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Beaver - Hind Foot Catches #1506594
09/22/09 12:26 PM
09/22/09 12:26 PM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 220
Carver County, Minnesota
S
Scott Conley Offline OP
trapper
Scott Conley  Offline OP
trapper
S

Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 220
Carver County, Minnesota
I received my first ADC beaver call of the season yesterday. Most of the beaver calls I get in my area are educated beavers; so now I go in first under the assumption that the beavers are educated.

I set quality foothold traps on drowning wires with no lure or bait.

When experienced trappers discuss this type of set it seems they always talk about setting for a hind foot catch.

I always wondered why they insisted on getting a hind foot catch when it would seem that a beaver would drown faster with a good front foot catch.

Any experienced beaver trappers care to offer their thoughts?


Conley's Wildlife Control, LLC

http://www.conleyswildlifecontrol.com/
Re: Beaver and Hind Foot Catches [Re: Scott Conley] #1506604
09/22/09 12:38 PM
09/22/09 12:38 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 821
Chicago burbs
R
racksnfur Offline
trapper
racksnfur  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 821
Chicago burbs
Everyone seems divided on this, but I think the general consensus is that the bones in a beavers hindfoot are much larger than the front, making a twist out, much less likely. I switch depending on the situation, sometimes I use a bump stick for them to crawl over, and set for a front foot when the water depth dictates it, or on steep banks,it's easier to use the fingers to elbow rule (Thanks Kyle), stomp in a bed,and set for a rear foot. You'll get alot of different opinions on this, this one is just mine.


i > u
Re: Beaver and Hind Foot Catches [Re: racksnfur] #1506625
09/22/09 12:56 PM
09/22/09 12:56 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,785
Georgia
K
Kirk De Offline
trapper
Kirk De  Offline
trapper
K

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,785
Georgia
It depends on the location,but usually I only have one model or size foot hold on the truck. It has a 7.5" jaw spred. Because of various factors the hind foot catch is usually the best. Shallow water as was mentioned, that is one of the factors to be considered.

Watch beaver on video work a dam. They are pushing and placing mud and debry with their front feet. When you do someting to make them stop the back feet are the best target.

Kirk
http://www.trappintales.com


The Real Reasons Animals Are Detecting Your Sets And Devices by Kirk Dekalb
https://amzn.to/2Hn1hxv
Re: Beaver and Hind Foot Catches [Re: Kirk De] #1506655
09/22/09 01:17 PM
09/22/09 01:17 PM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 765
MICHIGAN THUMB
B
BRADYBOY Offline
trapper
BRADYBOY  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 765
MICHIGAN THUMB
I think it has to do with a beavers ability to power out of a front foot catch at least my thought is with a front foot the beaver can use both rear feet and tail to fight the trap, where with a rear foot in the trap it will have less power. I do agree that a front foot catch would drown the beaver faster and likely in shallower water.


WHATS A MATTER!, Don'tcha wanna have fun no mer?
Re: Beaver and Hind Foot Catches [Re: BRADYBOY] #1506707
09/22/09 01:49 PM
09/22/09 01:49 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,785
Georgia
K
Kirk De Offline
trapper
Kirk De  Offline
trapper
K

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,785
Georgia
It has to do with the best way or position to get that trap around one of his feet. Whether it is the front or the back. You miss the foot and get a toe or some part of the body sets the trap off, you done!

http://www.trappintales.com


The Real Reasons Animals Are Detecting Your Sets And Devices by Kirk Dekalb
https://amzn.to/2Hn1hxv
Re: Beaver and Hind Foot Catches [Re: BRADYBOY] #1506709
09/22/09 01:51 PM
09/22/09 01:51 PM

P
paul antczak
Unregistered
paul antczak
Unregistered
P



When I skin beaver and cut the skin around the front foot. All it takes is a 1/2 turn and that front foot is off. Now picture that beaver working the trap with a front foot catch. I get paid for the beaver I catch not miss. Just a thought.

