Author Topic: HOW MANY BEAVER TRAPPERS DO WE HAVE ON HERE? (Read 4672 times)

Bogmaster · « **on:** February 17, 2008, 04:09:30 AM »

I am curious to know how many flat tail pursuants we have on here.I am thinking of some in depth posts on the subject,if we have enough interest.
Tom

trappnman · « **Reply #1 on:** February 17, 2008, 07:16:05 AM »

I trap what I got- but not many beavers in the SE hill country.

andytrapper · « **Reply #2 on:** February 17, 2008, 08:22:06 AM »

I'm trying to be one

i go ta find some more beaver that aren't 150 miles away lol

Andy

RdFx · « **Reply #3 on:** February 17, 2008, 11:40:52 AM »

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blkacoyote · « **Reply #4 on:** February 17, 2008, 12:38:43 PM »

Is that all Lee You prolly didn't even break a sweat

blkacoyote · « **Reply #5 on:** February 17, 2008, 12:47:45 PM »

Pulled these out of one flowage in a little over a week back around 95.

four coil · « **Reply #6 on:** February 17, 2008, 03:27:32 PM »

I'm a first year beaver trapper. Have had some luck through the ice. Can't wait for some for some open water. Would love to be involved in some beaver talk.
Shawn

RdFx · « **Reply #7 on:** February 17, 2008, 03:45:37 PM »

Duane each picture is a one day check and we go hells bells for a week , trying to hit it just as ice is going out to get the least amount of bit up bvr. You have some nice dark brown bvr on the shed. The bvr in pictures are along the Mich - Wi border where we get mostly dark brown with some nice pure blacks every now and then.. plenty of otter too even with trying to avoid them. Every year there are less and less bvr and the NAFA and FURHARVESTOR records show that plus the sizes are smaller and not as many blankets as yrs past.

Bogmaster · « **Reply #8 on:** February 17, 2008, 04:16:05 PM »

Shawn we will start to go in depth shortly.
I am sending some photos,both sets and catches to Macthediver,and he will post them for me.
Hang tight,
Tom

RdFx · « **Reply #9 on:** February 17, 2008, 07:26:27 PM »

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Here is another picture of spring line right close to home one year instead of doing the Michigan border line.
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Bogmaster · « **Reply #10 on:** February 18, 2008, 08:31:11 AM »

Nice photos,guys.Afraid we are in for a long wait,before the ground looks like that again.
Tom

four coil · « **Reply #11 on:** February 18, 2008, 02:15:00 PM »

Since this is going to be the place to talk beaver, I'd like to get it started. Like Tom said it will be a little while before open water will be available, so here is an under ice question. Since I'm new to beaver trapping I don't have a lot of traps. So I try to use what I got. This weekend I made a set under the ice with a #3 long spring. I made a platform out of a board and used a 2x2 to support it. The board has a 2 1/2" hole so it can slide over the 2x2 to adjust the depth. I wired some large popple branches to the 2x2 a set the trap on the platform. Has anyone else tryed this? Any advise?

RdFx · « **Reply #12 on:** February 18, 2008, 05:19:29 PM »

With the platform set if the water was deep i hope you either set it right on bottom so bvr will settle down on trap then cut bait or right up tight to top of ice with platform right under it.. you have to make bvr squeeze in in between bait and platform. SNares or body grips would be better way for you but if you only have nbr 3 dbl longs you willhav to work with that. You can make a pen set under ice in water say 1 to 1 1/2 foot deep . Put a popple pole in pen and set trap in front of it.. You want bvr to have to squeeze and put front feet down when cutting off bottom of pole. If you dont they will float in suspension in water and lots of times dont get caught or set trap off and not have foot in fully. Good Luck.

four coil · « **Reply #13 on:** February 19, 2008, 12:20:50 AM »

Lee, I also have snares and conis under set under the ice. I just wanted to get a few more set made with what I had left. The platform is about a 1' below the ice in about 4' of water. Is that tight enough?
Shawn

Bogmaster · « **Reply #14 on:** February 19, 2008, 05:08:44 AM »

Shawn,how are you setting up your 330's and snares? Have you been catching beaver?
I have done well before with trigger baited body grippers.Mike and I also finished up a beaver job a couple weeks ago ,using snare poles.These worked very well also.
Tom

RdFx · « **Reply #15 on:** February 19, 2008, 07:24:28 AM »

Shawn if you mean the bait then yes and platform below that... you can also make a platform set right at bottom of pole also, just like when you use snares and set yr snares at bottom and at top where bvr would cut off pole... ON both sets though if you put your bait horizontally to trap then you have to have something like dead sticks nailed in behind bait so bvr comes in front where trap is, same on bottom. OR you put your bait horizontally and bvr will work from front where trap is... Good Luck.

