Author Topic: Catching wised up Beaver (Read 713 times)

coyotero · « **on:** April 19, 2006, 04:02:19 PM »

Tom,Newt,anyone.The bridge on the road south of my house has beaver damming up the creek.They're using the bridge pilings as part of the dam.The county has shot at them,had conibears snapped with sticks in them.They have a kill permit and haven't been able to kill a beaver yet.They set the conibears in the slides.I'm going down there tommorrow and see if I can catch them.There isn't alot of sign and cuttings.I saw one large size set of tracks in a mud bar.I think it might be just one adult or old beaver.Will castor mound sets with conibears work on a beaver that has been fooled with?I got 28 wood ticks on me scouting the bridge this afternoon.The ticks out in droves.Uck!!

Bogmaster · « **Reply #1 on:** April 19, 2006, 04:39:02 PM »

Set your castor mounds and give the 330s a try.I hate when a guy shoots at them ,and gets them spooky.You may also want to hide a couple of those 330s.But give it a shot,you wont know whats ,what till you see for yourself.
Took 7 beaver from one spot lat week--very little sign at all.
Good luck.
Tom

jim-NE · « **Reply #2 on:** April 20, 2006, 08:00:38 AM »

pinched or other "wise" beaver can be tough customers to deal with. I'm with Bogmaster on using #330s properly and don't give them another chance if they commit tot he set. I've had to snare a few what seemed reluctant to enter a #330, but for most part those were exceptional situations only.
I use a few footholds here and there, but in recent years any place that I could make a castor mound gets a #330 now vs. a foothold from me.

coyotero · « **Reply #3 on:** April 20, 2006, 08:13:00 AM »

Our snow melted and it rained,the creek is going up faster than gas prices.I'm going to wait a couple days until the water goes down.Thanks

jim-NE · « **Reply #4 on:** April 20, 2006, 08:22:58 AM »

ah yes...but boy do beaver love to move around in high water during late spring...
I caught many nice sized beaver by hitting tiny feeders that had water running in them and fed directly into larger streams. Some of those feeders weren't much wider than a #330, either. Little drainage ditches, etc. During high water from snow melts and big rains, I could always pick up beaver in the smaller feeders to the larger creeks.

coyotero · « **Reply #5 on:** April 20, 2006, 04:17:15 PM »

Jim I call the creek,a creek,the state has named it a river.I can spit across it in most places.There are two places where feeders run in.I'll have to check them out tomorrow.

Newt · « **Reply #6 on:** April 21, 2006, 01:44:06 AM »

Coyoter, I set very few foot holds for beaver. The 330 and snare are my tools of choice.
If the timber is flooded I would make ,what I call simply the "Flooded Timber Set"
Find two trees about 1-2 feet apart
Fasten and support a snare on one. 2/3rds under water 1/3 above.The snare is set in between the trees.Place some TREE RINGER (one of my lures) on the tree with the snare.As the beaver swims around the tree look'n for the smell .BANG he's in the snare.(sorry for the add,but I am now gona say whats in my lure)
Being up north the Feed set will work for you in the fall and spring just after ice out.
"Feed Set"
I build them some what like a castor mound set.Useing a snare or 330.Use a lot of peeled sticks,mud and other stuff off the bottom and some beaver food lure (Mine is "Spring Time Delite") No castor

coyotero · « **Reply #7 on:** April 29, 2006, 05:26:23 PM »

I set up 3 castor mound sets with 330's.In 3 days I got one large male beaver.He weighed just over 69 pounds.There has been no more sign and the sets have been empty for the last 2 days.