Re: Beaver reaction to castor mounds
[Re: DanielE]
#1438366
08/01/09 09:04 PM
08/01/09 09:04 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,276 Lakeland,Minnesota
Bogmaster
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Cross sticks have done away with trying to --go over the top.They also work on totally submerged sets,though at times,I too will lay a pole over the top.All depends on what is laying around.Thats one thing all ofus that use this set on a regular basis seem to do--use what available. Adapting to the situation thats at hand--the mark of a smart(lazy LOL) beaver man. Tom
If my feet aren't wet,I must not be trapping. Tom Olson MTA life member#100,also WTA life member
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Re: Beaver reaction to castor mounds
[Re: Bogmaster]
#1438418
08/01/09 10:01 PM
08/01/09 10:01 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,306 minnesota
goldy
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minnesota
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Since I started digging, so there is at least 12" of water right in front of the trap, I haven't had any problems with them trying to go over. I think 12"+ of water also helps with fewer refusals. I think it's because they would much rather swim through the 330 than try to walk through it. Like Steven49er, I always use a small stick of popple. It's been proven to me time and time again bait can make a big difference. I also like my mounds 3-4 feet back from the trap. I seldom submerge 330's at castor mounds, even in deep water. With the jaws 3 or 4 inches above water they will swim through at water level everytime.
"They that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety" Ben Franklin talking about guns
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Re: Beaver reaction to castor mounds
[Re: goldy]
#1438445
08/01/09 10:42 PM
08/01/09 10:42 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,276 Lakeland,Minnesota
Bogmaster
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Years ago I hauled bait around,haven't for a long time.I rely on my lures to do the job.Every blue moon I may pull a freshly cut small tree,and throw it behind my 330. This is only done when I may have a reluctant beaver. Bottom line--whatever a guy feels comfortable with--is the way to go.Results are all that counts. Tom
If my feet aren't wet,I must not be trapping. Tom Olson MTA life member#100,also WTA life member
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Re: Beaver reaction to castor mounds
[Re: Bogmaster]
#1438466
08/01/09 11:08 PM
08/01/09 11:08 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,306 minnesota
goldy
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minnesota
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For bait I just go to a recent clear cut and cut some 12" long, 1"-2" popple saplings. The greener colored and smoother the better. With a swede saw I can cut enough for a whole day in a couple minutes. Get's to be a habit everytime I stop to grab a bait stick.
"They that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety" Ben Franklin talking about guns
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Re: Beaver reaction to castor mounds
[Re: mitchell]
#1438856
08/02/09 11:55 AM
08/02/09 11:55 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,276 Lakeland,Minnesota
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Out of habit,I refresh lure after every catch.If I do have one that goes a few days with out a catch--I will also refresh . If I want a little more eye appeal--I will use fresh peeled beaver chews for my lure holder, and throw one on top of my mound. Steve,plenty of rat sign around this spring,but I never did take an incidental rat.usually end up getting 1 or 2 along the way. Tom
If my feet aren't wet,I must not be trapping. Tom Olson MTA life member#100,also WTA life member
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Re: Beaver reaction to castor mounds
[Re: ]
#1438881
08/02/09 12:18 PM
08/02/09 12:18 PM
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Kre
Unregistered
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Kre
Unregistered
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The one thing I really dont like about mounds and fresh mud is they attract too many muskrats. This is why I always try to use an MB-750 set deep at castor mounds. Too many rats in 330's. And, it seems like coon become a problem if I set an MB-750 shallow for a front foot. Sometimes you have no choice and the 330 or a shallow MB is the best way to go.
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Re: Beaver reaction to castor mounds
[Re: ]
#1439045
08/02/09 02:11 PM
08/02/09 02:11 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,306 minnesota
goldy
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It's interesting how different trappers have different perspectives on things. Like Boggy said, you have to keep doing what you have confidence in and what works for you. This has been interesting. I don't have many problems with 'rats. The only time I do is when the water drops more than what I'm anticipating. I set the trigger wires about 1"-2" below water level, or I should say I try to have the trigger wires at 1"-2". At that level it seems the 'rats just swim right over the wires. At water level they seem to bump into them and spring the trap more. Any deeper than 1"-2" the beaver sometimes get into the trap too far and you can get fur damage. On my footholds, my pan tension is set so I catch very few 'rats. The only time I do is when the 'rat jumps off the mound right into the trap. That happens about once a year though. It is interesting Steven about your comment about the mud and 'rats. I tend think the opposite. Almost everytime the (popple) bait stick is still there it is chewed by 'rats. I always have the bait stick pushed into the ground so the 'rats can't try to carry it away. I personally wouldn't want to be without mud as a visual attractant. One of these years I'm going to make some mound sets without lure and just the mud to see what would happen. I'd bet the sets would catch beaver. As far as reluring. I relure every couple days. Often though the mound get's trampled by other beaver after a catch though, and then I have to relure everyday.
Last edited by goldy; 08/03/09 12:12 AM.
"They that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety" Ben Franklin talking about guns
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Re: Beaver reaction to castor mounds
[Re: ]
#1439246
08/02/09 06:06 PM
08/02/09 06:06 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,306 minnesota
goldy
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This is why I always try to use an MB-750 set deep at castor mounds.
I've quit setting deep, for the hind foot only, because I was missing the occasional beaver. With those spring travelers sometimes you only have one chance at them and they are gone. I was having the occasional beaver eat the bait and be gone without stepping in the trap. It didn't happen much, but enough that I now always set shallow. With footholds set deep, if you miss the back foot on approach, it's unlikely you will get them leaving because of the way the leave the mound. With footholds set shallow, you have the chance of catching either the front or back foot on approach or leaving. But where I trap, coon aren't a problem. I might catch one or two a year at the most. If you are catching a lot of coon, I could see where you would want to set so you catch as few as possible.
