June thought Ward was hard on Beaver? Update!

Not bragging, just wanted a catchy title!

Don't get to trap too much, but enjoy it. Set 8, 330 beaver traps on H-stands yesterday on a creek and caught 5 beavers this morning. I was pleased, as I typically don't have too many areas to even trap this species. Two biggest were 55 lbs, 10 oz, and 51 lbs, 10 oz. Last three were high 20's for a total of nearly 193 pounds. I caught four in crossovers and one on castor mound using Paul's Backbreaker (I even lured the crossovers, too, for added insurance) One dam break, castor mound and lodge set failed to produce. Moved the lodge one to castor mound set.
So, here's my question for beaver experts and I thank each of you for your expertise as I've learned a ton from you and you deserve much of the credit (although a blind man could have caught a couple on one crossover (from the creek to a slough) as it was incredible) for my success. I've read five is an "average" number for one colony. What's the chances I catch more tomorrow and Sunday?? Any potential for more big ones? All traps are set within a couple hundred yard stretch of creek.
If someone could help me out with a quick link/tutorial on photo posting I'll give it a go with all the results.
P.S. You serious beaver dudes are beasty if you haul those sacks of dead weight very far very often! And it's WORK tromping around in the mud and yuk!!!

my GUESS is no more fifty pounders. though if the spring go crazy and explore every ditch has started there you might. I'm thinking about a week here where I'm at

Wow! Second check was unreal and I was shocked!!!
Caught four more, with the biggest my personal best ever...68lbs, 5 oz!!! Big ol' female!
Also added two more of 50+ and a 28 pounder!!! Three on crossovers and one on Paul's Backbreaker at a castor mound (the one I moved from the lodge yesterday which paid off)! Total for the 4 outweighed yesterday's five and tallied 198lbs, 14 oz. I was excited to say the least!!

Now my question...are these 4, 50+ pounders 2-year-olds, or would that be at least 3+? I believe they were all males, although I've still got two left to skin. And would it be accurate to say those high 20-pounders are 1-year-olds???

One more day to check. I'm guessing I'm going to get skunked tomorrow, and that's after I said I'd be happy with one today and loaded up four!

The size of the beaver and ageing can be tough. Good or bad habitat can make a difference In size.

I always figured that 40lb + beaver was an adult and could be 3 or 4 years old.

A 2 year old would probably weight In at around 25+ Lbs. And yearling might go 15 or 18 lbs. But Like I said there are lots of variables that come Into play.

They don't call him ^^^^ The Beav for nothing !

You know I was at a convention one time and I had these kids and their father hanging around. Then one of the kids came over and asked me If I really was the beaver from the show. We all sat down and had a nice talk.
We do have the same last name. Mather and Mather's well kind of. LOl

That's funny! If you're mother's name was June that would be even better.

I was guessing that the 18-pounders I caught the first two days of our Kansas season were young-of-the-year (born that spring). I would have assumed those 18-pounders could add on 8-9 lbs in 4 months??? Using that rational I'd assume those 50+ were at least 3, maybe 4 years old.

Anyone have any kind of age/growth charts for beavers?

I was just trying to remember what I'd read about the colony structure, and that typically kits hang around for a couple years then bolt or get kicked out.

Regardless, one of my best couple of days ever! Other than the skinning part!!

Sorry. Double Post

Saw one by a creek once Turkey hunting. Next time it was chewed down and part of the lodge.

That's funny. I pictured my sister's charts in her garage of her now grown kids and the same thing on a tree. Ha!

Today's check was a big fat 0! Not too surprised. The landowner wishes them good riddance. They're not a terrible bother, but he'd rather not have them for fear of what they COULD do. Me? It's been a great place to catch at least a few each year so secretly I'm hoping there's still a couple running around to restock as I don't have many beaver spots.

Got two 50+ pounders and one 28-pounder to skin and then call the 2017-18 season a wrap. Kind of sad.

Thanks for following along on this three day jaunt.

This is what the state of MT have up .So it might help you some of the age. http://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=AMAFE01010

Thanks, Coy.
From that info, it appears my high 20-pounders might not be last year's kits, but rather 2-year-olds.