Yesterday I went further away from home (180 mile round trip) to a river I haven't trapped for over a decade. Took a few pics. Got a late start so only got 12 traps in. This river has some boulders the size of cars just under the waterline so you have to read the current very carefully. Today was first check:

But first: Coastal pastures next to the river... the elk think this farmer's pasture is just swell!


And I was kind of blown away by a vineyard that has expanded their operation to include olives! I'd never guessed you could successfully grow commercial olives on the 45th parallel! Had to stop and take a pic of those. Notice they have elk proof fencing. LOL


And finally, back at the landing. Set out 9 more traps on a different section of the river and checked the first 12. Pretty good catch rate. 3 beaver and 4 otter. I was focused on finding and setting otter toilets so all of these came off toilets:

That's sure is beautiful country! Nice catch! Look like big otter too! Good luck tomorrow!
Mnratman

Very nice looking critters, congratulations on a great day!

Good Job

Cool Photo!!!

I'm jealous of your Surroundings

Unfortunately Oregon is filled with lefty's now and it's a shame. That State has all kinds of landscapes, coastal, mountains, desert, forest. It's breathtakingly beautiful out there. Nice catch btw.

Nice catch and nice scenery.
Maybe the fence is to keep the beaver from cutting down the olive trees.

The grass IS greener on the other side!

At least I know you are not in my territory -- no elk here yet (on a regular basis anyway)

Beautiful!!! I would have to have a fishing pole with me too though!

Do you have a special set at the toilets or just getting them in the pinch?

Those are thumper otter.

There is a majour virus going across Europe that is affecting century old olive trees and killing them. So the time of olives is dooms day approaches soon. Someone is on the ball getting ahead start on an orchard.
Nice collection of pale otter.....jumbo at that.

Actually these otters were not spectacular for size. The photo lies. They will stretch 38-40". They're also not pale but dark brown. This river tends to get a silvery belly on its otters.

First trick is to find the toilet. Then the real work is deciding how to set it up. Unfortunately, not many toilets have nice easy pinch points so I have to improvise a little. Three of these were caught in MB750's and the 4th in a 280 Belisle set on a pinch point trail going up to a second section of the toilet a little higher up.

With the 750's I look for where most of the otters seem to approach the toilet and then bed the trap either in the water or at the first spot up on the bank that looks like where they might step. Then I lightly brush up the other competing spots that they might traverse to force them into my 750. Doesn't always work...but works often enough to keep me in the game.

Today one of my 750's in the water was completely silted in from the wakes of passing jet pump boats (steelhead fishermen) and fresh otter tracks all over it. Might of, could of, should of ,have had 5. LOL

Not yet anyway!

Nice scenery and good job Beaverpeeler!

Very nice thanks for taking and posting pictures

Very nice.

Awesome haul beaverpeeler. And goodness, those elk are always nice to look at.
Get 'em!

Blessings,
Mark