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Otter thread. Lets talk about it #1784326
02/01/10 03:01 PM
02/01/10 03:01 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,306
Madras Oregon
J
Jeremy Watson Offline OP
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Jeremy Watson  Offline OP
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J

Joined: Dec 2008
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Madras Oregon
Ive done some looking in archives and havent found too much!
There are some questions I have and Probably some others also.

1.Whats the range for an Otter? Aprox is fine
2.How many otter to an area? Understand thats a loaded Q. Just an average. Dont want to trap them all out that way there are more seasons to come in an area.
3.Has anyone had success with fish/or? baited coni triggers?
4.Are they day or nite critters?
5.??

Well thats all I can think of for now. Thank you and have a good day.

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Jeremy Watson] #1784336
02/01/10 03:04 PM
02/01/10 03:04 PM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 440
N.C,Harnett.....17 y/ old
foxgeter Offline
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foxgeter  Offline
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N.C,Harnett.....17 y/ old
otters love fish and i know someone has caught many otters on fish


member of the NCTA




Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: foxgeter] #1784348
02/01/10 03:09 PM
02/01/10 03:09 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
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Bruce T  Offline
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Northern Maine
I don't know anyone who has caught otter with baited sets.I would much rather have good blind sets in water channels,cross overs,trails,etc.


Nevada bound
Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Bruce T] #1785008
02/01/10 07:37 PM
02/01/10 07:37 PM
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 174
Durham, NC
S
silver is money Offline
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silver is money  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 174
Durham, NC
I and others I know have seen them in the daytime.


Silver is a leveraged derivative play on gold.
Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: ] #1785119
02/01/10 08:15 PM
02/01/10 08:15 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,306
Madras Oregon
J
Jeremy Watson Offline OP
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Jeremy Watson  Offline OP
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Madras Oregon
yeah its all good info. Now I just need to get the territory of them covered and the Q about how many could be in an area

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Jeremy Watson] #1785127
02/01/10 08:18 PM
02/01/10 08:18 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
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Bruce T  Offline
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Northern Maine
Could be one or two.Could be a whole litter with the parents.Otter cover miles.Could stay in one area for a while or might not come back to an area for a couple weeks.


Nevada bound
Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Bruce T] #1785221
02/01/10 08:41 PM
02/01/10 08:41 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 253
Higginsville,Missouri
T
TrappinCol Offline
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Higginsville,Missouri
A wise young man working a few years back with our conservation dept.on an otter program ran telemetry studies on otters that had been implanted and or radioed told me this."Our studies show if an otter wants to go 5 miles across open fields in one night,they'll do it."I never did ask him what they figured was an avg. home range in Missouri.Have just always remembered that little bit of Info.More nocturnal but will definitely be out on cloudy,stormy days.I've been in GREAT territory and it be a week or more setting heavy on the blind sets before connecting.


Member Missouri Trappers Assoc.-NTA.Official auctioneer of National Trappers Assoc.
Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: TrappinCol] #1785268
02/01/10 08:54 PM
02/01/10 08:54 PM
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 85
Georgia
F
firedawg Offline
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Georgia
Don't know the exact range, or how many will be in an area. I have seen them on our land during the daytime usually in pairs. I recently trapped one a few weeks ago. I was walking up the creek looking for a place to set a beaver trap, and one came up the creek--and he was wearin small bream out. So i started looking for otter sign--found a toilet, so i set 2 traps and caught one of them. I did have the set baited with a fish, don't know if it made a difference though.

Saw another one 2 days ago out near the head of the pond--same creek. It was wearin out the bream also. I caught a male. I havent seen any in pairs this year in that place though. if i knew there was a whole family there, i would trap another, but if the one i saw the other day is the female, i would prefer to let her stay there to have more little ones.

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: TrappinCol] #1785307
02/01/10 09:02 PM
02/01/10 09:02 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,306
Madras Oregon
J
Jeremy Watson Offline OP
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Madras Oregon
Col thats great info thanx

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: firedawg] #1785340
02/01/10 09:11 PM
02/01/10 09:11 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,860
Oregon
beaverpeeler Offline
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beaverpeeler  Offline
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Oregon
On really good otter water if I catch one for every two or three river miles I have got about all that river will give up for that year.

