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Ok here it goes.. I set up this beaver pond on Sunday (12-11-11) I have checked them twice now and Notta.. The first check i had a 4 foot stick in one snare it had all the bark chewed off. I checked them tonight mainly just to make sure the ice is still good and notta dont even look like they have been around the snares.
I need to know if i have the snares set correct.. Do you guys have the opening of the snares facing the feed bed or do you have them facing open water? Right now i have the snares on the out side edge of the feed bed and the snares are facing the bed. Meaning the opening is one side out towards open water and the other is towards the feed bed.
I Plan on cutting some bait from the pond site to see if that may make a difference..
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: ]
#2887620 12/15/1111:42 AM12/15/1111:42 AM
Rob, Check this thread out, I know it is titled conibears for beaver, but there is a ton of awesome information in it on snaring beavers from some of the best. Here is the link off the Wilderness Trapping forum....
Also ROb I have found that the beaver are a little spooky with all the noise.So try and stay away a lttle longer.I use Rally Hess's snares with good results.
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: ]
#2887846 12/15/1101:48 PM12/15/1101:48 PM
sorry for the derail, you guys who use PVC on the conis how long and what diameter. I also read a bunch of that link and that was a ton of great info. One of the post in there mentioned afixing the bait ot the bottom, what side? the dog or trigger side, or is that a non issue.
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: ottertrapper]
#2888190 12/15/1104:58 PM12/15/1104:58 PM
Rob, Check this thread out, I know it is titled conibears for beaver, but there is a ton of awesome information in it on snaring beavers from some of the best. Here is the link off the Wilderness Trapping forum....
Ty for the link. i will have to read it aging to make sure i got it all..
Originally Posted By: ottertrapper
Be patient with under ice snares check every 4 days or so not everyday. How far below the ice are your snares? What size loop are you running?
OT the top two snares are around 3 inches below the ice the water at most sets is only around 2 1/2 feet deep and it is a very hard bottom. I am using Rally's beaver spikes the loop looks to be around 10inches..
We have only had to cut holes in the ice once so far its been warm enough that it hasnt froze again.
Last edited by Rob906; 12/15/1105:00 PM.
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: ]
#2888221 12/15/1105:19 PM12/15/1105:19 PM
Anyone Else have any help for a newbie? I plan on leaving them sit for a few more days and see what happens next time we check i think i will rebait them with bait poles from the area around the pond...
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: ]
#2889576 12/16/1108:22 AM12/16/1108:22 AM
No, actually I haven't .Always one at a time ,I think the reason being is that when the beaver gets caught and during the struggle to get free they mess up the other snares ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
And always the big beavers ,Never caught a small one in that set .............
Last edited by coyote snarer; 12/16/1108:53 AM.
Keep it simple and If it aint broke don't fix it
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: ]
#2889628 12/16/1109:24 AM12/16/1109:24 AM
Hey CS...do you ever run the three snares off one pole with bait sticks tied to the pole ? Your method looks good but it also looks like a lot of set up.
Rally got me hooked on his set up years ago. It gets easier as the bait pile gets older and "sours". After that they will start hitting your bait poles more regular. I check mine every third day. He has a great set up and they have taken a lot of beaver for me. He made an EXCELLENT post on someones thread on the Wilderness forum last year with tons of pictures. If you can find that it will be a big help for you!
I have nothing clever to put here.
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: 160user]
#2889663 12/16/1110:07 AM12/16/1110:07 AM
Rob, I wanted to try under-ice beaver snaring a couple years ago, so I asked Ottertrapper for advice. I followed his instructions, made the sets, checked them a few days later and it worked! There wasnt much of a beaver population there, so I pulled the sets after that, not wanting to clean them out. I just wanted the experience.
I used old coyote snares, which were not legal to use for that any more, after they changed the rules.
Instead of describing everything, I'll just show you some pics......
Good luck!
-NC
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: swampcat]
#2889693 12/16/1110:38 AM12/16/1110:38 AM
Rob, Check this thread out, I know it is titled conibears for beaver, but there is a ton of awesome information in it on snaring beavers from some of the best. Here is the link off the Wilderness Trapping forum....
Wow, that's a great thread, I was planning on setting some snares this weekend but then 40's and rain washed away what little ice we had, but it's supposed to not get above the mid 20's the next couple days so who knows.
