When I was a kid I would catch them all the time by hand, I look back on that now and think I must have been crazy, considering some of the close calls I had. They are good eating this I know, I gave all mine to a guy that worked with my dad, this guy made the best turtle soup that I ever had. I supplied the turtles and would get from him all the soup could eat. I gave him almost 50 turtles over the course of several years. I have only shot one with a bow, and that was with bowfishing gear, not a very pleasant experience for me or the turtle. I would suggest that you shoot them in the head with a good sharp broadhead, you may loose a few arrows in the process but the end result will be a quick humane kill with a shot you will be proud of.