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Stories of smart beaver #2998034
02/07/12 12:54 AM
02/07/12 12:54 AM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,300
minnesota
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goldy Offline OP
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goldy  Offline OP
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,300
minnesota
I'd be interested in hearing stories of experiences some of you beaver trappers have had with smart beaver and what you've done to catch them. I do all our county ADC beaver trapping, I've ran into several very shy ones. But one stands out. It's a long story, so bear with me.
This particular beaver ran a couple mile stretch of county drainage ditches. It took me years to finally catch it. Not years of continually trying to catch it, but years from the time I first lost it. Just about every year it would find a new mate and build a lodge and dam somewhere along the main drainage system or on one of the fingers. And every year I would catch the female, but not that male. The way the ditch system is, there weren't a lot of natural set locations. It was the luckiest beaver on the face of the earth.
The first time I lost it, and the time I educated it to 330's, the weld broke on the jaw of a 330. Never could get it to go through one again. It didn't matter how well I camouflaged it, it would not go through a 330 again. How it knew the 330's were there after that, I have no idea. I tried winding grass around the jaws, grass in front of it, sticks through and around the jaws and springs, you name it I tried it. Never again could I get it to go through a 330 or even a 1216. At first I thought it might be shy of my scent, but that proved not to be the case. I tried setting 1216's and 330's over the entrances in the house one winter. He'd have none of that. After about three weeks, I felt sorry for it and pulled.
He wouldn't go through snares either, or let me rephrase, he wouldn't go all the way through. At least a half dozen times he entered my snares but backed up and pulled out before the snare was tight enough. The loop would be pulled down to about 4", and the snare would be pulled backward. Most of those snare sets were in runs through the flooded grass, so camo was easy. After he pulled out of a snare in a run, he wouldn't use that run again. The fact that he knew enough to pull back before the snare tightened was amazing because he would be pushing flooded grass with his chest and head. I think he could hear the lock sliding on the cable, it does make a certain sound. That's the only explanation I can come up with. I had some other snare set locations that seemed deadly, but they either caught the female first or otter. One time though I did have it in a snare under ice, the loop was pulled tight. Most years I couldn't make under ice sets where the beaver built it's house though because the water wasn't deep enough in the drainage ditches.
At least twice I lost it in footholds. I seldom have sprung traps anyway but both times I was using traps I no longer use. Just bad luck. I knew I'd know when I caught the beaver because it would be missing toe nails. The first time I lost it was in a bait set, the second was at it's own castor mound. After the second time, it wouldn't come to the bank again for almost a year. It would just cut brush hanging out in the water and eat it there. It only made a castor mound one time after that too, and that was years later. I set a trap at the mound, covering everything good. It abandoned the area. Again, everytime I set for that beaver I was using rubber gloves and boots. I tried to keep things as scent free as possible. I'd check the sets every third day. Just didn't matter. Many times it built a small dam on one of the many drainage fingers that went into some sod and vegetable fields. But as soon as I would make a set, and I seldom used any kind of lure, it would abandon the area.
His downfall was he liked to plug a particular culvert. Didn't matter if he was going to make a colony or not. He just liked to plug the culvert occasionally. One fall the culvert was plugged. Got the call to take care of it. I set some well camoed snares in the flooded grass and willows leading to a popple tree they had cut down. The next day I had the two beaver waiting for me. I had finally caught him! But no, they both had all their toes. What a let down that was. It happened a few times after that too where I caught other beaver there, but not him. Last spring the culvert was plugged again. I made a couple sets, one with popple. He proceeded to go up on dry land behind it and steal it. So I put a well hid trap where he came ashore. And of course, he never tried to steal the bait again. I tried every trick I knew over the years. Nothing worked. Once I tried ripping some of the sticks out of the culvert and putting them on shore near the culvert. Within a day or two they were back into the culvert again. So I did it again, arranging the sticks discreetly so he had to come into one of two places to get them. I set footholds in those two places. The next time he plugged the culvert he cut fresh sticks. He never touched those sticks by the culvert again. Now, when I pulled the sticks out of the culvert that time, I didn't have any gloves on and I was laying on the top of the culvert. My scent was everywhere. But still within a day or two of that he plugged the culvert with those sticks so it makes me think it wasn't totally human scent shy. I could go on and on with the sets I tried, but this story is long enough.
The landowners by that culvert had to have thought I was less than competant. It was embarrassing to say the least. Part of the problem was he would plug the culvert and not come back again for a week or more. We had had a lot of rain all spring so water levels were changing a lot. Finally the water stabilized. I noticed the last time he plugged the culvert he had cut some tag alders out of a clump. There were a couple alders left in that clump, so I set a trap in front of where the alders were and tore open part of the dam inside the culvert. The water stabilized perfectly, leaving about 2" covering the trap. It was a shot in the dark with all the other alders around there. I was nervous about setting a foothold there. No place to drown and lot's of places to tangle. Finally after about a week or more of no action, I caught him perfectly by a back foot. It was definetely him. Missing toes and all. What a pleasure it was to tell the lanowners and the county ditch inspector! I've had a couple others that took a little time, but none even close to him.