Hey CS...do you ever run the three snares off one pole with bait sticks tied to the pole ? Your method looks good but it also looks like a lot of set up.
I would never tie my snares to a green pole in fear of the beaver getting the bait pole chew off and away with my snares. I tie my snares to a dead pole and the beaver has to swim between the bait pole and the dead poles ,The dead polse are the guide sticks ,It is a little xtra work but I don't loose any snares ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Keep it simple and If it aint broke don't fix it
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: ]
#2889745 12/16/1111:13 AM12/16/1111:13 AM
Northcountry, that is very similar to the setup Darcy Alkerton uses. I wish someone would have the gumption to search back several years to pull that post back up (unfortunately, it may have been pre-Trapperman-crash). Coyote snarer, note the crosspole... the snare cable runs up to the crosspole, thereby being inaccessible to the beaver to chew on. They can cut that pole to pieces but the snares are still secured above ice. Rather than cutting enough ice to run three poles, you only have to run one pole. Note how small the ice cut is on Northcountry's hole. Of course, you have to cut a much bigger hole to get the catch out! Catroon, with open water the beaver can go cut their own food, so there are undoubtedly better places to set snares than trying to bait them with a pole.
Hey CS...do you ever run the three snares off one pole with bait sticks tied to the pole ? Your method looks good but it also looks like a lot of set up.
I would never tie my snares to a green pole in fear of the beaver getting the bait pole chew off and away with my snares. I tie my snares to a dead pole and the beaver has to swim between the bait pole and the dead poles ,The dead polse are the guide sticks ,It is a little xtra work but I don't loose any snares ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
CS, as for swimming away with the snare, that type of setup is like rally runs and you run a cable down around the whole pole and it goes through a loop on each snare and connects securely above the ice. If you didn't have that, YES, you would loose most/many beavers and snares if you just hooked the snarres directly to a green pole!
Catroon, Running "these" sets in open water would be next to impossible.
Happy trapping. ScottW
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: ]
#2889984 12/16/1101:39 PM12/16/1101:39 PM
I wouldn't use a baited pole with a snare in open water they could easily swim away with the snare and probably won't drown, you could bait a 330 but I've found in open water there's usually better options
Here's a tip for you,if you overlap your upper and lower snares you're catch rate will go up,and you won't see your snares pulled down and closed as much.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: On a Call]
#2892294 12/17/1104:55 PM12/17/1104:55 PM
NC the only problem I see with that style of snare set up is beaver chewing off your post.
I'm not sure I agree that its a problem, since the vertical pole is just the bait and snare support. The snares are anchored to the "cross bar" which sits on top of the ice. I spudded the hole smaller than the length of the crossbar, so its extremely unlikely that a beaver would ever get it through. I also kicked in a bunch of slush and ice chips into the hole, to close it up quicker.
-NC
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: ]
#2892731 12/17/1109:19 PM12/17/1109:19 PM
Thanks for all the info guys.. We checked them today and notta zip zero.. Most of the snares were knocked down dont know if it happen when i was pulling them out or if something knocked em down.. I think part of the big problem is the fact that the bottom is Rock hard well at least every where i have cut a hole at i have hit rock.. So i cant get the bait pole to sturdy not sure if that makes a difference or not.
I did move one of the poles over in front of the lodge and between the feed bed so maybe that will be the spot.. I think it is in a run because the ice was alot thinner in that spot,Plus when i broke through we ended up pulling a couple peeled sticks out of the water right there..
I have a couple pics i will post up as soon as i eat some dinner and show how i have the snares set up..
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: ]
#2894434 12/18/1108:05 PM12/18/1108:05 PM
Thanks for all the info guys.. We checked them today and notta zip zero.. Most of the snares were knocked down dont know if it happen when i was pulling them out or if something knocked em down.. I think part of the big problem is the fact that the bottom is Rock hard well at least every where i have cut a hole at i have hit rock.. So i cant get the bait pole to sturdy not sure if that makes a difference or not.
I did move one of the poles over in front of the lodge and between the feed bed so maybe that will be the spot.. I think it is in a run because the ice was alot thinner in that spot,Plus when i broke through we ended up pulling a couple peeled sticks out of the water right there..
I have a couple pics i will post up as soon as i eat some dinner and show how i have the snares set up..
