Author Topic: Tom, Mound master #1, and Mound master #2? (Read 1148 times)

four coil · « **on:** March 13, 2008, 03:01:31 PM »

Tom, What is the difference between these two? Where or when do you use one over the other. With this thaw I hope to make some open water sets in an area that has springs that made ice trapping difficult.
Shawn

Bogmaster · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2008, 06:55:09 PM »

Shawn,both Moundmasters are castor based.#2 has a sweeter smell than #1.I use both of them all times of the year.I alternate between the two at every other set.I give the beavers a choice.
Over the years they are almost dead even in beaver numbers taken.
Tom

four coil · « **Reply #2 on:** March 13, 2008, 11:21:20 PM »

Thanks for the reply. Did notice #2 was sweeter, You were talking about taste right? Hopefully I'll get to use both today. If not, more chain saw work!
Shawn

Bogmaster · « **Reply #3 on:** March 14, 2008, 05:17:36 AM »

Shawn,I end up wearing a lot of Moundmaster,when I am mixing it.But as of yet,not really tasted it.I will rely on my nose and not my tongue, thank you.
I keep having my wife smell it,lol.I then say--doesn't it smell good.Poor woman.After a day of inhaling castor,my sniffer is pretty much shot,so I am trying to get her to appreciate the finer odors in life .
Tom

four coil · « **Reply #4 on:** March 15, 2008, 01:55:38 AM »

Our quest for some open water trapping was denied by a layer of ice not safe to walk on. Maybe next week. There are two lodges on this pond that have fresh sticks on them from this past fall. The one lodge is in shallow water, maybe 2' deep, the next lodge is about 150 yards away in deeper water. We set them both in the past but only caught one at the shallow. But in all fairness, we probably didn't know what we were doing. Would a colony build two lodges? The shallow lodge is were the ice is bad, and I hope to make some open water sets soon. The ice is open in spots, would we expect to see beaver climbing out on to the ice? We did have an otter pop its head out at us and give us a look, but we don't have a tag. Next question, this pond dumps into a trout stream that is about 20' wide. The banks of the stream that were open have edges that are at 90 degrees to the bottom. Was told by a DNR fish tech that in the past that this area should be a good spot to catch traveliers. How do you set such locations? The water was about knee deep or better. I probably should look for a more tappered bank, right.
Shawn

Bogmaster · « **Reply #5 on:** March 15, 2008, 06:09:12 AM »

Shawn,no there is a possibility that both lodges were built by one colony,but I have my doubts.One may actually have been built by some of last years 2 year olds.Some beaver may allow their booted offspring to set up housekeeping near them.Then again,some beaver are not as fiesty as others,and it may be a different non-related colony all together.Thats one of the great things about trapping and dealing with animals,you never come up with all the answers.A person may think they have everything figured out--but that is never possible.
I still use 330s and castor mounds ,Knee deep water or deeper still works for me,adaptation of the set is the key.
Is the water to the top of the bank?or is it several feet below?
We will continue ,when you give me this info.
Tom

four coil · « **Reply #6 on:** March 15, 2008, 07:24:23 AM »

The water level is just below the top of the bank. Probably will rise with the thaw. The banks are pretty much flat with grass and scrub brush on them. The stream is a trout stream with a rocky bottom, the pond that drains to this stream is muck and the connecting creeks below the dams are solid bottom muck. The pond will be easy to set with its tapered banks, the main stream and the connecting creeks have knee deep water with fairly verticle edges. Great for a bottom edge set, but I want to use castor mounds. Do I have to make my own slides?
Shawn

Bogmaster · « **Reply #7 on:** March 15, 2008, 08:17:58 AM »

I may make my castor mounds at pull outs and slides,but I never bother making a slide--I just make a mud pile,and lure that.
Castor mounds can also be made beside and along any dams-don't for get to set up any dam cross overs.
Travelers will be using most creeks--be sure to set them up.I use stabilizers with almost every set.If the bottom is to rocky for this,I use rocks placed on my 330 springs,to stabilize my traps.I may also place a rock behind my trap,and build my mound on that,if the water is to deep.
Tom

four coil · « **Reply #8 on:** March 31, 2008, 12:32:07 PM »

We were able to make some open water sets this past weekend. Going to check them Wed. Today its raining and the question I have is if the water didn't wash my caster mounds away, how do they hold up to rain and do you re-lure them when you check them?
Shawn

blakdog · « **Reply #9 on:** March 31, 2008, 12:55:49 PM »

Shawn
Ask tom the drowning question. There are no shortcuts! Gonna have to man up and hump some weight in!
Troy

Bogmaster · « **Reply #10 on:** March 31, 2008, 01:45:35 PM »

Now you guys know why I love 330's.No screwing around with drowning paraphernalia.
Troy your bags will work,fill them with whatever you have.
Tom

four coil · « **Reply #11 on:** March 31, 2008, 03:23:39 PM »

That is the reason I bring you along Troy, to do the heavy lifting while I do the setting. Did you tell the boys about your swim?
Shawn

four coil · « **Reply #12 on:** March 31, 2008, 03:33:51 PM »

Tom are you coming to Wisconsin to do any demos this year? If so Troy will find out why you don't drown beavers. Don't have to drown a dead beaver.
How long does the caster lures last? Do you reapply every check?
Shawn

blakdog · « **Reply #13 on:** April 01, 2008, 04:04:54 AM »

Shawn
I was just doing a standard wader check! When the beaver grabbed my suspenders and pulled me in!! BACKWARDS!!! Now its personal!! I'm bringing my speedo and a spear tomorrow!
Troy

Bogmaster · « **Reply #14 on:** April 01, 2008, 05:56:50 AM »

Shawn, I re lure after a catch, most times this isn't needed, but its a habit with me.I also re lure after a rain. Otherwise, I let the set go for days , before I relure.
Tom

four coil · « **Reply #15 on:** April 01, 2008, 10:22:34 AM »

Thanks Tom, Let you know how we did.
Shawn

four coil · « **Reply #16 on:** April 02, 2008, 02:38:29 PM »

Tom, Mound master #1 connected. Today we checked our sets. An area we set that had alot a sign from this past fall but no lodge produced a small beaver in a 330. Do the 1 year olds leave their homes and go traveling also? Also had to contend with alot of sets that were washed away or frozen in. The rest of the week is going to be in the 50's so maybe this will get things moving.
Shawn

Bogmaster · « **Reply #17 on:** April 02, 2008, 04:12:38 PM »

The yearlings will leave for a short time with the male, when the female is having young.But they all return after a very short time.
Tom

blakdog · « **Reply #18 on:** April 03, 2008, 05:38:30 AM »

Hey Tom
Is that a smokey scent that i detect in #1 moundmaster? Anise in #2 moundmaster?
Troy

Bogmaster · « **Reply #19 on:** April 03, 2008, 06:36:14 AM »

Sorry Troy--you are wrong on both Guesses.
Tom

Macthediver · « **Reply #20 on:** April 04, 2008, 01:43:07 PM »

I just hope both lures work LOL! I got my sets out with lure every other one lured just like Bog says.
It's a damage job so I want out of there fast.
But then why would I have used it if I didn't think it would work :-)

Mac

Bogmaster · « **Reply #21 on:** April 04, 2008, 03:53:08 PM »

Had a guy pick up 16 ounces of MoundMaster #2 last night.. He had set up with his buddy the day before. They each put in a set at each location, my new customer had set 5 traps using brand X.His friend set 6 traps using a different lure. On their first check--my new customer had not taken a beaver,and his partner took 5 beavers out of his 6 sets---the lure he used--MoundMaster #2.
Tom