I did read some studies that suggested that home range for males was about 20 to 30 river miles...lot's of depends though.

As far as all the lures and baits... I'd bet that these sets account for less than 5% of all otter caught in north america on a yearly basis. Crossovers and blindsets plus covering lot's of territory is where it's at.

Finally, if you really want to do some good reading about otter trapping buy a copy of "Otter Trapping" by the Washington State Trappers Assoc. It is a compilation of observations and methods by Washington's top otter producers. George Sovie at Cascade Trappers Supply can set you up.

PS I see otter during the daytime often and have checked traps going downstream (with nothing) and had otter in them an hour later as I made my way back up.

Last edited by beaverpeeler; 02/01/10 09:14 PM.

My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Jeremy Watson] #1785357
02/01/10 09:14 PM
02/01/10 09:14 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 434
Ky.
W
watershedman25 Offline
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Ky.
Been tryin' to catch one myself. A fella trapper on GBO said they would hit a bucket set for coon baited w/flakey fish. Caught a few coon but no otter.


Born once,die twice-Born twice,die once.
Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: beaverpeeler] #1785367
02/01/10 09:17 PM
02/01/10 09:17 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,306
Madras Oregon
J
Jeremy Watson Offline OP
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Madras Oregon
thank you carl

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: beaverpeeler] #1785381
02/01/10 09:22 PM
02/01/10 09:22 PM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 19
Michigan
Well taught Offline
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Well taught  Offline
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Michigan
I read in FFG one time that otters will travel about 20 miles in a 3-4 week span during the summer and will travel 40-60 miles during the winter within a 3-4 week time frame... depending on the accessibility of a reliable food source.
I have seen up to 3 otters together at a time but it wouldnt suprise me to see more.
I am not sure if they are nocturnal,I dont see why not they wouldnt travel at night but I have seen them in the day a number of times.
I have heard of using baited conibears but one of the problems with them is that the otters smarten up quick when they see that there friends are missing due to baited sets(similar to most other furbearers) I have always prefered blindsets because they are more natural and they dont as easily see it coming.

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Well taught] #1785422
02/01/10 09:33 PM
02/01/10 09:33 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,860
Oregon
beaverpeeler Offline
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beaverpeeler  Offline
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Oregon
I one time had an otter break a wire (on a lake) and so the next day I came back with a wet suit and snorkle. I kept bobbing up and down looking for it but after a bit I looked out on the arm of the lake I was on and I had 9 otters in the water stretching their heads up as high as the could to see waht the funny black otter was doing. LOL


My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Well taught] #1785429
02/01/10 09:35 PM
02/01/10 09:35 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,306
Madras Oregon
J
Jeremy Watson Offline OP
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Madras Oregon
well taught that was some more great info. Ive pulled two in this one area bolth males. I just dont want to wipe them out of that area.

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: beaverpeeler] #1785432
02/01/10 09:35 PM
02/01/10 09:35 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
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Bruce T  Offline
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Northern Maine
Otter do move both day or night.


Nevada bound
Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Jeremy Watson] #1785433
02/01/10 09:35 PM
02/01/10 09:35 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 120
Wisconsin, USA
S
Smalltown Offline
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Smalltown  Offline
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Wisconsin, USA
JDW, great questions. River otters are very nomadic and unpredictable. The NTA Trapping Handbook has a good description on home ranges. NTA states that a range of 20sq miles in the summer is to be expected and 60 sq.mi in the winter. You can type in "river otter" on a yahoo or google search engine and you'll find all kinds of helpful info. I have caught otter on a smelt minnow put horizontal on a 330 strigger, but most I caught were on blind sets. Culverts where they cross are excellent sets - check regs! They like to hang out in family packs too, usually occupying old beaver lodges. My son got his first this year on a old beaver bank den they were using.

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Jeremy Watson] #1785437
02/01/10 09:36 PM
02/01/10 09:36 PM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 30
North Carolina
O
Otterguy Offline
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Otterguy  Offline
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North Carolina
Having done alot of research on otters.Hear is my two sense.