Hey Rob just a thought are you pulling up the poles to check them every time? All you need to do is spud out a small hole to look through then block it off from light so you can see down there, that will tell you if you are knocking your snares down or not. If your poles are not getting eaten you may need to move them. The area where you had thinner ice and chewed sticks float up sounds like you are where you need to be now. Good luck you will get em figured out, took me awhile, but there was no Tman to help out back then either.
OT
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: ]
#2894475 12/18/1108:23 PM12/18/1108:23 PM
Here is a couple pics of the snares are they were today when we left.. This is the only pole that i am able to use 4 snares on the rest of them are two snares..
Here is a short video it shows where the snare poles are located.. I moved one of them today like i said in between the lodge and the feed bed..
Originally Posted By: ottertrapper
Originally Posted By: Rob906
Thanks for all the info guys.. We checked them today and notta zip zero.. Most of the snares were knocked down dont know if it happen when i was pulling them out or if something knocked em down.. I think part of the big problem is the fact that the bottom is Rock hard well at least every where i have cut a hole at i have hit rock.. So i cant get the bait pole to sturdy not sure if that makes a difference or not.
I did move one of the poles over in front of the lodge and between the feed bed so maybe that will be the spot.. I think it is in a run because the ice was alot thinner in that spot,Plus when i broke through we ended up pulling a couple peeled sticks out of the water right there..
I have a couple pics i will post up as soon as i eat some dinner and show how i have the snares set up..
Hey Rob just a thought are you pulling up the poles to check them every time? All you need to do is spud out a small hole to look through then block it off from light so you can see down there, that will tell you if you are knocking your snares down or not. If your poles are not getting eaten you may need to move them. The area where you had thinner ice and chewed sticks float up sounds like you are where you need to be now. Good luck you will get em figured out, took me awhile, but there was no Tman to help out back then either.
OT
Ot yes i have been pulling them up to check.. I will have to give your way a try the next time we check.. Lol i did find out today tho never ever trust the ice no matter how many times you walked over a spot..
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: ]
#2894587 12/18/1109:03 PM12/18/1109:03 PM
On that picture may I suggest that you move the bottom two snares up so they are just under the top two and have the top two overlap the bottom two by about an inch then add another pair of snares right at the bottom of your pole,so the bottom two snares are just two inches off the bottom.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: Boco]
#2894643 12/18/1109:23 PM12/18/1109:23 PM
Rob, IMO your snares appear ready to fall before you put them in the water. Take a look at the pic of my snares and see how the lock has to go up (against gravity) before it will fall. It is not really sensitive, but it is reliable.
Your snares may be falling closed before you even leave the ice, if youre shaking them around to get them stable.
-NC
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: ]
#2894826 12/18/1110:28 PM12/18/1110:28 PM
1. If you are using green aspen for the upright to support the snares there is no reason to use those peeled sticks for bait. Besides, they eat the bark, not the wood.
2. I always try and set the poles between the feed pile and the lodge. Sometimes that isn't possible and I just set them around the feed pile. In your video it looks like there is lots of room between the feed pile and the lodge. I would move several poles into that spot if possible.
3. I've always found four snares/pole to be more work than it is worth.
Clark
Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen. -Albert Einstein
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: Clark]
#2894899 12/18/1110:57 PM12/18/1110:57 PM
Rob, IMO your snares appear ready to fall before you put them in the water. Take a look at the pic of my snares and see how the lock has to go up (against gravity) before it will fall. It is not really sensitive, but it is reliable.
Your snares may be falling closed before you even leave the ice, if youre shaking them around to get them stable.
-NC
NC The snares are pretty stable really even tho they dont look like it.. I know after the first check most of them were still in the set position.. These are some of Rally's beaver spikes and i do believe i have them on the pole the correct way. I also checked all of the snares once i had them in the water and they were still set that was before i covered them with pine branches..
Originally Posted By: Boco
On that picture may I suggest that you move the bottom two snares up so they are just under the top two and have the top two overlap the bottom two by about an inch then add another pair of snares right at the bottom of your pole,so the bottom two snares are just two inches off the bottom.
Boco thanks for the info i may have to give that a try after the next check.
Originally Posted By: Clark
Several thoughts:
1. If you are using green aspen for the upright to support the snares there is no reason to use those peeled sticks for bait. Besides, they eat the bark, not the wood.
