Abstract: A sample collecting apparatus includes a housing, sample container, and handle. The housing is open at front and rear opposite ends and has a semi-cylindrical portion defining a bottom discharge opening located between its opposite ends. The container is mounted within the housing for sliding movement along and rotational movement about a common longitudinal axis of the housing and container. The container has a semi-cylindrical middle portion defined between front and rear cylindrical end portions. The container has a pair of spaced circular walls disposed at opposite ends of the semi-cylindrical middle portion defining a semi-cylindrical sample holding cavity. The handle is connected to the front end portion of the container and extends axially forwardly therefrom through the interior of the housing and from the open front end thereof. The handle is gripped to slidably move the container along and rotate the container about the common longitudinal.