Last edited by goldy; 02/07/12 05:18 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: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #2998053
02/07/12 01:10 AM
02/07/12 01:10 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,337
Alabama (Bama for short) 108 y...
Jtrapper Offline
trapper
Jtrapper  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,337
Alabama (Bama for short) 108 y...
Those 'phantom' beavers are always such a joy to deal with, lol.

Your set was a specialty set, ive noticed each beaver like that usually has to be caught with some sort of customized one of a kind set that fits that location and that beaver, sadly no one size fits all set has come along to handle all of these type beavers.

Spent 3 months worrying with the worst one ive had to deal with some years ago. Long story short, finally started thinking the dang thing was scent shy, not lure shy, but shy of my odor! Each time id make a new set where it was going it would quit going there. Finally set a single snare between two clumps of grass it would swim between now and then and check it for a week FROM THE BRIDGE! Never actually going down into the water. Set it on a monday and finally that friday I decided that wasn't going to work either and went down to pull it up. Nothing was cut down or torn up but that beaver was laying flat of it's back under water DEAD! Hip caught.

Old female of course. Right when I gave up the set caught it, lol.


Not my circus, not my clowns.
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: ] #2998058
02/07/12 01:13 AM
02/07/12 01:13 AM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,300
minnesota
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goldy Offline OP
trapper
goldy  Offline OP
trapper
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,300
minnesota
Originally Posted By: woodsman/trapper
Was he an old heavyweight?
Surprisingly not. Was in the 50-55 pound range. Had a huge tail though. Had to have been at least 10 years old, probably older. It took me at least 8 to finally catch it.

Last edited by goldy; 02/07/12 01:19 AM. Reason: addition.

"They that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety" Ben Franklin talking about guns
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #2998063
02/07/12 01:16 AM
02/07/12 01:16 AM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
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Boco Offline
trapper
Boco  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2011
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james bay frontierOnt.
12 ga and a nice moonlit night.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: Jtrapper] #2998064
02/07/12 01:17 AM
02/07/12 01:17 AM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,300
minnesota
G
goldy Offline OP
trapper
goldy  Offline OP
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,300
minnesota
Originally Posted By: Jtrapper
Those 'phantom' beavers are always such a joy to deal with, lol.

Your set was a specialty set, ive noticed each beaver like that usually has to be caught with some sort of customized one of a kind set that fits that location and that beaver, sadly no one size fits all set has come along to handle all of these type beavers.
Very, very, true. One thing we have going for us up here though is beaver absolutely love popple. Often some sort of set using popple will catch them. You guys down south don't have that luxery.


"They that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety" Ben Franklin talking about guns
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #2998070
02/07/12 01:20 AM
02/07/12 01:20 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,337
Alabama (Bama for short) 108 y...
Jtrapper Offline
trapper
Jtrapper  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,337
Alabama (Bama for short) 108 y...
No everything around them down here is like a salad bar, they might eat this tonight, then eat that tomorrow night, lol. Not really stuck on any one thing.


Not my circus, not my clowns.
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #2998334
02/07/12 09:42 AM
02/07/12 09:42 AM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 26
Morganton NC
R
Ryan NC Offline
trapper
Ryan NC  Offline
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R

Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 26
Morganton NC
ya know that is a very depressing story considering I must be trying to catch his long lost brother right now...

I've never known a beaver to be shy of human scent but I'm leaning to thinking jtrapper is correct that they can become so. I've thrown every trick I know of at this critter for just a hair over 2 weeks, 5 of his buddies have gone the way of the dino's. 8 snares, 4 legholds, 6 conis and I can't him to go near any of them. Resorted to setting snares on a couple of his castor mounds with nothing else with the same results as you, snare closed down most of the way and pulled back into the water but no beaver... I'm still debating whether it's embarrassing or or just plain frustrating, property owner expected me in and out in 7 days with no damage after that. The damage has stopped as it won't come outa the water now, but there are fresh chew sticks in random spots every night and LITTLE mud pies have been left near a couple sets right at the water line... I'm the second person in so I'm expecting it to be missing toes or some other outward sign tho I've not a clue how it knows the the leg holds are there. IF I could just find his bank den I'd be able to out wait him out or if I could use a shotgun without danger to the houses, if, if, BUT ONLY IF... GRrrrrrrr Looks like the gas station got the profit on this one!! lol