2. I always try and set the poles between the feed pile and the lodge. Sometimes that isn't possible and I just set them around the feed pile. In your video it looks like there is lots of room between the feed pile and the lodge. I would move several poles into that spot if possible.
3. I've always found four snares/pole to be more work than it is worth.
Clark
Clark thanks for the advice.. The reason i used the peeled sticks also is because i wanted to try and get more white so it would stand out more in the dark water.. In my thinking it was the white will bring them in to the bait pole and hopefully they will try to cut the fresh aspen pole it self. Lol i maybe way over thinking this to tell ya the truth...
I did move one of them in between the feed bed and lodge and my bro was gonna move a baited 330 but every hole he cut it was way to much of a tangled mess of sticks and we were running outta time so we are gonna do that next time..
That pole with 4 snares is the only one outta the three bait poles. I did it because the water was deep enough for it so i figured why not..
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: ]
#2895084 12/19/1112:08 AM12/19/1112:08 AM
Rob, From your video I believe there are three runs coming out of that house.From where you are filming the lodge, there appears to be one just to the right of that tree, closest to the lodge, one over by the baited coni set farthest away from you, and it appears there is one going through the middle of that feed pile. Like Clark mentioned, you will have better luck moving the poles closer to the lodge, especially this time of year. If you can get the poles between the house and feedpile, so much the better. Where you have your poles is a little far from the lodge for this time of year. Their feedpile is just about as fresh as the poles you are putting down. You want them to be the first thing they see when they come out of the house, and if you can get them in the runs, they'll work them just to get them out of the runs. If you look up next to the lodge the ice is dark, which is where it froze last, indicating an active area or real dark bottom. I have also found this time of year to be the least active. At first ice beaver are still in what I call the "gathering mode" and will work poles, especially those in or close to runs, quite actively. About this time of year they seem to go into a "doldrum" period, where they are resting up from an active fall period,collecting their feedpile and repairing the dam and lodge. As their feedpiles get staler, they will more actively work the poles. This time of year I get them as close as I can to the runs and lodges. I want them to see the poles as soon as they leave the lodge or attempt to work them to get them out of the runs. It is more important this time of year to locate the runs than it is when the feedpile gets stale/slimy later in the year. The way you have those poles located now, the beaver have to swim by their entire fresh feedpile to get to your poles. You may have some work them as they return from checking the dam or coming from bank dens upstream, but not a high percentage set this time of year. Later in the season(mid Jan to end of March) I just put poles down adjacent to the feedpiles, and as close to the lodge as I can get. There is most always a run on each side of the feedpile, and on long established colonies, there is usually one going under the feedpile to the outside edge somewhere. Usually the outside edge of the feedpile is the deepest part of the pond, as that is where the beaver get the material to build the lodge. The runs going out under the feedpile is an escape route when the ice gets real thick. I've seen lodges that were frozen to the bottom and I couldn't find enough water to set a pole. That is when the poles work the best on the outside edge of the feedpile. You have the snares pretty close to correct, but get rid of the peeled sticks. The beaver already got rid of it because they ate the bark off it already. The "scores" should also be directly under each snare not 90 Degrees from the snare around the pole. The snare should swing clear of the pole and be at a slight uphill angle so the snare is about an inch from the pole as it hangs and the lock at about the eleven or one oclock position. A snare has to move to work. If it is resting on the pole, it goes dead, and a beaver will swim completely through it without getting caught, often knocking them down with their tail as they propell themselves around the pole. The pole you have pictured, with the four snares and all the peeled sticks. The snare on the top left looks to be out of shape, like it has been pulled shut and stretched some. Is that the one that had the stick in it? It may have been bent while you drove it onto the pole too. Just bend the cable up at the head of the nail and it should correct it so it hangs correctly, like the one on the top right.When the pole is set, the snares and scores, should point to and away from the lodge, so that a beaver leaving the lodge will see the scores and work the snare where the scores are located, putting them in the loop.They most often activate the loaded snare with their backs as they attempt to cut the pole. If your scores are around the pole 90 degrees they have a chance to knock the snares down with their front feet as they steady themselves with their feet to cut the pole. I find I catch most of my beaver in the top snare farthest from the lodge. I beklieve a beaver working a pole is like a dog laying down, and circles the pole once before starting to cut it. I catch most of my beaver on the top two snares, usually under 55", because that is what the majority of a colony consists of, but I catch the biggest beaver on the bottom. I honestly believe the larger beaver are smart enough to know they can't take the whole pole into the lodge, so chew it about 18-20" from the bottom(imagine a big beaver sitting on the bottom and chewing the pole), because that is what they do on a hard bottom pond. The bite marks will tell you the position of the beavers body if you look close. On soft bottom ponds(loon poop/bog)I stack two snares on the top and two directly below them, but don't overlap them, they have to move to work, and a beaver working a pole is nearly stationary. They "feel and guide" with their front feet and propel theirselves with their back feet and tail. You may be surprised at how many extremity catches(feet/nose tail)you get with a loaded snare too. Pretty neat catching a blanket beaver by the nose in February.They don't get any prettier!!