1.Range depends greatly on the size of the river. My reach suggests that otters prefer small backwater streams with a lot of structure, but they use large rivers to travel. The homerange analysis of my otters was a core home range of 5 to 7 miles of stream while they travel upwards to 20-30 miles regularly.
2.Otter are a communal critter living in family units, but do travel solitary as well. There will commonly be 3-6 otters traveling together. So gang setting is key. I have seen as many as 12 together.
3.Forget the baited triggers use blind sets and dive pole sets. Find they areas they use tiolets/latrines and set them heavy.
4.Otter travel at all hours of the day and night, but from my experience they travel alot at dusk and dawn.
Hope this helps

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Otterguy] #1785474
02/01/10 09:46 PM
02/01/10 09:46 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,306
Madras Oregon
J
Jeremy Watson Offline OP
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Jeremy Watson  Offline OP
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Madras Oregon
The info just keeps gettin better. I had no idea on how larg their territory could be. Thats realy big

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Jeremy Watson] #1785491
02/01/10 09:52 PM
02/01/10 09:52 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 120
Wisconsin, USA
S
Smalltown Offline
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Smalltown  Offline
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Posts: 120
Wisconsin, USA
They do have a big area, but they move a lot too. Watch and set the sign.

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Jeremy Watson] #1785503
02/01/10 09:56 PM
02/01/10 09:56 PM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 30
North Carolina
O
Otterguy Offline
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Otterguy  Offline
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O

Joined: Oct 2008
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North Carolina
I forgot that I have personally tracked my otters travleing greater than 23 miles in one day. That stat still astounds me.
Otters are the only animal that I known that doesn't have to struggle to find food, They would rather play than eat I think. As far as how many I would take from an area, I would keep track of the sign that I see on that particular section of river. Once that sign starts to dwinddle move. I have personnally caught and relocated 5 otters form a half a mile stretch and the day I pulled I saw 11 otters that I am about ninety-five percent sure that they were all differnet animals, and the most of them were females with young

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Smalltown] #1785511
02/01/10 09:57 PM
02/01/10 09:57 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,306
Madras Oregon
J
Jeremy Watson Offline OP
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Jeremy Watson  Offline OP
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Madras Oregon
I have knowticed that they are there then gone. Its weird. Beaver are in and otter are out. Then vise versa. So far I have seen that the otter are in the high water days and beaver in the low water days.

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: ] #1785522
02/01/10 10:00 PM
02/01/10 10:00 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 120
Wisconsin, USA
S
Smalltown Offline
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Smalltown  Offline
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Wisconsin, USA
Very good. If there is fish in the main river they don't need much reason to move. There isn't a fish they can't catch. They will explore so the msaller trib you are talking about can cathc you an otter. The mouth may be a good spot.

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Jeremy Watson] #1785531
02/01/10 10:03 PM
02/01/10 10:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,306
Madras Oregon
J
Jeremy Watson Offline OP
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Madras Oregon
another thing is here we are in the desert. Not much water. So they are very limited to where they go. Yes they can travel 20 plus miles here in our river systems. I just cant picture it happening. I belive you all trust me its just a huge span. Kid yes its possible. I have a friend that had one in his pond eatin all of his bass. We figured it came in the irrigation canal that is fed from the river

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: ] #1785543
02/01/10 10:07 PM
02/01/10 10:07 PM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 30
North Carolina
O
Otterguy Offline
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Otterguy  Offline
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North Carolina
Otters key in on certain areas to have toilets/latrines. One of those palces is the finger of land at the mouth of a stream, where the small trib meets the big river. Crossovers are a great place as well.

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Otterguy] #1785553
02/01/10 10:12 PM
02/01/10 10:12 PM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 30
North Carolina
O
Otterguy Offline
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Otterguy  Offline
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Posts: 30
North Carolina
Otters have no fear of traveling across land. Case in point after the reintroduction of otters into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the otters were documented crossing the Appalachain Mountains from TN into NC. They really don't have any predators other than man. If you ever get a chance to tangle with a live one you will understnad why.

