my question offended anyone.

polekitty wrote:I want to go plunking for turtles along the creek and river beds in Denton County. Does anyone know the laws concerning this or where I find them?

"No closed season. These animals may be hunted at any time by any lawful means or methods on private property. Public hunting lands may have restrictions. A hunting license is required."

For more information, go to Walmart or Academy. Get the free hunting regulations booklet. You can also buy a hunting license while you're there if you want.

nyj wrote:That's called the circle of life. Sorry if it inconveniences you.

Killing something just for the heck of it has nothing to do with the circle of life.

jmorris wrote:

nyj wrote:That's called the circle of life. Sorry if it inconveniences you.

Killing something just for the heck of it has nothing to do with the circle of life.

tell that to all the cats

jmorris wrote:

nyj wrote:That's called the circle of life. Sorry if it inconveniences you.

Killing something just for the heck of it has nothing to do with the circle of life.

I'm pretty sure he's talking about the turtles eating fish eggs.

That would be the circle of life.

Grammaw used to make an awesome turtle stew. Not many predators to keep them in check so an afternoon of plunking won't disrupt the circle of life. IMO

What did the snail riding on the turtle's back say? Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

The reduction in frog populations has NOTHING to do with turtles. Frog population reduction is due to man polluting the environment with pesticides and fertilizers.

As a kid I lived in Pasadena Texas. There were toad frogs all over the place. Not now. Again... Not predation... POLLUTION.

Don't try to justify ridiculous behavior by acting as if you are helping Mother Nature control predation. Lets just go ahead and admit what it is. Killing for the pleasure of it. Very similar to pulling the wings off flies for fun.

polekitty wrote:I want to go plunking for turtles along the creek and river beds in Denton County. Does anyone know the laws concerning this or where I find them?

Whether you agree with shooting turtles or not (referencing other posts involved in this thread), one thing is clear. Shooting at a target in, on, or near water adds a new level of complexity to knowing where your round will potentially travel. You will have ricochet trajectory to consider now.

As far as your original question (moral judgements aside)...

gringo pistolero wrote: "No closed season. These animals may be hunted at any time by any lawful means or methods on private property. Public hunting lands may have restrictions. A hunting license is required."

For more information, go to Walmart or Academy. Get the free hunting regulations booklet. You can also buy a hunting license while you're there if you want.

Gringo is right (IMO).

03Lightningrocks wrote:The reduction in frog populations has NOTHING to do with turtles. Frog population reduction is due to man polluting the environment with pesticides and fertilizers.

As a kid I lived in Pasadena Texas. There were toad frogs all over the place. Not now. Again... Not predation... POLLUTION.

Don't try to justify ridiculous behavior by acting as if you are helping Mother Nature control predation. Lets just go ahead and admit what it is. Killing for the pleasure of it. Very similar to pulling the wings off flies for fun.

You might want to check your facts about snapping turtles.

HideEcology and life history

Common habitats are shallow ponds, shallow lakes, or streams. Some may inhabit brackish environments, such as estuaries. Common snapping turtles sometimes bask—though rarely observed—by floating on the surface with only their carapace exposed, though in the northern parts of their range they will also readily bask on fallen logs in early spring. In shallow waters, common snappers may lie beneath a muddy bottom with only the head exposed, stretching their long necks to the surface for an occasional breath (note that their nostrils are positioned on the very tip of the snout, effectively functioning as snorkels). Snapping turtles are omnivores, consuming both plant and animal matter, and are important aquatic scavengers; but they are also active hunters that prey on anything they can swallow, including many invertebrates, fish, frogs, reptiles (including snakes and smaller turtles), unwary birds, and small mammals.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_s ... #section_2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Just in case you don't like WIKI

http://www.tpwmagazine.com/nature/media/Turtles.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;