Just a Dang Mountain Moron who says it's about time to get ready for fur season! smile

Ya can't fix stupid, not even with duct tape!
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #2998396
02/07/12 10:19 AM
02/07/12 10:19 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,137
se. mn... age..64
Jim Blakley Offline
trapper
Jim Blakley  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,137
se. mn... age..64
I had a farmer ask me If I would come out catch and his beaver . I gave him a price and he said great because he had the kid down the road trying to catch those beaver for over a year and only got a foot . So then I told him Id have to raise my price because he now had Smart Beaver. He Got mad and thought I was trying to cheat him .I told him sorry but It would take a lot more time and fuel to do the job . He said he would get someone who could do the job . Last fall I could see that the beaver now had a second colony established about 1/2 mile away . And a lot of flooded corn ! Around Thanks Giving I could see he hired a crew with a track hoe and Cat to do the job ! I wonder how much that cost ?


.....Ive been at this Game for over 50 years and have no plans to stop................
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #2998402
02/07/12 10:23 AM
02/07/12 10:23 AM
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 270
Backus, MN Cass Cty
D
Dam Trapper Offline
trapper
Dam Trapper  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 270
Backus, MN Cass Cty
I always have a couple of sets where the river exits the lake I live on. As I am only 50 yards from the river exit I can check these traps with a pair of binoculars. Well, I have this natural set where there is a huge castor mound behind two clumps of sawtooth grass that ere just wide enough for a 330. Over the years I have caught a ton of beaver and many otter in this set. Three years ago this set was sprung every morning, I would reset and it would be sprung by evening. So I told my wife to keep a watch on the set whenever she had the chance during the day. One day I came off the line and she had this story that she was excited to tell me. It seems that after I reset the 330 in the morning the beaver would make its rounds of the castor mound. She had the audacity to tell this pro that the beaver was so smart it made me look stupid. It seems that the beaver would swim over to the set, smell the Backbreaker and proceed to back up to the coni and flick its tail and spring the 330. I, for the life of me, didn't believe her...... until I saw it with my own eyes!!! I actually think he would hit the top of the coni so hard it would jar the dog off. To make a longer story shorter, I finally, after three years, caught this sucker on a blind crossover with a #14 and a drowning rod.

Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #2998416
02/07/12 10:32 AM
02/07/12 10:32 AM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 26
Morganton NC
R
Ryan NC Offline
trapper
Ryan NC  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 26
Morganton NC
DT ya triggered something in my head, I bet ya in my case it is the drowning cable that is turning the one I'm chasing off from the legholds, the water is very clear and you can see the cable even though it's buried a little up near the traps... use the same cable for my snares and extensions to tie off the coni's. That is the like element between all my sets and makes even more sense than human odor! I think it's time to break out the spray paint... it's becoming personal!!!! lol


Just a Dang Mountain Moron who says it's about time to get ready for fur season! smile

Ya can't fix stupid, not even with duct tape!
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #2998435
02/07/12 10:45 AM
02/07/12 10:45 AM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,879
Central MN, sort of old
MnMan Offline
trapper
MnMan  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,879
Central MN, sort of old
Trapstickman learns from experience that an educated beaver can be a severe pain in the butt.


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!
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #2998444
02/07/12 10:50 AM
02/07/12 10:50 AM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,472
ohio
S
skippyturtle Offline
trapper
skippyturtle  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,472
ohio
i am still dealing with the worst one i have met. he/she no doubt has been pinched by another trapper. it will come to my castor mounds and fire my traps with out moving them from their beds and then prceed to work the set but never move the trap. i put in 330's and it wont work the set at all. put in snares and it doesnt work the sets. tried setting slides and it doesnt use that slide again until the trap is gone. it lives in a creek ant there is no way to set the lodge entrnces as it is deep and i have no idea where they are. i pulled all traps the other day. left the castor mounds in place. i am gonna give it time to get used to no traps then put them back in place without adding lure. i also noticed one spot that it comes through everytime it comes up on its lodge. just a very slight impression but i am gonna place a trap there as well.


