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Beaver - Under Ice Beaver -Here's some tips #66146
01/31/07 06:16 PM
01/31/07 06:16 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 318
Harrison, Michigan
Huntersridge Offline OP
trapper
Huntersridge  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 318
Harrison, Michigan
Thought I would share a few "pointers" for those that keep asking about under ice beaver trapping. Now I know that all situations are different, but following a few tips here will at least give you a good idea where to place your sets when you go into an area "cold". This pond (small cranberry marsh)that I am using below for reference, I have never seen before 3 days ago, so I am setting using what I call the "breaks method".

Here is the pond from a distance:

As soon as I hit the ice I look for what I call "breaks" in the vegetation. By "breaks", I am talking about openings in between the vegetation. When the water is open these are still there and the beaver is using them by swimming in between them. It is a lot more obvious when the water is open. The beaver are traveling the same openings EXCEPT they are traveling beneath the ice now. Below are a few examples of "breaks":






Something else to keep in mind :

These are the same areas you are walking through naturally as you walk the ice. Remember the "path of least resitance" theory? The beaver are taking these same routes you are walking, with the exception they are under the ice.

Here is the result of setting one of the "breaks" shown in the picture. This was set using a baited 330 conibear.







Here's a few more examples from another pond on the same day:







The next time you are on the ice start looking for these openings or "breaks". For those of you that are just getting into under ice beaver, it will come to you more naturally as time goes by.
You can set them "blind" with 330's or snares or with batied sets. Either way, the beaver are there.


Re: Under Ice Beaver- - -Here's some tips [Re: Huntersridge] #66207
01/31/07 06:53 PM
01/31/07 06:53 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 508
SE. Minnesota
F
Flesher Offline
trapper
Flesher  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 508
SE. Minnesota
Awesome advice. thanks for taking the time to post.

Re: Under Ice Beaver- - -Here's some tips [Re: Huntersridge] #66229
01/31/07 07:05 PM
01/31/07 07:05 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 758
U.P. Michigan
Spade Offline
trapper
Spade  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 758
U.P. Michigan
Excellent pics and information


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Re: Under Ice Beaver- - -Here's some tips [Re: Spade] #66235
01/31/07 07:11 PM
01/31/07 07:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 110
Seacoast, NH
Coalman Offline
trapper
Coalman  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 110
Seacoast, NH
Great post HR. Now where's my chisel?
Coalman


Life Member NH Trappers Association
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Re: Under Ice Beaver- - -Here's some tips [Re: Coalman] #66240
01/31/07 07:15 PM
01/31/07 07:15 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 318
Harrison, Michigan
Huntersridge Offline OP
trapper
Huntersridge  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 318
Harrison, Michigan
You'll notice in the pics how my dog naturally follows these opening or "breaks" as he walks out ahead of me. You'll also see that with fox and coyotes walking the ice. You could literally trap coyote or fox right above your beaver sets.

Re: Under Ice Beaver- - -Here's some tips [Re: Huntersridge] #66248
01/31/07 07:20 PM
01/31/07 07:20 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,886
Bethel, AK
Kusko Offline
"Mr. Mayor"
Kusko  Offline
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Posts: 3,886
Bethel, AK
Good pics and thanks for taking the time to post.


"There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin." Linus Van Pelt

www.alaskafinandfur.com
Re: Under Ice Beaver- - -Here's some tips [Re: Kusko] #66303
01/31/07 08:06 PM
01/31/07 08:06 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 165
nebraska
N
ne.cooner Offline
trapper
ne.cooner  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 165
nebraska
awsome post

Re: Under Ice Beaver- - -Here's some tips [Re: ne.cooner] #66320
01/31/07 08:14 PM
01/31/07 08:14 PM

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Anonymous
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Excellent psot, Lots of good info.
Thanks

Re: Under Ice Beaver- - -Here's some tips [Re: ] #66340
01/31/07 08:22 PM
01/31/07 08:22 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,373
Oregon
Uncle Fester Offline
"Mongoose Master"
Uncle Fester  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,373
Oregon
Awesome info. Lets hope I never have to use it here in NC. LOL. Hopefully I will when I get back to Oregon. Thanks

Re: Under Ice Beaver- - -Here's some tips [Re: Uncle Fester] #66626
01/31/07 10:19 PM
01/31/07 10:19 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 110
KY
beetle Offline
trapper
beetle  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 110
KY
Huntersridge, what is the optimum depth that you want your 330 in your baited pole set? It appears your trap is set pretty far off the bottom, is it set just under the ice?