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Otterguy] #1785602
02/01/10 10:29 PM
02/01/10 10:29 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,150
morristown tn.
scott rainbolt Offline
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scott rainbolt  Offline
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morristown tn.
send my otter back over the hill otterguy need to get me a few more this year lol


rainbolt wildlife control morristown tennessee
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Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: scott rainbolt] #1785702
02/01/10 10:55 PM
02/01/10 10:55 PM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 30
North Carolina
O
Otterguy Offline
trapper
Otterguy  Offline
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O

Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 30
North Carolina
I would gladly can't keep out of my traps here. I have moved triggers, trimmed triggers, etc, etc.

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Otterguy] #1785852
02/01/10 11:39 PM
02/01/10 11:39 PM
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 28
iowa
D
dalebillingsley Offline
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dalebillingsley  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 28
iowa
A few years ago I worked for Mo dept of Conservation on thier otter research program. We live trapped otters then inserted a radio transmitter into the body cavity for telemitry studies. 1 otter in particular that I caught had moved in a 3 week period 100 miles from where originally caught. I have often saw where otter had come up from a canl in S E Arkansas and took out across a cotton field to god knows where? And yes I have caught them succussfully in baited as well as blind sets.

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: dalebillingsley] #1785985
02/02/10 12:22 AM
02/02/10 12:22 AM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 30
North Carolina
O
Otterguy Offline
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Otterguy  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 30
North Carolina
You must know a Mr. Mike Fischer then, that man taught me alot about trapping otters. A true outdoorsman, he is. I traped a few with him in MO as well, at a northern and a southern location. Fun place to live trap otters. I did a very similar project for my master's degree at Univ of Tenn, but project was in KY.

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Jeremy Watson] #1786072
02/02/10 01:04 AM
02/02/10 01:04 AM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 694
Kamiah ID
N
Native Offline
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Posts: 694
Kamiah ID
I set at a place where it was an otter toilet but didn't know that at the time I was trying to target beaver with a coni set at a beaver hut but I set the trail going to the toilet and got a good otter


you cook good rabbit pilgrim
Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Native] #1786152
02/02/10 02:41 AM
02/02/10 02:41 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,306
Madras Oregon
J
Jeremy Watson Offline OP
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Jeremy Watson  Offline OP
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J

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,306
Madras Oregon
its all great stuff guys keep it up

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Jeremy Watson] #1787592
02/02/10 05:58 PM
02/02/10 05:58 PM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 376
Northwest
T
Trapper155 Offline
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Trapper155  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 376
Northwest
i dont know a ton about them i catch a few every year though, had one this morning in a 330. all mine are taken in blind sets with 330's and 280's. they poke there heads up every little side stream on a river it seems like, and will run all the little channels or back water sloughs, also any streams with beaver ponds are great.

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Trapper155] #1787717
02/02/10 06:39 PM
02/02/10 06:39 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,306
Madras Oregon
J
Jeremy Watson Offline OP
trapper
Jeremy Watson  Offline OP
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Madras Oregon
Ok does anyone know about how many to a family? Better time of year to trap than others? It sounds like to me that figuren outa population is guna be hard do to the wide terrain that they have?

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Jeremy Watson] #1787852
02/02/10 07:26 PM
02/02/10 07:26 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 96
missouri
joefromeldonmo Offline
trapper
joefromeldonmo  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 96
missouri
i catch mine in fast water funnels pullouts at beaver dams castor mounds and a few in baited pocket sets for coon/mink. just make sure you are on slides to deep water or drags with footholds in the fast water funnels or dam cross overs 280 or 330 get the nod


veggen old indain word for bad hunter
Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Jeremy Watson] #1787854
02/02/10 07:26 PM
02/02/10 07:26 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 291
Quebec ,Canada
Fergustrap Offline
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Fergustrap  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 291
Quebec ,Canada
Otter have a 14 day run,often in pack 3-5,always set a trap on each side of beaver dam, they hunt pray on shore and not in a middle of the stream (remember this).I use 220 and 280 if beaver sign, 330 is not the best choice for otter because she too fast and the trap is too big for slim otter.Always use cable tie with swivel for otter trap.Regular checking need for keep running trap operated.Take care after catch is too important than before.

