Trap smart beaver
#6238386
05/12/18 09:59 AM
05/12/18 09:59 AM
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 992 Ohio, USA
Ave
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 992
Ohio, USA
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Hey guys, due to some smart adc beaver, I have to start using footholds. Ive got no experience with footholds for beaver, but I know the basics. Offsets aren’t preferred but it’s what I have. I’ll be using either a number 3 double long spring with 5/16 offset or a Bridger 2 closed jaw. Should I go with the bigger trap with offset or the smaller with closed jaws? I’ll be setting them on a drowner. Don’t worry lol, I’ll be investing in actual beaver footholds next year. Thanks
Ave don't go where the beaver don't flow
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Re: Trap smart beaver
[Re: Ave]
#6238414
05/12/18 11:01 AM
05/12/18 11:01 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,891 Wisconsin
The Beav
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,891
Wisconsin
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Tough question.
Neither trap would be my choice for targeting a hind foot. And since your telling us you have No experience with foot holds that makes it even more difficult. Targeting a front foot would be easier In your situation. A 5/16ths offset Is a bit much. But If you get a high hold on a front foot you may just get away with It. Do you have a welder? If so maybe you could close up that offset. I've caught a few beaver In #2s when targeting a front foot. But you better get that critter drowned as soon as possible.
If It were me I'd wait on this job till I had some real beaver traps. NO sense In making It any harder then It should be.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: Trap smart beaver
[Re: Ave]
#6238422
05/12/18 11:11 AM
05/12/18 11:11 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,607 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,607
james bay frontierOnt.
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You are going to educate them further and make them even harder to catch. A number 4 or bigger, with strong springs would be my choice for a beaver foothold. If legal in your area I would choose to snare nuisance beaver than use small footholds.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: Trap smart beaver
[Re: Ave]
#6238465
05/12/18 12:31 PM
05/12/18 12:31 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,891 Wisconsin
The Beav
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,891
Wisconsin
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Then he has to use It for targeting a front foot.
BUY beaver traps.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: Trap smart beaver
[Re: Ave]
#6238487
05/12/18 01:42 PM
05/12/18 01:42 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,487 Eastern Shore of Maryland
bad karma
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,487
Eastern Shore of Maryland
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Set for front foot with coilspring on an 1/8" cable drowner. Set with some pan tension and use poke sticks in front of the trap. Make the sticks sharp and the points right at waterlevel. Remember to offset the trap pan couple inches from center line of travel. Get him under and drowned ASAP.
Can also set the trap behind a low ridge of dirt as well so he is climbing and using his front feet. I prefer poke sticks though.
Never argue with a fool - they will drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
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Re: Trap smart beaver
[Re: Ave]
#6238490
05/12/18 01:44 PM
05/12/18 01:44 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,487 Eastern Shore of Maryland
bad karma
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,487
Eastern Shore of Maryland
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Pencil sized sticks too pointed in the direction you expect the beaver to come. If he is really and truly spooked castor probably won't work.
Never argue with a fool - they will drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
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Re: Trap smart beaver
[Re: Ave]
#6238505
05/12/18 02:13 PM
05/12/18 02:13 PM
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 992 Ohio, USA
Ave
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 992
Ohio, USA
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Thanks for all the answers! Bad karma, he responds to castor, as he has made challenging mounds next to mine, he just won’t commit to the trap. For whatever reason he removes all of my stabilizing sticks and dive poles, even though all the limbs are dead. Maybe I should just really block everything off ?
Ave don't go where the beaver don't flow
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Re: Trap smart beaver
[Re: Ave]
#6238516
05/12/18 02:31 PM
05/12/18 02:31 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,891 Wisconsin
The Beav
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,891
Wisconsin
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Get that beaver walking If your going to set for a front foot. And off set the trap about 4" right or left of center. I like to lay a large stick across the approach so the beaver has to step over It. Or build up a mud berm and have a pocket of water on the back side so you can submerge the trap.
Keep all this as natural as you can. Forget about castor and use a dab of sac oil at your set. Sac oil Isn't territorial so the beaver won't be so aggressive when approaching your set.
If you can back off for awhile I'd do so. Let things settle down and the go back In with a plan. Get In and out with a minimum of disturbance.
