Bog why do you put yr coni trigger for bvr where you do?

[RdFx]

Yes Tom why??

[Bogmaster]

Lee,the largest percentage of my beaver are taking in castor mounds.I usually half submerge my 330,by bending the trigger--it looks like a rounded m.When I half submerge the 330 in front of my castor mound,the trigger is under the water.This provides a wide open window for the beaver,all he sees when looking throught the trap --is the mound--and a clear path to it--no obstructions what so ever.
 Also by placing the trigger on the bottom,you avoid fur damage.When trigger placement is on the top,at times the trigger can actually be driven into the beavers back--causing damaged fur.While this is kind of a freak happening--it does happen.One beaver damaged in this way,will quickly cause you to change your trigger placement---it did for me.
  Tom

[rascal (Joe Duncan)]

Boggy;
  While we are on this subject, what is your favorite size for the castor mound (ie:  approx. height and width) and a little about the placement etc.

  I am sure some (myself included) would like to benefit from your expertise on beaver.  

  Thanks.

[Bogmaster]

Joe,the size of my castor mound depends on the type of bottom where I am trapping.If I have a real muddy bottom,a couple big handfulls of mud is what I use.This will usually give me a mound 8 to 10 inches wide an6 to 8 inches high.Now at times I will make them a bit larger,but I have also used a small piece of turned over sod ,when mud was not available.
 Beavers own castor mounds can be little more than a smear or splattering of mud to huge 2 feet by 2 feet.These big mounds are used by many beaver and are used year after year.Thats why when I make a mound I use whats at hand and dont worry to much about size.
 I like to place my mound right on the edge of the water--about 1 1/2 feet'directly behind my 330.I then place some of my Moundmaster lure,right on top of the mound>Here again distance from  mound to trap can vary by many feet,depending on water depths.But a beaver has a good nose so I dont worry to much on that distance.
 Tom

[Greenhorn]

Bogmaster - have you tried placing something white, like a piece of paper towel , on your castor mound to act as a sight atttractor? I like to use them especially when I can only set one side of a creek or pond as I believe it helps the beaver notice the casor mound when the wind is wrong. When targeting a whole colony I have placed multiple sets on a bank where have used the white attractors on some sets but not on others, and I have caught more beavers in the sets with the attractors than without. Greenhorn

[Bogmaster]

Greenhorn,I have never found the need to use paper towels.Aslick castor mound and my moundmaster lure seems to do the trick.
 While I am sure the white of the towel will grab a beavers attention,it will also grab the attention of other people.At times I set 6 to 8 330s in a very small area--6 to 8 paper towels would surely grab the interest of people in the area.If I think my set needs extra eye appeal,I will use a couple fresh peeled beaver sticks on top of my mound.
 Tom