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Fergustrap] #1787931
02/02/10 07:49 PM
02/02/10 07:49 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,739
S.W.Oregon
newhouse114 Offline
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newhouse114  Offline
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Posts: 3,739
S.W.Oregon
I have taken as many as 10 in a season from a single crossover. I have also had three triple catches at that crossover (over the years) and had as many as six other otter swimming around trying to run me off from the captured otter.


Life Member NTA & FTA
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain

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Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Moreland] #1788113
02/02/10 08:43 PM
02/02/10 08:43 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 284
Wright Co., MO
helslb Offline
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helslb  Offline
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Wright Co., MO
I mainly trap on 2 Rivers here in SW Missouri. We have an abundence of otter on the streams around me. It seems to me that year after year you will catch otters in the same places. I live with in walking distance of two rivers, and this year, I've caught 7 otters within sight of my house. These all were caught in about a 2 week window. This areas also produce otter every year. Sometimes it may be 2-3, and others as many more. It seems that they stay in the area for a couple of days, because you will make a catch or two and then you will go dry for a while. I mainly set old abandon bank dens, along with blinds sets in slides, and toilets. I also catch otters in pockets that are intended for coon (which sometimes is a pain because you always have to be prepared for them). So yes otter can be caught on bait, but I believe your chances are better when setting good blind sets on location.

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: helslb] #1788141
02/02/10 08:51 PM
02/02/10 08:51 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 423
Red Deer, AB. Canada
davec Offline
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davec  Offline
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Posts: 423
Red Deer, AB. Canada
good topo map, is handi, find streams out of and in too lakes, into rivers, late season fishing trips are when
I decide where I will trap, is when I also set diving poles and choke of streams, if you want to catch otter, have to start before the season, only lure I use is hawbarker mink lure seems that they like it for some reason, came across that buy accident, good luck

Dave


May you be an hour in heaven, before the devil knows your gone
Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: newhouse114] #1788168
02/02/10 09:00 PM
02/02/10 09:00 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,306
Madras Oregon
J
Jeremy Watson Offline OP
trapper
Jeremy Watson  Offline OP
trapper
J

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Posts: 1,306
Madras Oregon
wow thats realy good too.

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Jeremy Watson] #1788181
02/02/10 09:04 PM
02/02/10 09:04 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,306
Madras Oregon
J
Jeremy Watson Offline OP
trapper
Jeremy Watson  Offline OP
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Madras Oregon
ok who has pulled several otter outa the same area year after year? After the fist big catch was there a difference in numbers the next year?

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: helslb] #1788249
02/02/10 09:28 PM
02/02/10 09:28 PM
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Maine
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sandman Offline
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sandman  Offline
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Maine
Since this thread is a otter info thread, I will post some otter observations from ice and snow country useless to those of you with year-round open water,LOL.

Harsh winters, otter often stop traveling and settle down in a beaver pond full of fish, shiners, suckers, whatever, living in a beaver bank den or old house. Might stay in one spot for weeks until settled snow,warmer weather, breeding urge push them on.

Occasionally, they freeze in and have to wait for a thaw to free them. Most of the time when I have found "wintering" otter, they maintain a way up onto the ice.

A friend of mine owns a series of shiner ponds, some with water level control pipes. Pipes all have screens to keep the shiners in their respective ponds. He decided one winter day to drain the shiners from the largest upper pond into the smaller lower ponds, so he cut a hole through the ice to remove the screen and upright water leveling pipe so the water would drain out through the bottom drainage pipe. Watching to see how many shiners came out through the lower end of the pipe into the next pond, his partner was shocked to see an otter shoot out of the pipe!

Pond was sealed up tight with over a foot of ice. We surmised the otter got in as it was freezing up, living in a beaver bank den from years before when beaver had tried to take over his pond. Weren't many shiners left of the thousands of dollars worth he thought he had in there,LOL!

More open winters, or on big rivers that never fully freeze,they continue to travel as usual.