Keep your boots dry
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: ]
#2895188 12/19/1101:39 AM12/19/1101:39 AM
Thanks for all the info i will for sure take and move some of them closer and fix that one snare on the next check.. I do have to ask how can you tell Where the runs maybe? I am asking so i have an idea of what to look for at the next pond that i set up..
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: ]
#2895192 12/19/1101:42 AM12/19/1101:42 AM
The snare on that pole is outta shape because it is resting on the peeled stick i do believe.. I caught the log in a different snare pole one that i moved today.
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: ]
#2895222 12/19/1102:55 AM12/19/1102:55 AM
Rob, I've witnessed alot of drained beaver ponds, and just something you get a feel for. I'm looking at the general area and assuming there is a run on each side of the feedpile. The one farthest from you as you took that video is pretty obvious, and the stub tree may be the edge of the run. The dark ice also indicates activity or shallow dark bottom, and freezes last. Watch out walking on that dark ice this time of year, it can change in warm spells. If you look at the feedpile the brush appears to be thinner in the center, al;so indicating a run under it. Later in the winter these will show brush above ice but the beaver eat them out and are often clearer than they appear now. Low shear banks in the bank also indicate the beaver removed material when forming runs, something to remember when looking for bank dens and bog ponds. I always first look at the outside edges of the feedpiles. With heavy ice and snow later, I chop a small hole in the ice and feel for depressions in the bottom, to indicate runs. Good ice you can often "sound" for runs from the "tone" of your spud on the ice. The runs sound hollow and often the ice is quite thin with even snow cover and extreme temps. The snow insulates them and the receding ice holds air between the ice and water. With so little snow at your current location, you may even be able to see some bubble trails coming out of that house, from the air leaving the beavers fur and their air discharge while swimming under ice. Also in flooded timber or bogs, you can kinda just look and see obvious trails going through the bog and timber to feeding areas or a piece of high bank, where there are likely bank dens feed holes. Your gonna chop alot of duds before you get the hang of it. Likely gonna dull a few spuds on rocky bottoms also. I carry a file in my snowmobile for just such occurances. Chainsaw file too. LOL
Keep your boots dry
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: ]
#2895229 12/19/1103:11 AM12/19/1103:11 AM
I had a good feeling that there was a run going through the center of the feed bed we were gonna set it today but ran outta time and after an hour and half with a wet foot and leg it got cold.. I did notice that there isnt as many sticks sticking outta the ice there it is where we tend to walk also..
Our ice right now is so messed up from that freeze thaw we had that i am not really sure i could see bubbles it is very cloudy.
This is a video take from around the same spot as the one i posted before you can see the run coming out by the smaller pine tree. I also noticed what looked to be a run on the far side of the lodge where the baited 330 is.. So i think your Spot on and if you can do that from a video of the pond i think it would be one heck of a good learning experience to trap with you..
Last edited by Rob906; 12/19/1103:13 AM.
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: ]
#2895449 12/19/1110:01 AM12/19/1110:01 AM
Hey you guys are lucky...you get to drive up to the lodges in your trucks !
IMO...your main run in comming out into that open water off the lodge.
Lol On a Call... In normal years we wouldn't be able to drive to this lodge but this year has been strange with out much snow... Plus i try to make sure where every i trap beaver at i dont have a long carry them dang things get heavy as heck after about 20 yards lol...
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: ]
#2895684 12/19/1101:08 PM12/19/1101:08 PM
Hey you guys are lucky...you get to drive up to the lodges in your trucks !
IMO...your main run in comming out into that open water off the lodge.