Re: Beaver and Hind Foot Catches [Re: ] #1506780
09/22/09 02:48 PM
09/22/09 02:48 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,914
Oregon
TasteLikeChicken Offline
trapper
TasteLikeChicken  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,914
Oregon
It's insurance. Catch a back foot and have everything go wrong (as in drowner system malfunction) and it'll still hold. Catch a front foot and have everything go wrong...and that'll be all that's there waiting...a drumstick.


Sack Punch Beaver Lure
http://www.tlclures.co.nr/
Re: Beaver and Hind Foot Catches [Re: TasteLikeChicken] #1506824
09/22/09 03:28 PM
09/22/09 03:28 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 280
marietta georgia. 17 yrs old
trapperman89 Offline
trapper
trapperman89  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 280
marietta georgia. 17 yrs old
It depends on the water level for me. If the water is plenty deep, I'll set for hind foot. If it is just barely deep enough to drown I go for front foot. But Ive never had a beavers front foot broken when I pulled em up. Although Ive only trapped about 30-40 beaver total. So I'm no expert


"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway"-John Wayne
Re: Beaver and Hind Foot Catches [Re: trapperman89] #1506830
09/22/09 03:32 PM
09/22/09 03:32 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 313
Mocksville, NC
N
nccoyote Offline
trapper
nccoyote  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 313
Mocksville, NC
Sometimes I set for both! Insurance

Re: Beaver and Hind Foot Catches [Re: nccoyote] #1507183
09/22/09 07:07 PM
09/22/09 07:07 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,302
minnesota
G
goldy Offline
trapper
goldy  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,302
minnesota
I set in shallow water (1") so I can catch them by either foot. If you just set for a back foot, you have the chance of missing the beaver all together if the beaver only visits your set once. I've had it happen enough times setting deep that I rarely set deep anymore. Unless you use bait, you may not even know a beaver visited your set. Often times they leave no sign that they were even there (depending on the set type). Also, if you set deep you aren't going to catch one leaving the set because of the way they enter the water. If you set shallow, you can get them coming or going. Like I've said before many times on here before, I've never had a front foot twist-off in 35+ years. If your drowning system is any good at all, and you make sure the way down the drowner is clear, you should never have a twist-off. The majority of front foot catches are up by the elbow, not the wrist anyway. I believe a hind foot caught beaver has a high chance of escape just because of the sheer size of the foot. I know this, if a beaver puts it's front foot in my trap, it will be there in the morning.


"They that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety" Ben Franklin talking about guns
Re: Beaver and Hind Foot Catches [Re: goldy] #1507588
09/22/09 09:56 PM
09/22/09 09:56 PM

P
paul antczak
Unregistered
paul antczak
Unregistered
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Goldy I was wondering how you set your foot holds on a castor mound in the spring? When the beaver are carrying mud with both front feet to the mound. While walking on there hind feet.

Re: Beaver and Hind Foot Catches [Re: ] #1507655
09/22/09 10:35 PM
09/22/09 10:35 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,302
minnesota
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goldy Offline
trapper
goldy  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,302
minnesota
From what I've seen (and witnessed), it doesn't happen always that they carry mud, especially not for spring travelers. Some do, but not all the time. Most of the travelers it seems only will check out the mound, maybe leave some castor, and leave. It's the resident adult male that deposits the mud most of the time. That's another reason to I like to set shallow, with shallow water right in front of the trap as well. By the time they have bottomed out with their chest, they are carrying the mud. I then catch them by a back foot as the walk up to the mound. If I set deeper, I have the chance they will spring the trap with their chest as they push/bring the mud up in their feet.

Last edited by goldy; 09/22/09 10:45 PM.

"They that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety" Ben Franklin talking about guns
Re: Beaver and Hind Foot Catches [Re: goldy] #1507690
09/22/09 10:56 PM
09/22/09 10:56 PM

P
paul antczak
Unregistered
paul antczak
Unregistered
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Where I trap the beaver are thick like muskrats. I went to all #5's. For spring time trapping. I have some castor mounds that are compared to muskrat huts. These are also territory mounds. I use to use #4's and was getting agrivated with snapped traps. I turned the #4 so the beaver was going through the jaws and started to catch the beaver by the heal. This is when I went to the TS-85 and #5's. My catch rose dramaticly over night. All hind foot catches. It wasn't the depth of the trap it was that the beaver were walking on there hind feet. It didn't matter how deep I set. I was catching old and young/male and female. I caught 156 in 3 weeks last spring. That was after the change. It may be different where I trap. Never say never and never say always when you trap.