James Arsenault

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: sandman] #1789143
02/03/10 01:54 AM
02/03/10 01:54 AM
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Posts: 1,481
Kansas
kansaskoons Offline
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kansaskoons  Offline
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Kansas
JDW, this is exactly what I have been looking for, great thread! Well here in KS where otters are not legal yet (and to inform you ahead of time all that I have caught have been released or turned in) I think that we have an interesting twist to their normal habitat. They have small streams that run through several sections of old stripped mine ponds and lakes that eventually go on to larger rivers. Now I know that they are big time travelers, but an observation that I have made a couple of times is that when they move to a food rich area that they just stay, sometimes for weeks, is this normal? Also, not that I was trying to catch otters but the beavs come out of the pits and travel the small creeks alot and I target them with blind sets and crossovers, two sets that should pick up otter, but of the dozens of beaver caught in such sets, no otters. All of the otter that I catch are in the pits, are they staying in the pits because there is more food in them than the creeks. I really have alot of questions because alot of what I read doesn't fit with our otter. thanks for all the previus info.


waiting on the buffaloe grass........
Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: kansaskoons] #1789176
02/03/10 02:10 AM
02/03/10 02:10 AM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 376
Northwest
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Trapper155 Offline
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Trapper155  Offline
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Northwest
i set the same places year after year, if it catches an otter once it will catch them again. i have noticed no decline in population around here i have already taken more than i did last year also.

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Trapper155] #1789223
02/03/10 02:48 AM
02/03/10 02:48 AM
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Posts: 1,306
Madras Oregon
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Jeremy Watson Offline OP
trapper
Jeremy Watson  Offline OP
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Joined: Dec 2008
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Madras Oregon
Sandman, Ks, 155, more great knowledge. More input?

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Jeremy Watson] #1791295
02/03/10 07:59 PM
02/03/10 07:59 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 420
Vermont
Brian W Offline
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Brian W  Offline
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Vermont
i have a pond with traps guarded on all entrances, and he has been in there for 3 WEEKS, YES 3 WEEKS! He has came out once and went back in, and has not left yet! I'm waiting for him to make a move, cause of now he wont be able to fart without getting caught! lol
I have seen where they will leave and not be back for a month! My observation!

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: newhouse114] #1791496
02/03/10 09:04 PM
02/03/10 09:04 PM
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Posts: 177
Gatlinburg, TN
lone fox Offline
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lone fox  Offline
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Posts: 177
Gatlinburg, TN
If yuor gonna make a bucket set what type of fish should i bait it with

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: lone fox] #1791650
02/03/10 09:41 PM
02/03/10 09:41 PM
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Posts: 1,306
Madras Oregon
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Jeremy Watson Offline OP
trapper
Jeremy Watson  Offline OP
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Madras Oregon
i would go with the type of fish that are readliy avail. in ther area you are trapping. Youmay check your local regs first to make sure that it is legal

Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: Jeremy Watson] #1792162
02/03/10 11:46 PM
02/03/10 11:46 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,860
Oregon
beaverpeeler Offline
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beaverpeeler  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,860
Oregon
The first year that I trapped one big coastal lake (Siltcoos) on the Oregon coast for otter I caught 24. In this particular lake they seemed easy to catch, showing very little fear of my conibears. The following year I caught 3 and then backed off because I wasn't seeing much sign. It became obvious to me that 24 had been too heavy of a harvest. I point this out as an example of how an area can be hit too hard. On the other hand, rivers with lot's of side sloughs, tributaries, swamps etc may be harder to overtrap and I have seen that too.

These days I trap the same places over and over but I tend to give an area a break for a year and then get back to it the following, giving it a chance to recooperate. This seems to work out pretty well. I also have an idea of what each area can produce and I endeavor not to over do it.

Last edited by beaverpeeler; 02/03/10 11:48 PM.

My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
Re: Otter thread. Lets talk about it [Re: beaverpeeler] #1793385
02/04/10 01:06 PM
02/04/10 01:06 PM
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Posts: 1,306
Madras Oregon
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Jeremy Watson Offline OP
trapper
Jeremy Watson  Offline OP
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Madras Oregon
Thanks carl. That realy helps.

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