NTA
OSTA
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #2998503
02/07/12 11:20 AM
02/07/12 11:20 AM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,662
MN, just north of Sodom
MNcooner Offline
trapper
MNcooner  Offline
trapper

Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,662
MN, just north of Sodom
Nothing like your story Goldy, but last year I caught a female (in the middle of a subdivision, poor lady's property was completely trashed) that I had been after for 2 seasons. Caught her toe the year before, she climbed over two 330s the year before... would not go through snares...

In the meantime she keep having kits of course... and the poor lady's property kept getting trashed. It was no problem to clean out her kits 2 years in a row...

She finally for some inexplicable reason went through a 330... whatever. big old black female, 65 pounds.

it's a good think because this lady was getting um... not happy.


Devoted lurker

Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #2998698
02/07/12 01:09 PM
02/07/12 01:09 PM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,440
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
Sharon Offline
"American Honey"
Sharon  Offline
"American Honey"

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,440
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
Goldy,I read your story with complete fascination.

I am always trying to learn of animal behaviour because of all the trapset illustrations in water for varied varmints that I do for magazines.
I thought this thread would be of benefit to me.
And,so it was.
And I appreciate all the stories on here as well.I have learned much-could see illustrations in my head come to life with each story.Several came to mind with yours,Goldy.

Do you intend to keep the pelt for your collection-with it's unique history for you?I certainly would.

Also,as a side note-as I read,I was most impressed with your smooth narrative ability in the telling. I could'nt help but see this published in one of the Trapping issues.Fur-Fish-Game included.With a well done illustration to bring it to life.Seriously.

Thank you all for these amazing stories.I have enjoyed them immensely and have learned much to add to future art in magazines.

I hope more experiences are added here as well.

Thank you Goldy.
Regards, sharon

Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #2998715
02/07/12 01:27 PM
02/07/12 01:27 PM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 26
Morganton NC
R
Ryan NC Offline
trapper
Ryan NC  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 26
Morganton NC

Originally Posted By: MnMan
Trapstickman learns from experience that an educated beaver can be a severe pain in the butt.



lmao I'm borrowing this for a couple days... THIS IS MY LIFE RIGHT NOW!


Just a Dang Mountain Moron who says it's about time to get ready for fur season! smile

Ya can't fix stupid, not even with duct tape!
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #2998742
02/07/12 01:45 PM
02/07/12 01:45 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,300
minnesota
G
goldy Offline OP
trapper
goldy  Offline OP
trapper
G

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,300
minnesota
Thanks Sharon. I actually left some things out and deleted some things while typing because I didn't want it to be too sappy, LOL. I couldn't keep the beaver because it was out of season, I was trapping by permit. Our laws state the beaver must be immediately buried on site when the season is closed. I detested that beaver anyway. I was just happy it was finally gone. I've heard stories of people feeling sad when they finally caught animals they've been after for a long time. Believe me, I was only happy.

Last edited by goldy; 02/07/12 01:48 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: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #2998753
02/07/12 01:50 PM
02/07/12 01:50 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 126
West Central Iowa
4
4 Fur Offline
trapper
4 Fur  Offline
trapper
4

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 126
West Central Iowa
I have learned to never under estimate the abililty of certain beaver to hole up for extended periods of time. I have had beaver hole up for 8-10 days before emerging in a pond that had been dewatered. Several years ago, I called the back hoe in on a ghost beaver. No mystery where the beaver was at after the 75 yard pond had been reduced to a spring fed trickle. On day 30 I noticed where the beaver had enlarged the air hole out in the field about 40' from the den entrance and snipped a few small willows. Day 32 I had the beaver snared up. Wish I could tell you how big the beaver was but a family of bobcat had killed the beaver and eaten over half of him. Wish I could post the picture, but it was pretty graphic. I felt just like you, Goldy! I thought it was a just end for that beaver!

Last edited by 4 Fur; 02/07/12 01:52 PM.

Life Member NTA, FHA and Iowa Trappers Association
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #2999328
02/07/12 06:25 PM
02/07/12 06:25 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,300
minnesota
G
goldy Offline OP
trapper
goldy  Offline OP
trapper
G

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,300
minnesota
Come on, somebody has some stories.


"They that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety" Ben Franklin talking about guns
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #2999351
02/07/12 06:36 PM
02/07/12 06:36 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,337
Alabama (Bama for short) 108 y...
Jtrapper Offline
trapper
Jtrapper  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,337
Alabama (Bama for short) 108 y...
Did the drain the water off route as well one time but had to do it by hand, lol. Set the two entrance's going into what once was a bank den turned into a lodge, no other way out for this one or so I thought. On day 3 she had chewed out the top of the lodge and gone into one of the 100 other holes in the pond, lol. Never had one do that before or since.