Thanks


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Re: Under Ice Beaver- - -Here's some tips [Re: beetle] #66711
01/31/07 10:45 PM
01/31/07 10:45 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 318
Harrison, Michigan
Huntersridge Offline OP
trapper
Huntersridge  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 318
Harrison, Michigan
beetle,

Yes the trap is failry close to the ice. I like to leave it about a foot or so beneath the ice. Most times beavers are swimming right up close to the bottom of the ice anyways.

Re: Under Ice Beaver- - -Here's some tips [Re: Huntersridge] #66728
01/31/07 10:52 PM
01/31/07 10:52 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 230
northeast kentucky
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arg1 Offline
trapper
arg1  Offline
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Posts: 230
northeast kentucky
Great post Huntersridge! one of the best I have seen on here. What do you use for bait? How often do you check the traps? The beaver here in my area love poplar and we have plenty of it.

Barry


If at first you don't succeed, ask someone on Tman
Re: Under Ice Beaver- - -Here's some tips [Re: arg1] #66972
02/01/07 01:12 AM
02/01/07 01:12 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 85
Ozarks
MO-Trapper Offline
trapper
MO-Trapper  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 85
Ozarks
Thanks for a very informative post. Good luck on your line, and keep us updated with some pics of the sets that connect.


Brian
Re: Under Ice Beaver- - -Here's some tips [Re: MO-Trapper] #67205
02/01/07 10:05 AM
02/01/07 10:05 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 318
Harrison, Michigan
Huntersridge Offline OP
trapper
Huntersridge  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 318
Harrison, Michigan
arg1,

I use whatever is in the area. If the poplar is numerous, I use that. If maple is the predominant wood, then I use that.Just so long as they see the fresh uneaten wood. Dogwood also works very well. I have used everything from Poplar to Pine and it does not seem to matter. It is a free meal to them.

Re: Under Ice Beaver- - -Here's some tips [Re: Huntersridge] #67275
02/01/07 11:03 AM
02/01/07 11:03 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 85
Hayward, WI
TrapperKD Offline
trapper
TrapperKD  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 85
Hayward, WI
Great pictures. Thanks for sharing. \:D

Re: Under Ice Beaver- - -Here's some tips [Re: TrapperKD] #67280
02/01/07 11:06 AM
02/01/07 11:06 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 318
Harrison, Michigan
Huntersridge Offline OP
trapper
Huntersridge  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 318
Harrison, Michigan
Here's another example:
Again, you can set these "blind" (due to the fact the beaver are already swimming through) or you can make baited sets here.



Re: Under Ice Beaver- - -Here's some tips [Re: Huntersridge] #67336
02/01/07 11:58 AM
02/01/07 11:58 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 45
Wisconsin
T
Trapshy Offline
trapper
Trapshy  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 45
Wisconsin
Very well done - excellent post! \:\)

Re: Under Ice Beaver- - -Here's some tips [Re: Trapshy] #67355
02/01/07 12:16 PM
02/01/07 12:16 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 72
NW Indiana
Primo Trapper Offline
trapper
Primo Trapper  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 72
NW Indiana
Great pics and thoughts.
Thanks for the tips and excellent reading.


ISTA
Re: Under Ice Beaver- - -Here's some tips [Re: Primo Trapper] #67368
02/01/07 12:23 PM
02/01/07 12:23 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,932
NY
R
Rat_Pack Offline
trapper
Rat_Pack  Offline
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R

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,932
NY
Great post Hutersridge. Very informative. Kre - I can't speak for HR, but a lot of times when you set close to the house you'll take the little ones. Generally, young ones don't seem to travel nearly as far as the adults, at least that's what I've found. It's amazing how far an adult beaver will travel under the ice.

Re: Under Ice Beaver- - -Here's some tips [Re: Rat_Pack] #67378
02/01/07 12:37 PM
02/01/07 12:37 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,186
Connecticut
Mystic Wildlife Offline
trapper
Mystic Wildlife  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,186
Connecticut
It's illegal to trap at houses in some states.

Great post HR, thanks for the effort.

Last edited by Woofman; 02/01/07 12:38 PM.
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