I discovered a beaver, who apparently got froze out of his den. Didn't see him till I was about to call it quits. Probably 40lbs healthy, but he was having a tough time. I watched him nose around 3 places before I figured out, it was a beaver den. On this lake, beaver dens have minimal to zero sign above water or ice in winter(flood control lake) and habitat for them is minimal at best.

Long story short, I ran him down, he was frost bit, and hungry, and despite all that,he didn't like me crowding him, told me so by trying to attack me rather violently(this is where I went from icefishing crocodile hunter, to panicked hillbilly slipping on ice real quick...) cooler heads prevailed, I shooed him up against a dirt bank, drilled 4, 6" holes with my auger, busted out the middle with a flat rock, splashed some water up at him, and wished him the best. He had a heck of a feed pile, and a den. Just got locked out. -10 temps will do that.

No expert, but from sign he left, and my knowledge of the ice on this lake, that beaver had been dry docked since last Sunday. Couple families of bald eagles roam there, more coyote tracks than law should alow, 3 days with temps at or below zero... Figured his genes were worth saving.
Ice was 12" thick at his den, most years, it don't freeze at all there.

Used to get wet and cold trapping beavers, and now I've been soaked, trying to help one.

Ain't it the times...

Good for you Hillbilly910, a true sportsman knows when to help the wildlife we pursue because we are all Gods creatures in the end.

Dave

Just seen a video where a bunch of people rescued a bunch of elk that feel through the ice .

Great story !

I helped a beaver
Caught 14 big white crappies
Was 16 degrees in the shade

It's a wonderful life for a southern icefishermen!

Thanks for sharing. Great story and crappie sounds delicious!!

Good job, yep us blood thirsty trappers do have hearts for what we pursue

Hope it's returned to you 10'times over

good job

Way to help

I was not raised as an outdoorsmen, and what I never understood until I started participating is that the animals are our partners, not our foes. We could probably do a better job marketing that message, although it is complex to understand if you didn't grow up with it.

Well stated!