four coil · « **Reply #16 on:** February 19, 2008, 09:45:44 AM »

Tom, I have been setting my 330's with both springs on one dead pole and with poplar and a small piece of pvc pipe attached to the wires. I can't help it I'm plumber. The snares I got from Rally Hess and I followed his instructions. On my last check I had a snare pole set in about 18" of water where I caught 54# beaver 3 weeks ago. When we checked the snares one snare was knocked off so we pulled it out to see what happened. The snare caught one of those big cattail roots. It was pulled tight like who ever was holding the root still wanted it. We also saw an otter there as there is open water at that location. I pulled my sets out there because with all the cold weather we have had the ice is only 3"thick and getting worse. Hope to be open water trapping that spot while ice trapping other spots.
Shawn

four coil · « **Reply #17 on:** February 19, 2008, 09:54:04 AM »

Lee I had the platform 1' down from the bottom of the ice with 3 1" poplar sticks about 1' long wired to my pole in the vertical position. Now I wished I would have put a dead stick on either side to block side access. We'll see this weekend.
Shawn

RdFx · « **Reply #18 on:** February 19, 2008, 01:27:23 PM »

Shawn the 1 foot sounds okay and i didnt learn everything right away either and do some things differant than other trappers and you will to when you find a method that works for you... Thats what is fun and interesting about trapping.... keep at it and good luck... Lee

four coil · « **Reply #19 on:** February 19, 2008, 02:01:16 PM »

Lee thanks for the help. Maybe there will be a beaver at the end of the chain next check. You know what they say, "Even a blind beaver finds a few sticks."
Shawn

RdFx · « **Reply #20 on:** February 19, 2008, 02:40:46 PM »

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Picture of myself on dogsled box and of spring castor mound set with bait for eye appeal. sometimes i dont even use a mudpile and just a dry stick with castor on it. In high traffic (people) area i dont use bait sticks or mud pie, just inconspiscous stick with castor on it and camoflauged bodygrip or mud covered foothold on drowner.

RdFx · « **Reply #21 on:** February 19, 2008, 03:00:00 PM »

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Bet you didnt know jeeps could be used as spring bvr boats did you! Well if your CAREFULL....lol.... fun trying to find your sets under five feet of water from when you originally set them....

doublesettrigger · « **Reply #22 on:** February 19, 2008, 03:10:46 PM »

Tom, I am a flat tail persuant. Post away.,,,Thanks,,,Rickey

RdFx · « **Reply #23 on:** February 19, 2008, 03:14:52 PM »

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Bvr in a foodhold that wouldnt go down drowner wire... happens sometimes...

Bogmaster · « **Reply #24 on:** February 22, 2008, 12:51:41 PM »

The unexpected can happen at any time.Even with 330s I get a few each year that are alive.Some of these have backed into my sets while other may be carrying a branch when caught,keeping the jaws from closing all the way.
Tom

MacinMaine · « **Reply #25 on:** February 22, 2008, 01:00:25 PM »

Good thread, great pictures
Mac

coyotero · « **Reply #26 on:** February 23, 2008, 05:01:19 AM »

I sometimes have to trap beaver but I'm not a beaver trapper.Canines are my thing.I just love catching those "flea taxis".

Bogmaster · « **Reply #27 on:** February 23, 2008, 06:32:57 AM »

Ah coy, some guys just don't appreciate the finer things in life.
Beaver trapping provides us with so many things---Hernias,carpal tunnel syndrome,not to mention the chances are good of taking a daily ice bath or two.It is also one of the best weight reduction sysyems on this earth.
You can have your fleas--give me beaver.
Tom

RdFx · « **Reply #28 on:** February 23, 2008, 11:02:43 AM »

Shucks im beggining to think Tom doesnt trap many bvr now days!!!!!!!!!! REASON..... well... every year i get one or two bvr that are just lousy with fleas, dont know why but they show up, no ryhme or reason or from certain areas... little buggers are jumping all over the place and crawling on yr nose or eyelids or ears as yr skinning.... doesnt that just give you the willllllyyyyyyssss..LOL... especially when your hands are all bloody or full of bvr fat and you dont want to wipe or squish the little HOPPERS....

Bogmaster · « **Reply #29 on:** February 23, 2008, 11:24:09 AM »

Out of a few thousand,I can only remember a couple that were literally crawling.
Hygiene standards of Minnesota Beaver,must be higher than those across the river.A lot may have a bug or two,but not enough to make me squemish.
Tom