Last edited by goldy; 08/02/09 06:07 PM.
"They that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety" Ben Franklin talking about guns
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Re: Beaver reaction to castor mounds
[Re: goldy]
#1440802
08/03/09 07:13 PM
08/03/09 07:13 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,306 minnesota
goldy
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Anybody else have any thoughts? This has been a good thread.
"They that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety" Ben Franklin talking about guns
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Re: Beaver reaction to castor mounds
[Re: goldy]
#1440833
08/03/09 07:34 PM
08/03/09 07:34 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,276 Lakeland,Minnesota
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I have all kinds of thoughts,just figured everyone was tired of hearing them.LOL Tom
If my feet aren't wet,I must not be trapping. Tom Olson MTA life member#100,also WTA life member
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Re: Beaver reaction to castor mounds
[Re: Bogmaster]
#1441303
08/03/09 10:59 PM
08/03/09 10:59 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 615 West Michigan
Mister ED
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West Michigan
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No thoughts, just reading and trying to soak it in. So don't stop now!! This has been one of the better post in a while!!
Steven49er - what type of lure are you using on that popple stick? Castor based or food type lure?
I've always had way more faith in my #5's than a body gripper. But after reading your guys posts, maybe I'll have to revisit my 330's. I see some things I can do different.
Last edited by Mister ED; 08/03/09 11:00 PM.
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Re: Beaver reaction to castor mounds
[Re: k. miller]
#1441394
08/03/09 11:53 PM
08/03/09 11:53 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,276 Lakeland,Minnesota
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I do have a question.How many of you,have your castor mounds covered up by beaver? I hear about it ,but it has only happened to me a couple times. And I have made thousands of the buggers. I do love playing in the mud. Tom
If my feet aren't wet,I must not be trapping. Tom Olson MTA life member#100,also WTA life member
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Re: Beaver reaction to castor mounds
[Re: Bogmaster]
#1441410
08/04/09 12:07 AM
08/04/09 12:07 AM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,905 Central MN, sort of old
MnMan
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I cannot think of very many where they actually added stuff to the mound I made before they were caught. However I have seen many times where they made their own additions next to the set when they were 330 shy or for some other reason did not want to commit. I can think of one in particular this spring where I made a very large mound that was guarded with a half-submerged 330 and when I checked it the first morning the 330 was snapped but still in place and the mound was completely destroyed and flattened down to nothing with beaver tracks all over it. I remade the set and it was not touched that night but the beaver had plastered mud all around it on the bank so I put in a TS85 next to the beaver's new mud and had a very large male the next morning.
I'm just happy to be here! Today I'm as young as I'll ever be and and older than I've ever been before!
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Re: Beaver reaction to castor mounds
[Re: MnMan]
#1441452
08/04/09 01:07 AM
08/04/09 01:07 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,827 Alaska, USA
Top Jimmy
"Assistant Speling Zcar"
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"Assistant Speling Zcar"
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Posts: 4,827
Alaska, USA
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Not covered up, but totally destroyed and built a new one next to my old one. Like I said earlier, it looked like a bulldozer had gone over the area where I made the mound. Even got to watch him do it.
-TJ
Some people are like slinkies - not really good for anything, but they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.
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Re: Beaver reaction to castor mounds
[Re: Top Jimmy]
#1441584
08/04/09 08:48 AM
08/04/09 08:48 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,306 minnesota
goldy
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This is what beaver can do to a castor mound. Unfortunately I caught two spawning northerns before the beaver got there. Right in the center of the picture I had a PILE of mud on top of a big piece of bog. It was on a lake shore no where near any beaver houses, so I wanted a lot of eye appeal. They completely destroyed the mound and of course, ate the bait. They even did something with all my blocking. An eagle ate the fish. The peeled sticks were my bait from the days before.
Last edited by goldy; 08/05/09 10:29 PM.
"They that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety" Ben Franklin talking about guns
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Re: Beaver reaction to castor mounds
[Re: goldy]
#1441772
08/04/09 11:43 AM
08/04/09 11:43 AM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,805 Ohio
Ohio Andy
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Ohio
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If you have a castor mound made and a beaver comes and builds his own right next to yours, how would you treat that?
Set his as well of course, but what else? Fresh mud and castor lure on his too? Relure yours with more castor?
Excellent thread.
Andy
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Re: Beaver reaction to castor mounds
[Re: Ohio Andy]
#1441779
08/04/09 11:48 AM
08/04/09 11:48 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,276 Lakeland,Minnesota
Bogmaster
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Andy,only a couple times ,has one put one up next to mine.I just thre theirs out in the water.I then remudded and relured mine. I set very few mounds made by a beaver,I turn it around and build one of mine near his and set a 330 in front of it.This really fires them up. Tom
If my feet aren't wet,I must not be trapping. Tom Olson MTA life member#100,also WTA life member
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Re: Beaver reaction to castor mounds
[Re: Bogmaster]
#1442097
08/04/09 03:46 PM
08/04/09 03:46 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,306 minnesota
goldy
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minnesota
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When they do that I set a foothold, if the water is at all deep enough to drown them, at the new natural mound leaving as little disturbance as possible. I don't put any lure on the beaver-made mound at all. Like Tom, I seldom set natural mounds unless I'm after a trap shy beaver. When I do and I don't get quick action at the real one, I'll build a fake one near it (with a trap just in case) and lure it with castor. Sometimes the strange castor will spark a territorial response and he try will freshen up his own natural one.
"They that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety" Ben Franklin talking about guns
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