Lol On a Call... In normal years we wouldn't be able to drive to this lodge but this year has been strange with out much snow... Plus i try to make sure where every i trap beaver at i dont have a long carry them dang things get heavy as heck after about 20 yards lol...
Yeah, I guess I don't feel too bad here if there's only that much snow in the UP, we're lucky to have any I guess! Good luck on the beavers, trapping them under ice is probably my favorite type of trapping in general. Definitely not easiest or what I'm best at, but I love it! Take what Rally and everyone says into consideration and you'll be dandy! Look forward to hearing of your success. Happy trapping. ScottW
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: ScottW]
#2897206 12/20/1112:54 AM12/20/1112:54 AM
Lol On a Call... In normal years we wouldn't be able to drive to this lodge but this year has been strange with out much snow... Plus i try to make sure where every i trap beaver at i dont have a long carry them dang things get heavy as heck after about 20 yards lol...
Yeah, I guess I don't feel too bad here if there's only that much snow in the UP, we're lucky to have any I guess! Good luck on the beavers, trapping them under ice is probably my favorite type of trapping in general. Definitely not easiest or what I'm best at, but I love it! Take what Rally and everyone says into consideration and you'll be dandy! Look forward to hearing of your success. Happy trapping. ScottW
Scott i sure will i will be rereading everything that Rally has posted same with everyone else.. I hope to have something on the next check which will be tomorrow or Wed Thinking Wed that will give them a good 3 days soak..
I am very happy about the snow to tell you the truth once i get some beaver here i have 2 more ponds to set up but they will only be take one or two beaver from them. This pond i need to get them all..
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: ]
#2897449 12/20/1108:44 AM12/20/1108:44 AM
Hey you guys are lucky...you get to drive up to the lodges in your trucks !
IMO...your main run in comming out into that open water off the lodge.
Lol On a Call... In normal years we wouldn't be able to drive to this lodge but this year has been strange with out much snow... Plus i try to make sure where every i trap beaver at i dont have a long carry them dang things get heavy as heck after about 20 yards lol...
I know this light or no snow makes for a differant year good in some ways. When that ice thickens up a bit more you will be able to drive your truck up to the lodge . Just watch out for the thin ice at the entrance...does AAA cover you for sinking a truck into a beaver pond ?
Rally, I still have a few hundred of your old beaver brackets I made them myself.I've never used the spikes. So I was wondering if you have better success with the spikes.I believe the spikes would get less tangled,take up less space in the sled,and would be quicker to set up,but do they catch more beaver?
Sorry Rob don't mean to hijack
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
[Re: Big finn]
#2898164 12/20/1104:20 PM12/20/1104:20 PM
I know this light or no snow makes for a differant year good in some ways. When that ice thickens up a bit more you will be able to drive your truck up to the lodge . Just watch out for the thin ice at the entrance...does AAA cover you for sinking a truck into a beaver pond ?
Nice videos .
LOl OAC i dont know about driving on given the fact that i fell through the ice on my last check hahaha.. Sure did make for a long day with a boot full of water and my pants soaked.. I dont know how you would go about explaining that one i could see it now well yea insurance man i kind of sunk the truck in a beaver pond.. No i swear i thought it was he road didnt know the pond was there.. Hahaha
Originally Posted By: Big finn
Rally, I still have a few hundred of your old beaver brackets I made them myself.I've never used the spikes. So I was wondering if you have better success with the spikes.I believe the spikes would get less tangled,take up less space in the sled,and would be quicker to set up,but do they catch more beaver?
Sorry Rob don't mean to hijack
Not a problem Finn i would kind of like to know that also.. I have a feeling even tho i havent caught anything yet that i will be doing more of this under ice trapping in the coming years..
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
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#2898907 12/20/1109:53 PM12/20/1109:53 PM
Rob...You need water proof bibs with tight fitting knee high boots or waders. I prefer the bibs as they are more easy to get around in. I cannot tell you how many time I have fallen through...lucky not over my head yet. Most often up to my waist. I get wet but my feet stay dry.
Try it...you will like it next time you fall through.
OAC i do have waders but didnt really think of putting them on because where i fell through i had walked over that spot like 25 times same with my brother. I think the water had dropped some and that is what did it funny thing is i feel in the first day we set right by the same spot but didnt get a wet foot that time..