CDR at the dam she put back together took her out.


Not my circus, not my clowns.
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #2999352
02/07/12 06:36 PM
02/07/12 06:36 PM

R
Rob906
Unregistered
Rob906
Unregistered
R



I have a couple.. First one was in this very small swamp the county asked me to trap it out.. I said sure not a problem figured it came up the small crick from the lake..Well i set up a castor mound and figured it would get him. Well after a week of no action on that castor mound i said the heck with it and tore a hole in the dam which was only a culvert.. Had to rip a hole in it the water was right at the top of my waders with out sinking in the mud.. I set a 330 in the only run in the swamp figured i would have him the next day when he came out to fix the dam.. I pulled up the next day and this is what i seen...

That is a 330 and a tall h stand packed full of sticks and mud still set.. It happen again and then i set up the hut stayed set for almost a week and half before i gave up.. I think the beaver ended up moving back in to the lake.

I have a couple more i can post later...

Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #2999446
02/07/12 07:17 PM
02/07/12 07:17 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,879
Central MN, sort of old
MnMan Offline
trapper
MnMan  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,879
Central MN, sort of old
I had one old female (beaver of course) give me fits for over three years on a small pond. When I first was asked to set it up there was a lot of activity there and my first few checks paid off pretty well but there was always some activity when the season ended so I knew I did not get them all. I even went in the winter and set under ice 330's and baited snares and after the sets no longer produced I would pull out. I would then return in the spring and set castor mounds with 330's and nothing... but still there was sign. I did not want to use footholds since there was a shallow shoreline and no good drowning situations. The next two falls I would catch one adult male beaver the first night and that would be it so I figured then I was catching the mate that would move in in the off season. I could never get the "last one." Under the ice I could clearly see a nice bank run with fresh bubbles but the second I put anything down there the activity ceased. Same with the lodge entrances (very deep). I finally rigged a trap (that I no longer use) on a drowner that was iffy on depth and used just a smear of mud with a drop or two of sac oil and found the trap snapped and down the drowner with nothing in it so that approach no longer worked after that. Now it was personal. I knew a blind set foothold had to be the answer since even the well- camouflaged snares had no action but the early ice in the fall made the foothold an iffy proposition at that time. I decided the following fall to use the long chain (10 ft.) on the MB750 and set for a hind foot and take my chances on a few faint trails leading from the water to where the cutting was taking place. Of course I caught a big male the first night and then nothing for a week but I left the traps there. Now there was up to 1/2 inch of ice over them every morning so when I checked I would break open the ice and hope it would not freeze up so soon overnight if we got warmer weather. I had finally decided that I would pull the traps and let her go until the following spring and when I walked up to the last trap there she was! She did not fight but simply submerged and tried to hide at my approach. She was only 50# (I was expecting much bigger). I actually did feel remorse on that one since the challenge was now over. I eventually discovered that there would be more like it (in other places) to follow......and there were! The landowner was pleased since there have not been any in there now for the past 3 years.

Since then I have had to resort to under ice snares in bank runs or den entrances on a couple and a deep water MB750 set off to the side of a small dam break for another tough one. I had one old male simply disappear after I hounded him for a year... if he moved out it is somewhere where I don't trap anyway.

Last edited by MnMan; 02/07/12 07:58 PM.

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!
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #2999735
02/07/12 08:56 PM
02/07/12 08:56 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,894
Oakland, MS
Drifter Offline
trapper
Drifter  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,894
Oakland, MS
Had one dam up a small creek in a deep gully. By the time it backed up to where it became noticeable it was about 10 foot deep in spots. This didn't last long before it was shallow enough to see the bottom though. I made a castor mound and all activity stopped. Never saw any chew sticks or slick spots on the bank for over a week.

It rained then and the dam was repaired. So much for thinking had spooked it off. I back tracked to where it had cut the saplings to repair the dam and set a #4 dbl in the base of the crawl out. 2 days later had a toenail. Back to the waiting game for another week before any sign. This time around I found fresh muddy water ahead of me and followed it up. Found a den in the bank. Blocked it off and got a 330 to put infront of the hole and stabilized it real well.

Next morning checked it to find a hole dug out beside the 330 with about a foot of solid mud between the holes into the same den. Waiting game again then noticed was feeding on the roots in the edge of the high bank about a week later. The water was shallow enough it was walking on the bottom to fed on the roots. With all of my traps dyed black with logwood they stuck out like a sore thumb. Thinking back had heard about using a brown paper bag to keep silt from getting under the pan the light came on. Dug out a trap bed and put it into a brown paper sack. Sifted some silt upstream until it looked as good as could make it look below the feeding area it was using. 3 days later had my prize and one puzzle piece fell into place. A big bite mark on her hip from another beaver. Figured why was castor shy. Maybe 26 lbs so figured was Mama telling her was time to get out on her own. No idea how it had gotten that PHD in trapping other then my installment about cross overs and foot holds.

