Thanks for looking! I’m trying to trap beavers in an abandoned quarry. I only have access to about 300 ft of shoreline. Cut grass goes to the edge of the water with cottonwood and willows evenly spaced along the shoreline. Will a castor mound set work this time of year (western New York). There are no locations for body traps (I.e., bank holes or small streams/swales in the area). Can you recommend any other sets to use in this situation?

The area I’m able to set is the shoreline to the right of the black mark.
Thanks for any help!

Dino

Any castor set should work. Also a food lure set and a curiosity lure set . Give him the choice. At least 3 sets on drowners.

Thanks! I appreciate your response!!

I would cage trap that
if the edge is what it looks like on onx

Just curious (I don’t have any beaver cage traps), but what would the advantage be for using a cage trap over a foot trap? Thanks!!

Below are a few photos of the shoreline I can set along.

Thanks again for any helpful tips!

Question…”curiosity set”…can you provide some additional details? Thanks!!

Id make sets like the 4th pic,only at the shore indents where the trees are.
The castor mound at the open shoreline may work,but the problem setting open shoreline is you can get beaver working the set from a different approach than you want,and if using blocking to guide,it is more out of place along an open shoreline and if the beavers have seen any sort of trapping pressure before they will avoid such.

Thanks Boco! Day 2 and no beavers yet. I don’t trap many beavers, although I’m typically successful…should I be covering my traps with soft sediment or leaves? Also, how far from the bank (castor mound) should I be placing my traps…and in what water depth?

I’m going to cut and peel some willow and cottonwood branches to use as bait/eye appeal…should I place the branches on the shore where my castor mound would be or is there a different technique?

Again, I really do appreciate all the help!!!

Dino

No need to cover your trap if it is submerged. Set the trap right next to the castor mound. Us a little blocking and set the trap a little off set to one side or the other. Don't need to be off set much.

My go to is snares. Don't know about up there but I'd use food lures or visual lure like skint willow or pvc pipe. Also, if you're trapping to eliminate them all as usual in adc work, you got a long row to hoe with only 300' of shoreline to work from. I also don't know the law there, but if you have l3gal access to the water, are you not legal to trap the entire lake if you stay in the water? If so, a big stake drove in the ground anywhere away from shore, some Dobbins Woodchipper smeared above water level, and snares hanging at the legal heighth....50% submerged?..... should be some count? Good luck, you'll get em!

Sign looks old.
The set in the 4th picture could be a red flag to a beaver with a education (standard usda set with a body grip)
Traps are shallow compared to how I set.
I use old school cdr and brauns.
My mound would be a little further back with a dug out slicked up slide leading to it. A defined slide acts as a guide.
The mound itself would be prettier
(I would not be using straight castor set until late in the year here)
I would do a big flashy curiosity set with food lure and a dab of Beaver Plus





I would muck out a spot by the tree and set a cage, lightly brush and tromp a path though the weeds
Beaver Plus on on a peeled stick wired with grass to the back, a small dab at the door, a spoon flung out into the water and some up as in the tree as high as possible
Maybe some shaving in and in front for added appeal or some skun sticks thrown out in front

Wind would be your friend if it blows the right direction

All the recommendations seem good, in addition, don’t overlook a simple body grip covered in with a little bit of weed, we just put a beaver in the truck 10 minutes ago in a very similar looking place using Backbreaker in a couple of 330S

Finally!! One of the beavers was missing a foot and the other had damage to its toes…guessing they were somewhat educated. Thanks for all your suggestions!