My question is how do you start the hole to start cuuting? Is the tip able to chop thru a 1" or more of ice or what. Otherwise looks like it would be fun to try it out. Making ice big time outside last few days. Temp for high is -5°F wind chill -45°F, this morning it was -30°F at the house at 6:00AM.

Crutch; one more time with this and last time ok- cover the hole with boughts, or paper feed bag or the fabric ones or whatever, then shovel snow on top of this, it will keep the ice from forming to thick. less then an 1" to just a few inches is all will make under the snow and boughs etc... It also prevents beav from coming up on the ice.

Keep it coming kid's it is all being put down with my notes to make this more fun and simple.

If one couldn't sharpen the saw, then I don't see its worth. A good chainsaw would be much better IMO for the initial cut.

What are some good underice videos to learn from?

I can't see why you couldn't sharpen the Ice saw. I haven't gotten to that point yet but it doesn't look difficult. I know they offer sharpening from the manufacterer as well. I have only used the ice saw one season but its surely a nice tool that I wont be without anymore. I use a chisel initially for a pilot hole, however. I don't know that I trust the ice saws durability for chiseling holes in thick ice. I also use the chisel when walking...sound testing the ice. You can at times find thinner ice (runs) with the sound test method, which can make for less cutting. If your walking around a beaver house without sound testing the ice, or using a chisel in front of you, your looking for trouble. Spiking the ice in front of me with a chisel has saved me from being potential turtle food many times.

Johnny Thorpe has good under ice beaver video out.

It is dangerous around the beaver lodges ! It had been cold for 4 days last week and I encountered a 1/4" of ice for 6' near one lodge on Saturday. That was a little scarey. I always check the ice with my 20 lb. spud!

OK here is a few that I am going to try,put them out this afternoon. I have used this same setup in the past. The ice by these feed piles is scrary it was all slush with very little ice under it. Few feet away it is 16"+.

The feed pile is under here.


The trap set up

Me, Blackdog, and Wisco Trapper went to set some underice beaver sets last week. With 11 sets in we had a few misses but hooked up on two. Here are some pictures.

My sets were out 4 days & only managed one snapped trap! I think I was in the feed pile to far & not on the edge like I want to be.So much snow on the ice hard to tell where the edge is. I will redo these sets when it warms up a little. Might go back to the painted foam on the trigger instead, worked the last time I tried this.

This is the best thread currently going at Trapperman. The format of this forum allows good informational posts like this to get lost.

This thread deserves "Sticky" status at this time of year.
Thanks Conibear1 for directing me here.

Brandon, where are the pictures? The closest I have come to dying so far was a soaking while beaver trapping. I can relate.

I finally have a little time to devote to one of my favorite passions "Under Ice Beaver Trapping".

This thread and being able to share my adventures with you makes it even sweeter.

I wrote an on-line diary of my under ice beaver trapping last winter. Per ADC's request I put it here.
http://jayme220.proboards53.com/index.cgi?board=archive&action=display&thread=24

I have been out twice to these lodges early this winter. The ice wasn't safe at the runs or feedbed. Going back this weekend and try some of the baited sets I have read on this thread.

Here are a few lodges all in the same piece, all the same permit. I took these pictures on a scouting mission in December after the brutal ice storm we had in New England.

The ice.


The condo.


The condo up close.


This pond is the furthest from the truck. I need the exercise.


Two lodges in this pond.


I am bringing a couple guys who want to see what beaver trapping is all about. With 20+" of snow on the ground and snowshoes being the only means of transportation in this piece, I look forward to the help.

Coalman

STUMPMAKER, to start a hole to use the ice saw I have a four inch hand auger that I use to open a hole before I use the saw. The saw dose have a point that can be used to chip a hole but it won't work to well after the ice is over 8 inches thick. I also use this hole to find out if the water is deep enough or to deep. And I can find out how long of a pole I will need for a set.( I use snares quite a bit.)I Also use this hole to find out if there are a bunch of sticks in the way. I have found that many times when I have cut a hole and did not check the deepth or for sticks in the way, I would need to move a few feet away and cut another hole, so I learned the hard way. Now I drill a small hole and check before I cut my larger hole.
Calvin, My saw became dull when I brought a friend with an he through the saw on the groud when it was folded shut. You know how the saw folds against the wood handle, well it must have bent the very tips of the teeth it won,t cut anything now it is duller then a butter knife. I tried filing the tips with no luck, haven't tried getting it sharpend by the manufacturer yet.

Crutch

Wow this is some good stuff I'm taking it all in. I set a dozen traps yesterday on 5 different lodges. 5 baited 330s and 7 in runs. 2 lodges were strictly runs and the other 3 were baited 330s I usually only trap runs that is just the way I have done it for the pasty 14 years during the winter. Here is a pic of one of the lodges 4 traps set 3 house runs and one bank den. And here is a pic of how I set my 330s that were baited Does it look right to you guys. I have never set baited 330s through the ice this way before.

This is a great thread and enjoy seeing the pictures! My partner and I just started trapping about a week and half ago... We put out 10 sets to get started. First check we had three and today we had 4. The pics are of one of the ones we got...All of our sets are runs off the houses using stabilizers and 330s. We had a cool thing happen today while setting some more sets out. We were at one house and found five runs to set so we cut the holes and then my partner sets up the traps and I put them in. Well, I had set three of the runs and was working on my fourth when my partner says "hey" we got a beaver! Here the first run I had set the stabilizer was moving around and we had caught a blanket beaver coming out of the house!! I know many trappers have done this but, I have caught a lot of beaver over the years and this was the first time for me... It was a good way to end the day-

Sorry, for the long post but, I thought it was worth telling!

01/31/09
I had the pleasure of sharing a trapline yesterday with a couple of my friends from NEHN

Oddfish and Big Blue helping Coalman "Paint the Fence".


This is hut #1. It took a little chopping but we did find the hut entrance.


We went to hut #2 but beaver activity was minimal. So we headed another 1/4 mile in to the "Condo".

There is no sign of the feed bed above the snow line. It took us a couple holes to find the edge of the feed bed. We put in three baited sets. One with the the bait wired to the pole. One with the bait wired to the trigger and the last with the bait wired to the bottom jaw of the 330.

A picture of our efforts.


I can't thank OD or BB enough for coming with me and helping. Winter beaver trapping is a physical effort. I only wish they could be here today when I go check the traps.

I owe you both a turkey hunt.

02/01/09
I put a strap around my belt and became my own sled dog. The packed down trail made the walk in instinct.

The Jet Sled followed with ease.


Arriving at the Condo Pond.


View of the pond from the lodge.


Bubbles are good.


The pole was heavy.


The prize


Text book


Rebuilding the set.


Thanks OD and BB. Life is good.

Hopefully I will be posting some of my pics tomorrow. Maybe a vid if I can...

Nice posts and nice pictures.
Thanks Shawn

Unbelievably informative post! Keep it coming guys!!!

nice pics

Somebody asked about a video on under ice beaver trapping. The Minnesota trapper's association put one together a few years ago, (maybe 20 years ago) I don't think we could put it on here, but maybe it is still around somewhere.

When using bodygrips with bait on the trigger I think you will have better luck if you use a larger trap such as the MB 12 X 16's.

Blak Coyote (AKA) Duane Fronek has a Basic Under-Ice Beaver Trapping DVD for sale!! $15 shipped to your door!!

It covers all the basics>> Bodygrips,Snares,Footholds,Safty!

Any DVD from a guy that can take 75 beavers from under the ice in a season is a must see!

PM Me if you have any questions.