Was setting a bank hole today, previously I set a separate hole about 15 feet up the creek. As I was setting the 2nd hole a beaver came out like a big torpedo, swam up stream and got caught in the first 330 I set. How often has this happened? First for me but I am far from a seasoned water trapper.

Awesome if just 15 ft away !

Never had it happen with beaver but a couple times with 'rats

I’ve had an otter and a beaver hit a 330 at hole entrances while I still had the 330 in my hand.
Squealed like a little girl and came out of the water like a seal both times lol.

Over the years I have watched a few beaver get caught just after setting a trap.
The most memorable was one evening I was setting a 330 on the lower side of a crossover on a big dam.I was able to just peek over the top of the dam while setting.I noticed some v waves in the fading light,it was a beaver swimming toward the top of the crossover.I froze with the set trap still in my hands.I watched as the beaver started to climb out of the water at the top of the crossover,he did not know I was there.Just as he started down the crossover I shoved the set 330 right on his noggin and he was toast in short order.
Lots of weird stuff happens on the trapline.

Loving these stories. I'm not saying I was all manly sounding when it came out of the den in front of me. I was singing a tune for sure. Little higher octave than I'm used to.

I posted this in the contest form too. It’s wicked experiencing it! Bocos would be real tough to beat though, that’s crazy! If you sit still, they’ll come right by you.

I was setting beaver traps on opening day several years ago, I just got a 330 set and seen bubbles coming towards me , I don't remember any real water movement just bubbles, I didn't have time to do anything other than lower the trap.infront of the hole I felt him hit the trap then hit it again, snap a perfect head / neck catch. Boy did he roll around and around and around anyhow it was a big rascal if memory serves me it was 65 lbs.

Was walking parallel to a steep bank...in about 2 feet of water..

And had a beaver fire out of a hole...and brushed my boot.

Had no idea there was a hole there ...puckered up a touch !

Rats, yes. Beavers, no.

I've had them slapping their tail at me ...while I was setting a 330.

The beaver was about 25 feet away....and not happy.

I got the set made ...put the stink stick behind the trap..

And walked away

Got about 30 yards away ...and heard the 330 go off...that was my fasted catch

Had that happen once while placing a set 330. Tried to lasso that joker with the 330. I ain't much of a beaver wrangler because I missed and had to reset the trap.

My best scared out of shorts beaver story...

I was in about a foot of water...with back to the pond.

And was flatting out a trap bed for my MB 750...

That little sum gun...sneaked up on me so close ...

That when he slapped his tail...I got wet...true story.!

Finished making that set ...with one eye on that beaver !

My heart rate was up a touch...after that beaver blind sided me

With that tail slap

Love that tail slap, NOT. Used to get it all the time on the river when running trotlines at night. No matter how many times one popping right next to the boat in the dark you still nearly soil yourself.

Haha that's great! This guy came out of the hole my arm was in front of and swam 2 ft from me, he went 15 foot up the creek and into the 330. His tail thrashing splashed me. I've had them come out of dens while setting, just never lucky enough to see them hit the 330. Was a decent beaver too
45 or so.

no never have had it happen in 55 years

I was setting a bank den one day with a 330, while trying to center the trap in the entrance caught a beaver with the trap in my hands. I didn't even have it staked yet. I tossed it up on the bank, staked it down and grabbed another trap to set and had another the same way. Finally, set a third trap without any drama and had a third beaver the next morning. For the record, I know just what squealing like a school girl sounds like... 40# of thrashing beaver in your hands will get the heart rate up!

Paddled out to a lodge in a jon boat to see if possible set to set 330s at lodge entrances. Beavers were already spooky so why not. Once at the lodge I determined only one entrance was shallow enough for a trap. I leaned over side of boat and fastened trap to a log...placed trap on tall support down in front of the obvious entrance. Took one paddle stroke away from lodge and......WHOOSH!

Water splashed all over me and a large male fought it to the end.

The largest majority of my sets are castor mounds I make with a half submerged 330 set in front of the mound. More than once I have had to grab the safety off the 330 and have been standing right next to the set when the beaver was caught,They paid no attention to me at all---all they cared about was getting to that lure, Exiting for sure,
Tom

I have caught several beaver at den entrances through the ice while I have been still on sight. This winter I had a baited 330 get hit within 5 minutes of setting it. That was a first. 330's make a distinctive sound when they go off under the ice. You can hear it 50 yards away (whump).

That’s nice! No chipping!…lol. I’ve sat beside the hole for half an hour or so waiting. -20C, sunny, no wind I could sit down wearing a sweater an chill out, but no beaver in the sets when we left. Chipping required the next weekend.

My first time beaver trapping with one of my mentors Irv Schirmer. Irv was placing a 330 over a den hole and had finished stabilizing the trap. We turned to leave in search of another spot when the trap went off. Irv smiled and I thought, "Man, I like this this beaver trapping stuff?"

I was setting a bank den. I was standing in the water put the trap in place, staked one side and was looking for a stick to stabilize the other side. This is when I hear the trap go off and feel pressure on my wader boot. I thought I had caught my self but as I raised my foot out of the water there was a beaver in the trap that was bitting onto my foot. Talk about getting excited and wet! Thank God it was just a kit or my nickname would be 9er.