Re: Beaver and Hind Foot Catches [Re: ] #1507711
09/22/09 11:07 PM
09/22/09 11:07 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,302
minnesota
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goldy Offline
trapper
goldy  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,302
minnesota
Although I prefer the 7 1/2" traps, I use a lot of #3 Bridgers because of theft. They are 4 coiled and VERY strong though. One thing I've found that's very important with the smaller traps is off-setting the pan 4 - 4 1/2" from center, and using guide sticks 14" apart to cause the beaver to put it's foot directly between the jaws. I have very few sprung traps even with the smaller jawspreads. At least 4' of water helps on hind foot catches too, so they are underwater as soon as possible.


"They that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety" Ben Franklin talking about guns
Re: Beaver and Hind Foot Catches [Re: ] #1507712
09/22/09 11:07 PM
09/22/09 11:07 PM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 692
tennessee
ccary Offline
trapper
ccary  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 692
tennessee
when you say quality what do you mean. No insult intended i just mean if you are setting quality #3's you should be going for a front foot.However when you use the 7.5 spread and up it simply increases your chances of getting the job done.

Re: Beaver and Hind Foot Catches [Re: ccary] #1507737
09/22/09 11:21 PM
09/22/09 11:21 PM

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paul antczak
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paul antczak
Unregistered
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The TS-85 is a awsome trap! I just wish I could scrape up some more $ to buy another dozen! It don't miss! Set it any direction. any depth. Its a done deal! Ok I take that back I had 1 miss last spring.

Re: Beaver and Hind Foot Catches [Re: ] #1507754
09/22/09 11:29 PM
09/22/09 11:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,302
minnesota
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goldy Offline
trapper
goldy  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,302
minnesota
Originally Posted By: paul antczak
The TS-85 is a awsome trap! I just wish I could scrape up some more $ to buy another dozen! It don't miss! Set it any direction. any depth. Its a done deal! Ok I take that back I had 1 miss last spring.
Don't set TS-85's shallow. The levers and jaws are so big that they can throw the front feet/shoulders out of the trap. When I first got mine I lost 3 out of the first 5 beaver by setting them shallow. I've talked to others who have had the same results too. They are certainly a good back foot trap though.


"They that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety" Ben Franklin talking about guns
Re: Beaver and Hind Foot Catches [Re: goldy] #1507761
09/22/09 11:34 PM
09/22/09 11:34 PM

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paul antczak
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paul antczak
Unregistered
P



Thanks goldy. I will keep that in the memory bank. When the jaws are closed i wanna see fur not air!

Re: Beaver and Hind Foot Catches [Re: ] #1507766
09/22/09 11:38 PM
09/22/09 11:38 PM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 692
tennessee
ccary Offline
trapper
ccary  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 692
tennessee
yes i definitely like the 85's but the mb's have been so good to me i almost feel like i'm cheatin on them.

Re: Beaver and Hind Foot Catches [Re: goldy] #1508018
09/23/09 08:13 AM
09/23/09 08:13 AM

K
Kre
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Kre
Unregistered
K



OK Goldy...not to bust your chops here, but what am I supposed to believe?

Originally Posted By: goldy
I know this, if a beaver puts it's front foot in my trap, it will be there in the morning.


Originally Posted By: goldy
When I first got mine I lost 3 out of the first 5 beaver by setting them shallow.


I'm just trying to make a point here: Each season I catch a couple beaver that have twisted off a front foot. Never in my whole life, have I caught one missing a back foot.

Nothing is 100%. Things go wrong for even the best trappers. I just believe the chances of something going wrong goes up with a front foot caught beaver...especially for an inexperienced trapper.

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