Drifter


Some individuals use statistics as a drunk man uses lamp-posts — for support rather than for illumination.

Andrew Lang (1844-1912) Scottish poet, novelist and literary critic









Life member NTA , and GA Trappers assoc .
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #2999877
02/07/12 09:51 PM
02/07/12 09:51 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 28,978
potter co. p.a.
P
pcr2 Offline
"Twerker"
pcr2  Offline
"Twerker"
P

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 28,978
potter co. p.a.
caught a big ole 50 pound beaver this year that's give me and others fits for years.both front feet gone and healed over,one back foot half gone further than i have ever seen,and about 27 hairs on it's belly.bad part of public land close to the road.township was being held up by game commission to repair the road.when the warden seen the beaver finally caught in a snare he said he thought it was a mercy killing and the township got to fix their road.









Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #2999926
02/07/12 10:15 PM
02/07/12 10:15 PM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1
Portage,Pa/ Morehead,KY
Payoter Offline
trapper
Payoter  Offline
trapper

Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1
Portage,Pa/ Morehead,KY
Im glad to hear that Im not the only one with a few strange beaver trapping tales. Just this year I was trapping a dam system or a series of dam that the beavers had made on a small stream. After making one dam they would continue downstream and make a new larger and deeper dam until they made a dam that was 200 yards long and close to 15 feet deep.At this location I was instructed to take out every beaver as they were washing out a county bike trail system. This wasnt a problem for me as I have trapped some deep dams before, I put in the norm cator mounds, bait sticks and a few 330's in the shallow channels within the first week I had got 5, two very large beaver and three small beaver. I figured that I had got rid of most of the beaver and thought that there might only be one or two more beaver. Anyway after two weeks of nothing I was going to pull the traps and say mission accomplished when after a fresh snow I noticed a fresh set of large beaver tracks and went back into kill mode. I followed the tracks to some fresh cuttings and chewings and then back into the water. I set a #3 on the spot were the beaver came up on land, coverd and figurd good. Next day trap is still set but a new set of tracks coming from a few feet away leading to the clump of birch that he chewed the day before. I left the trap in place and just figured he got alittle spooked from the activity. Next day same path was used again, and again I let the trap in is spot. Next day the same path was used this time I put in a foothold on a drownder no lure on the path the beaver had used thinking I would have him the next day. Next day the bugger came from the opposite side and chewed and returned to the water.I left the traps in place for another week with activity every night. Now completly frustrated I put in a trap on this slide. But before leaving I noticed a small crossover that the beaver was now making obvious but not being allowed to set up the dam in Pa I put in a snare 20 or so yards away through a opening between two trees on the edge of the water for a long shot. Next day and finally!!!!!!! the bugger was mine but not only 1 but 2 beaver were awaiting me? One in the snare and one in the original path leading to the clump of birch go figure one was a small male the other a large male and my advirsary he weighed in at 63 lbs

Last edited by Payoter; 02/07/12 10:18 PM.

trap hard, make good sets, dispatch clean, apologize to no one
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #3000064
02/07/12 11:15 PM
02/07/12 11:15 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 140
Laurel ms.
V
v.spradley Offline
trapper
v.spradley  Offline
trapper
V

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 140
Laurel ms.
I hope to have a happy ending to a "bad beaver" story soon. My partner and I set an ADC job a week ago last Friday. In eight days we had caught all the beaver so we started pulling traps. Not long into our trap removal we noticed a set of fresh tracks coming from a bank den and set the den hard to get her.We are now three days into an endevor that we may not win with a trap shy BIIIITCH beaver.
Wish us luck.She will make #10 out of one pond.

Last edited by v.spradley; 02/07/12 11:16 PM.
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #3000626
02/08/12 10:31 AM
02/08/12 10:31 AM
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 14
Wisconsin
V
voyageurIW Offline
trapper
voyageurIW  Offline
trapper
V

Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 14
Wisconsin
Originally Posted By: goldy
Come on, somebody has some stories.