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
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#2899572 12/21/1106:27 AM12/21/1106:27 AM
I think I would rather be slightly wet in 0 degrees as to 30. But I try to stay dry...there is just somthing about beaver trapping that I always seem to get wet.
Looks like we are getting another warm spell today and tomorrow .
Awesome job Rob see it isn't so hard once you get on location hey?!! You will clean them up fast now that you have confidence in your snare set up. Great job. OT
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
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#2901359 12/21/1110:35 PM12/21/1110:35 PM
Awesome job Rob see it isn't so hard once you get on location hey?!! You will clean them up fast now that you have confidence in your snare set up. Great job. OT
Ot,Yea i feel much better now it was the snare set up that i moved right up by the lodge Which is where this one came from... So when we check next i will be sticking some more snares around the lodge...
Originally Posted By: Northwind
Nice work Rob!!! WTG...
Thanks Nw And to think i have only feel through this pond three times lol i must be doing something correct..
I also need to add in some Otter sets looked like a family group had moved through you could see where they slid acorss the ice in a couple places.
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
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#2901370 12/21/1110:43 PM12/21/1110:43 PM
Yeah I figured it was the pole you moved close to the house, when I snared i was always close to the house, makes catching a whole lot faster! Go get those otter I have one tag left for zone 1 and it is itching in my pocket, but don't think I will get to fill it this year. OT
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
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#2901388 12/21/1110:48 PM12/21/1110:48 PM
Will be trying to figure out how to set it up on the next check... Hopefully they went through the lil ditch/crick between the upper and lower ponds...
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
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#2901398 12/21/1110:51 PM12/21/1110:51 PM
Will be trying to figure out how to set it up on the next check... Hopefully they went through the lil ditch/crick between the upper and lower ponds...
More than likely they will and do the two I caught last weekend were on a creek less than two feet wide that dumps out of small ponds into a bigger river. Find areas you can set 280's or 330's and you will get them. If there is open water they will find it. Look where they went over that beaver wall and set the downstream side. Good luck. OT
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
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#2901406 12/21/1110:53 PM12/21/1110:53 PM
That was the funny thing Ot there is a spot of open water by the dam and it didnt look like they even went but it but it was hard to tell with the crappy light i had..
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
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#2901418 12/21/1110:58 PM12/21/1110:58 PM
They will otter can be extremely eratic in their patterns they may go a certain route one day and not use it the next few times through, but they will again. When you get a chance to get out there during daylight follow them around where they went and they will tell you where to set.
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
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#2901546 12/21/1111:49 PM12/21/1111:49 PM
Big Fin, Go make your own and find out!!! LOL I really can't tell you one catches more than the other. I quite often use them both on the same pole. I sell way more Spikes than brackets because of the price difference. The brackets can be reused and are a big part of the cost. The brackets are cheap to replace the snare on, and will last a lifetime. The brackets are easier to use with choppers on in real cold weather, and has a swivel incorporated in the design. The brackets tangle more in the sled but bread twist ties will eliminate that. The spikes are deffinately lighter, but designed to be a one time use snare, but can often be reshaped(like the one Rob caught his beaver in looks to be) especially in 3/32"cable. I find the brackets easier to run the safety cable through also, and easier to differentiate the individual snares location when they have all been pulled down the pole after a catch. The spike is easier to change the snare angle by just tilting up hill on odd shaped poles. I like spikes better in house entrances and bank runs because there is less to see. The bracket is cheaper in the long run, but alot of trappers don't want to make their own snares.I wouldn't go sell your brackets to go to spikes, but they are handy in places.
