QuestiOn for you guys.
Theres a pond that a lady says she heard a beaver slapping it's tail in.
I went to check it out and found several small "castor mounds" or what I assume is castor mounds. It's piles of leaves and stuff off the bottom of the pond.
Anyway there are maybe a dozEn of these around the pond, I can find no chewing stick at all in or around the pond.
I did find a hole in the bank that is maybe 12" in dia. I placed a 330 in front of it.
I also put a few castor mounds and put traps in the slides.
One 750 caught a coon the first night, another 750 that is offset caught something but it got out.

Will that 330 stop a beaver from coming in and out of the hole?
Have you seen ponds with mounds and no chew sticks?

Yes and yes.

I probably would not have been so aggressive in putting a 330 in front of the den. I would probably have taken a few pieces of wood and scraped off the bark and put a 330 guarding it. I typicaly use maple because it stands out well and doesn't turn dark as fast as other woods. Then I would put out a couple of castor mounds with 330's guarding them. I don't usualy put any traps in or near the dam or den because they only educate the other beavers when they see a dead one. If you are a fur trapper this all would be okay because you are not trying to trap them all out.

Those are not castor mounds per se,those are scent markers-the beaver is advertising for a mate.If it gets no action it may move on.

Here are a few pics of the sets I have out.

I thought after I set the 330 in front of the hole, that it might be too aggressive right off the bat.

Should I move it now? How long can the beaver stay in the hole, if that's even his hole!


Castor mound??? Not my set. 12 of these around the pond.

Real fuzzy pic, but you can see the hole and the 330.

Beaver hole are most of the time in the water. I would slick up the bank alot more so it looks like wet mud. Get them leaves out of there. Please be careful with them 330s on dry land.

Putting a 330 on dry land is inviting trouble..

that is not a hole a beaver will be coming out of!!!!!unless all the water is gone beaver dens begin underwater. All your looking to do with that 330 is catch any non target investigating that hole.

Not always a good idea to front door, especially first. Don't throw everything at them at once, one thing at a time. Have used 330's with castor with great success. Switched to 660's when they became available. If the colony is new, small, one or two sets if all I want. One great set is much better than throwing in a bunch in the hopes something will connect.

I kinda tought if it was a beaver hole, there would be a slide there.

Have you seen better luck with using 660's?

Okay. Let's start with that 330 up on the bank. I don't know what made that hole, but it wasn't a beaver. You may catch a coon, possum or someones dog in that trap, but not a beaver. If it were me, I'd move that one post haste! I don't like making lethal sets on dry land. Too much risk of killing someones pet.

Next; The foot holds you've got just in the water. I'm assuming they are rigged on a drowning slide? Where they are positioned, you may get a front foot catch. But the problem with trying to get him by the front foot is that when he swims up to the bank, especially at a castor mound, he may be carrying mud and debris and such in his front arms. In this case he'll not put his foot down on the trap. He may snap it with his belly or with sticks and such and you'll miss the catch. Then all you've done is educate him.

I would move the trap back away from the bank about 12 to 16 inches. That way when him swims up to the bank, he'll stop and his hind end will settle down to the bottom and his hind foot will set the trap off as he tries to push himself up.

You might try a mock castor mound. Take some mud and leaves and mess from the bottom of the pond and build a mound on the bank. Pat it flat. Then dig out a slide right into the bank and slick it down to give the appearance of a well traveled path. Put some scratches in it that resemble claw marks if you like. A few peeled sticks on or around it are optional but mark it with a little Dobbins Back Breaker castor lure. Then place a 330 in the water guarding the slide.

Let us know how this works out.

Good luck!

Setting 660's is faster, not much blocking, if any. Rather not fence anyway. Used the 660's as is for years then modified a few yet again. Think it gives a beaver more confidence in a less confined area. Easier to find locations, more opportunities. The trigger configuration is nice and travel is just right, solid setting. Rich has the parts cut right, and consistent. I don't like to force or make the run fit the trap, but find the trap that fits the run. Best night was 15, 660's set and 3, 330's. Ended up with a rat and 14 beaver in the 15 without a miss. When asked if I like them I just say no, I love them. Fine otter and rat trap too.

Still nothing today.
I have 3 castor mounds out, 2 with back breaker and one with Beaver Plus.
I did kick all the old beaver made castor mounds in the water, that away I could tell if he came and made any new ones.
The water is real shallow, that's why I had the traps close to the bank.