Well... I can share. I was not planning on it since I am a noobie, but right now I am in a battle of wits with a colony of educated beaver. The farmer has had other guys in there and they have caught a couple in the last year or so (at least two colonies and a 1/4 mi. of creek entering the river), but they seem to have done more to educate them than anything. Lately, the trappers have given up on catching them... there loss, my gain. Anyway, the first two days, the beavers just snapped my leg holds on purpose and did as they pleased (creek near a river... open water... currently I am working on only one small spot). I have not used bodyholds as these guys are square-shy (and I don't have any anyway... yet). Three days ago I fenced in a serious bit of riverway and set snares on the best areas I thought the beavers would travel through. For S&Gs I also reverse built a popple bait pole like you would use under ice with snares. I posted it in with a fencepost and have the snares attached to the bottom instead of the top (since it isn't on ice). I then set a snare on ea. side with it just creeping above water line and mainly under. Anyway, yesterday morning I had one on the bait pole! It wrapped itself around the bottom of the pole after getting snared and drowned. I reset it, but last night things froze up. It looks like a beaver went through one of the pinch spot snares, but the top was in ice and the bottom of the snare just got pushed up. I dropped the snares all to just below the water/ice line and hope to catch them cruising under the ice now. With the current cold snap, there should be a nice layer of ice (enough to keep their heads down, but too little for me to walk on) for a week or so.

Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #3000685
02/08/12 11:28 AM
02/08/12 11:28 AM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,238
Illinois
R
ratbrain Offline
trapper
ratbrain  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,238
Illinois
Not once....but twice this year on 2 of my beaver pemissions the landowners allowed other trappers to try to remove beavers....UNSUCCESSFULLY!!!
I even gave them a date when I would be out and they were OK with it. The one WANTED me to wait for a good freeze because the fields were too wet.
Wish me luck.

Last edited by ratbrain; 02/08/12 12:20 PM.
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: Payoter] #3000690
02/08/12 11:31 AM
02/08/12 11:31 AM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,511
Oakland, MS
yotetrapper30 Online content
trapper
yotetrapper30  Online Content
trapper

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,511
Oakland, MS
Originally Posted By: Payoter
Im glad to hear that Im not the only one with a few strange beaver trapping tales. Just this year I was trapping a dam system or a series of dam that the beavers had made on a small stream. After making one dam they would continue downstream and make a new larger and deeper dam until they made a dam that was 200 yards long and close to 15 feet deep.At this location I was instructed to take out every beaver as they were washing out a county bike trail system. This wasnt a problem for me as I have trapped some deep dams before, I put in the norm cator mounds, bait sticks and a few 330's in the shallow channels within the first week I had got 5, two very large beaver and three small beaver. I figured that I had got rid of most of the beaver and thought that there might only be one or two more beaver. Anyway after two weeks of nothing I was going to pull the traps and say mission accomplished when after a fresh snow I noticed a fresh set of large beaver tracks and went back into kill mode. I followed the tracks to some fresh cuttings and chewings and then back into the water. I set a #3 on the spot were the beaver came up on land, coverd and figurd good. Next day trap is still set but a new set of tracks coming from a few feet away leading to the clump of birch that he chewed the day before. I left the trap in place and just figured he got alittle spooked from the activity. Next day same path was used again, and again I let the trap in is spot. Next day the same path was used this time I put in a foothold on a drownder no lure on the path the beaver had used thinking I would have him the next day. Next day the bugger came from the opposite side and chewed and returned to the water.I left the traps in place for another week with activity every night. Now completly frustrated I put in a trap on this slide. But before leaving I noticed a small crossover that the beaver was now making obvious but not being allowed to set up the dam in Pa I put in a snare 20 or so yards away through a opening between two trees on the edge of the water for a long shot. Next day and finally!!!!!!! the bugger was mine but not only 1 but 2 beaver were awaiting me? One in the snare and one in the original path leading to the clump of birch go figure one was a small male the other a large male and my advirsary he weighed in at 63 lbs


So, which set caught the big one??


~~Proud Ultra MAGA~~
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: ratbrain] #3000695
02/08/12 11:34 AM
02/08/12 11:34 AM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,511
Oakland, MS
yotetrapper30 Online content
trapper
yotetrapper30  Online Content
trapper

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,511
Oakland, MS
Originally Posted By: ratbrain
Not once....but twice this year on 2 of my beaver pemissions the landowners allowed other trappers to try to remove beavers....UNSUCESSFULLY!!!
I even gave them a date when I would be out and they were OK with it. The one WANTED me to wait for a good freeze because the fields were too wet.
Wish me luck.


Think I'd be telling those farmers to enjoy their beaver!!!