Pscarswell, I used 1/16" 1x19 for years and caught lots of beaver with it.The difference is in the amount of damage apparent on my beaver from the small cable. I went to larger cable to get away from the fine white lines on the beaver caused by small cable. I got a few extremity catches with the 1/16" 1x19 cable but had alot of snares pulled down to a small diametr loop with nothing in them too. I then went to 5/64" 1x19 cable and the marks were rare but extremity catches were non existant, and had a whole lot of snares pulled down to even larger loops with nothing in them. All my catches with the 5/64" 1x19 were just behind the front legs or in the center of the beaver behind the rib cage. I think I only caught one beaver by a back leg. I then went to 7x7 3/32" cable and eliminated the marks all together under ice and my extremity catches(feet, nose and tails)were quite common. I currently catch about 15-18% of my beaver by extremities, the most common being a front foot catch. I use 5/64" 7x7 when the otter season is open here as I find I catch more otter with it. It is a more subtle cable and catches more otter for me in a couple sets I use. The fine white lines on my beaver are more common with the 7x7 5/64" cable than the 7x7 3/32",but I get more extremity catches too, so figure it is a good trade when I want the otter. Otter quite often play around beaver pole sets, by grabbing the poles with their front feet and whipping theirselves around the poles while chasing each other.Also alot of the ponds I trap have substantial minnow populations and they congregate in the slots I cut to get air. A easy meal for an otter, which also puts them near my top snares. I can eliminate most of the incidental otter by using the 3/32" 7x7, which is a little stiffer and is easier to push through more slush and ice chips in the hole when setting and remaking a pole. I don't skim my holes, but rather wear a 31" gauntlet and just throw out the big pieces of ice with my hand. I chop a hole adjacent to the pole and reach down under the ice to feel my top snares. If they have been disturbed I pull the pole. If a catch has been made they will knock down all the snares most often. If you are curios about the difference in cable performance, there is an easy test you can do at home. Just make two snares of the same diameter cable, one in 7x7 and one in 1x19. Use the same lock, and load it if you load yor snares. Now use a finger and pull the two snares shut. When they get down to about a loop diametr of about 1.5-2"(about the diameter of a beavers front foot) which snare gets hardest to pull shut? I'll betcha a Lager it's the 1x19.
Rob, Nice head catch. Now your hooked.
Last edited by Rally; 12/21/1111:52 PM.
Keep your boots dry
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
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#2901568 12/21/1111:59 PM12/21/1111:59 PM
Thanks OAC but i hate to say this yep i did fall through again but it was my fault.. I seen a hole up towards the shore i wanted to get a good look at just thought it was strange that it was open i stepped off the path and down i went lucky it was mostly mud and i had different boots on...
Now i need to see if the meat is still good to eat i wanna try some beaver meat..
Last edited by Rob906; 12/22/1101:15 AM.
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
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#2901748 12/22/1102:04 AM12/22/1102:04 AM
Congats Rob! With nice fluffy snow like that roll him in it and and rake snow all over the wet beaver and rub it good and it'll dry it off nice so you won't have to worry about the wet fur freezing to any metal etc. Happy trapping. ScottW
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
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#2901997 12/22/1110:13 AM12/22/1110:13 AM
Rob, You will enjoy beaver. Back straps are great on the grill legs IMO are great in a stew. There are a number of recipes in the archives here take a look and try em out. Be sure to clean off the most of the fat.
Often those holes are otter so you might guard it with a 330.
Keep your boots dry Again...tight fitting knee highs with water proof bibs goes a long way on the beaver line.
Nice job Rob.I always think that it's like ice fishing for beaver.My boy and I are setting some today
Rally thanks for the info .I'm glad you didn't talk me into selling my brackets.I still havent been able to perfect making the snares so i still buy my replacements from you.Thanks again for the in depth answers you give.Seems like you have put a little thought into this beaver thing.LOL
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
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#2903453 12/22/1110:55 PM12/22/1110:55 PM
I describe it on the CNTA forum under "fur handling" about half way down the page.Sorry I dont know how to post the link.I guess I got to study computer 101 more.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
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#2907956 12/25/1103:13 PM12/25/1103:13 PM
Well we checked today and it didnt go as good as i thought it would... We moved another snare pole on the far side of the lodge and stuck a baited 330 in the one run we knew for sure where it was..
But here is the bad one snare on the pole right up by the lodge was set off yea no biggie right.. Well when i was clearing the snow off of it i notice that there was beaver hair in it stuck to the lock it self.. The snare didn't close all the way tight it had around a 2 or 3 inch loop.. I hope that the beaver will come back to the pole we stuck some fresh bait down and are gonna check on Wed..
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
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#2908155 12/25/1106:05 PM12/25/1106:05 PM
You should be fine Rob they don't seem to spook to snares like they do 330's under ice. Never had any problems before I think you will be alright. Good luck.
Re: Under ice Snare Pros.. I Need Help...
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#2908394 12/25/1108:51 PM12/25/1108:51 PM
Thanks OT i kind of figured that just wasnt to sure.. Still havent had a chance to set up the rest of the spots yet but i did remove 4 snares from the pond i am at so i can use them at the next pond i go to...