Good luck
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: Trap smart beaver
[Re: Ave]
#6238897
05/12/18 11:48 PM
05/12/18 11:48 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,891 Wisconsin
The Beav
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,891
Wisconsin
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Lot of good information. But there Is only one person who knows what kind of habitat he has to deal with.
No large log to deal with? Do you haul one in? You need to keep the killing ground as natural as can be. You move one log or change something that beaver will know It. Especially those that have been hassled.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: Trap smart beaver
[Re: Ave]
#6238934
05/13/18 06:08 AM
05/13/18 06:08 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,969 williamsburg ks
danny clifton
"Grumpy Old Man"
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"Grumpy Old Man"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,969
williamsburg ks
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sit quiet with the wind in your face and shoot them
Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
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Re: Trap smart beaver
[Re: Ave]
#6238939
05/13/18 06:20 AM
05/13/18 06:20 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,758 Williamsport, Pa.
jk
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,758
Williamsport, Pa.
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Blind set downstream in his pull out spot. Look careful and you will see that he comes out of water in a different spot then than the castor mound is at. And I like the mound of dirt rather than the the sticks or better yet a deeper depression with the trap in that in land a bit(this really is the same as a mound).....jk
Free people are not equal. Equal people are not free. What's supposed to be ain't always is. Hopper Hunter
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Re: Trap smart beaver
[Re: bad karma]
#6238985
05/13/18 08:10 AM
05/13/18 08:10 AM
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 17,499 Wheaton Ks
lee steinmeyer
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 17,499
Wheaton Ks
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Set for front foot with coilspring on an 1/8" cable drowner. Set with some pan tension and use poke sticks in front of the trap. Make the sticks sharp and the points right at waterlevel. Remember to offset the trap pan couple inches from center line of travel. Get him under and drowned ASAP.
Can also set the trap behind a low ridge of dirt as well so he is climbing and using his front feet. I prefer poke sticks though. If setting for a front foot, don't use castor based lures or your gonna have blowed traps. Bait will keep him there, I like cottonwood or popple, stuck in the mud in a semi circle around the back of the trap. Simple set with the poke sticks, and a front foot just about 98% of the time. Use an essential oil based lure, or even a muskrat food lure. Good luck!
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Re: Trap smart beaver
[Re: Ave]
#8084642
02/23/24 07:55 PM
02/23/24 07:55 PM
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Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 4 Rhode Island
Birddogs64
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 4
Rhode Island
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Ok , I need some serious suggestions please . We have tried "everything " . Blind sets , Food / Curiosity Sets , Castor sets worked for a " short " period . Now ? NOT A THING ! There are " at least " 4 lodges ... several main channels in water not wadable and to clogged by shrubbery for a boat . 3 dams , but my son doesn't want to use break dam sets to further EDUCATE THEM . Camera's show nothing but us checking traps . And yet we keep finding fresh feed sticks everyday . There are places to deep in muck that you can sink out of sight also . So .... what would you suggest to put a dent in this population ? 3 will not cut it and our season ends here March 14th. And we are on our 2nd year of beaver trapping, which we enjoy.
It's been freezing or above during the day ... and cold enough to freeze or for skim ice at night . Rhode Island " DOES NOT ALLOW FOOT HOLDS OR SNARES ," SO THOSE ARE OUT . So " my guess?" They are sticking to the lodge till it warms again?
There " were a couple" of neighbors who got together last year to snare a few beavers , not knowing what they were truely doing . So I think this also helped to smarted the beaver up . Thanks for any suggestions you have or can offer
An older indian who traps with one of her son's . And believe's in passing this knowledge on to the young .
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Re: Trap smart beaver
[Re: Ave]
#8084664
02/23/24 08:16 PM
02/23/24 08:16 PM
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 4,955 Aliceville, Kansas 43
Yukon John
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 4,955
Aliceville, Kansas 43
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Crack an anhydrous hose at every vent hole, or maybe dynomite!
Act like a blank, get treated like a blank. Insert your own blank!
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Re: Trap smart beaver
[Re: Ave]
#8084715
02/23/24 08:55 PM
02/23/24 08:55 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,217 Eau Claire Wi
Trap Setter
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,217
Eau Claire Wi
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RBGs or snares. Don't disturb the area just sneek em in where you can. Not sure of the check times in your state but leave the sets for maximum time or, better yet, like loosanarrow said, find uneducated ones somewhere else.
Life sure is tough when you don't learn from the mistakes of others.
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