~~Proud Ultra MAGA~~
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #3000709
02/08/12 11:51 AM
02/08/12 11:51 AM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1
Portage,Pa/ Morehead,KY
Payoter Offline
trapper
Payoter  Offline
trapper

Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1
Portage,Pa/ Morehead,KY
The snare got the big one and the foothold had the little one. Since I got these two I have not seen any more sign and I put a tail cam overlooking the main intersection and have not had any beaver go by so I think I can now say mission accomplished and move on


trap hard, make good sets, dispatch clean, apologize to no one
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #3000870
02/08/12 01:26 PM
02/08/12 01:26 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 495
michigan-TC
T
Tich Offline
trapper
Tich  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 495
michigan-TC
I trapped a pond for 3 months trying to get one particular beaver. After catching two others I think he got smart. I was skiing 1 mile into the pond and setting 330's. Every check, every trap was fired with no beaver! so every time I went in I brought more traps. I tried foot holds, castor mounds, [Please excuse my language... I'm an idiot] crossings, runs, everything! Pretty soon there was more steel in the water than you can find at a gander mountain. After 3 months of checking in freezing temps I finally got him. I found where he climbed over the [Please excuse my language... I'm an idiot] in a very odd spot and I set a 330 at the top of the [Please excuse my language... I'm an idiot]. Of course It was fired with no beaver the first check. So I laid it flat with the waterline and I nailed him climbing over the [Please excuse my language... I'm an idiot] and trying to dive through the trap. The nice thing was there was so much steel in the water there was a nice otter in the real dam slide 10 feet away. I had to make several trips to pack everything all that crap out. I may not be good, but dang it I am freaking persistent!!!!!




Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #3000884
02/08/12 01:38 PM
02/08/12 01:38 PM
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,146
NC
Buzzard Offline
trapper
Buzzard  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,146
NC
Mr Goldy Sir,

I have one such beaver to deal with now..........he is square as well as scent shy, I looked at the sets this morning.


Mr Beaver went down a crossover, and into a channel just big enough for a 330 and a snare set/dive pole.....he gets out of the channel, walks around the sets and then back into the water.


Would love to set a foot hold on the dam but aint got the balls.........main intersection where folks love to walk in old high rent district of Burlington, the dam is 50 feet from the road and in plain site.


Gonna be fun.......lol

Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #3000909
02/08/12 01:51 PM
02/08/12 01:51 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,300
minnesota
G
goldy Offline OP
trapper
goldy  Offline OP
trapper
G

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,300
minnesota
I was hoping you would chime in Buzz. You have to have a more than a few stories of beaver you've dealt with over the years.


"They that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety" Ben Franklin talking about guns
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #3000916
02/08/12 01:55 PM
02/08/12 01:55 PM
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,146
NC
Buzzard Offline
trapper
Buzzard  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,146
NC
I will add one a bit later........headin out to set more fox traps

Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #3000928
02/08/12 02:01 PM
02/08/12 02:01 PM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 26
Morganton NC
R
Ryan NC Offline
trapper
Ryan NC  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 26
Morganton NC
you can't keep fox now.... o-wait that's Burke county of the west side of 77 on a week day... lol

Finally got my Beaver today! smile


Just a Dang Mountain Moron who says it's about time to get ready for fur season! smile

Ya can't fix stupid, not even with duct tape!
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #3002419
02/08/12 11:52 PM
02/08/12 11:52 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,300
minnesota
G
goldy Offline OP
trapper
goldy  Offline OP
trapper
G

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,300
minnesota
Any more?


"They that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety" Ben Franklin talking about guns
Re: Stories of smart beaver [Re: goldy] #3003180
02/09/12 01:13 PM
02/09/12 01:13 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,162
Ohio
D
Don Adams Offline
trapper
Don Adams  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,162
Ohio
I am currently working on one right now. Yesterday I had a tripped 330 and the H stand leaning back towards the middle of the creek. I seen deer tracks on the bank near the castor mound so I thought well maybe the deer were crossing the creek and when they jumped up on the bank they must have kicked the 330. This morning I found my castor mound worked but no beaver in the foot hold. The guide stick near the dog of the trap was gone and the castor mound covered up/destroyed. Large beaver tracks going up the bank just about 20 feet away. I am thinking I might have a square shy beaver as he is not working the 330's guarding castor mounds, but did somehow miss the foothold. I set the foothold back a little further as the push off mark on the bottom was back a little further even though I used my hand to elbow measurement. I may have to set some snares on crawl outs along the creek as the 330's just aren't working this year. Last year I took 7 off of this creek. Never had a snapped 330 last year, so maybe it witnessed last years carnage?

Last edited by Don Adams; 02/09/12 05:38 PM.
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