Beavers are rodents. Handling rodent problems are better done sooner, rather than later. When prices were good, just about every creek and drainage out there had someone's traps in them picking up beavers. However, due to low prices, this is not the case anymore, especially in the South. When beavers dam a drainage that's out of sight, they're sometimes out of mind, at least until the huge problem is noticed.


Any of you ever trap beavers in an area that they have completely inundated? I'm talking about flooding many acres and keeping the water over the banks. If they flood enough ground, they'll keep the water over the banks, and that will make it more of a reservoir than just a dammed up drainage.


In rare cases like I described, how is your approach different? Where do you make sets in a huge flooded area? Do you rely on floating sets/snares more than anything else?

I just wanted to see if I could get a discussion going and get input from others about the mega jobs and how their techniques change when the banks are flooded over, making a boat the only way to get the job done.


Anyone ever take on major jobs like this?



When I started this thread, I had a specific beaver job in mind. Photos added later in this thread, including aerial photos.

yes after losing permission for 2 years to trappers that promised to catch all the beavers tear down the lodges and remove the dam I was stunned by the amount of flooding.it was flat second growth popple beaver work everywhere after telling the landowner to contact the previous trappers he called again luckily we had little snow but cold weather I could walk anywhere and set snares/330s in runs visible in tall grass and cattails in spring I made large castor mounds/legholds in shallow water with long chains with lots of swivels and took some more out this was close to home so early checks were not a problem probably small artificial feedbeds/food lure close to the lodge as possible would have worked but I didn't know that then don't imagine you get much ice down south

I have one like this coming up. Ill be following along.

Here is what I did on a big project, and actually worked better than I thought. I bought a piece of property that had about 40 acres of beaver pond/swamp, where maps showed two creeks running together, but all you could see was two creeks running into edges of this 40 acre swamp. Several dams, and evident beaver had been there a long time. I set the perimeter and everywhere I could get with hip boots with castor mounds and trail sets. On the lowest dam I trapped hard, and did dam break sets until they were no longer repaired, and then I tore out that dam. Sometimes I would have to reset and tear out, but if I could tear it out before a big rain it would wash the dam away, and I would be finished with that one. Then I would move upstream and concentrate on the next one. Once I had an area finally dry they would not build the dam back, and I just continued upstream, castor mounds and trail sets on the perimeter, lots of all sets and dam breaks on the lowest dams. Eventually got the creeks running free, and as of now the creeks have been running free for a while, my timber is safe, and we have new areas to plant. Now the bad news is it took me about two years to do this, winter and summer, but of course on my off time, so traps set maybe five days out of the month average.

To me, there is not much as satisfying as standing on dry ground, watching something grow, in a place that two years ago the water was over my hip boots. I hope you get that same feeling on your project.

Castor mounds set on the dams works for me.

I've found dam cross overs are hard to beat. And I've also found a real or fake trail cut into the bank, with a few peeled branches tend to pull the big ones early in the game. Well that and BIG pockets with some castor at the top of the pocket and peeled sticks in the water get the attention of bigger beavers too

Cleaned out lots of those types of spots.Break the dam down just enough to get their attention and they will come to repair it.Several sets out in front of the dam break and a few lured sets will take them all in most cases.If there are a couple left that wont work the sets after you remove most of the colony,I drain the pond down to natural flow,(which is what the clients require anyway)then set submerged blind in the channels (which is the only place left with water)both upstream and downstream from the house.
Hit them hard right off the bat.The longer you dick around the more chance you have of making a beaver set shy.

Good advice so far !
I can add, be sure to cover the complete area looking for every single set opportunity. Find every stream that feeds it and every outlet. Use google maps to get a birds eye view.

Every beaver pond usually has that one "Holy Grail " set that will catch every beaver in the pond. Look for it.
If the water is just too deep to set, trap the edges first with lure.
The next step is letting out just enough water to find travel sets. Never let All your water out before you trap. Trap with all your might first and let water out last. Usually in several steps so the beaver don't leave with the water.

I once shot 18 beaver from one setting on a summer evening on a very large ADC job like your describing.

^^^Read and reread the above information. This is beaver trapping experience in these paragraphs and I don't know AR Swampboss, but I can tell from this post he knows what he's doing.

Spot on info!

I also would set every dam crossing top and bottom with 330's and when I could find a den each entrance as well. The area I trapped beaver in some creeks flowed down small canyons practically with steep banks on each side, while others would flood entire fields making each very labor intensive to gang set it very hard right off the bat then I called it running and gunning if I didn't make a catch I'd pull the 330 and reset it on the next dam crossing and I used a bunch and lost very few thankfully but caught more beaver than I care to think about now.
I wish I still had the pictures of the beaver I caught that year when they were all finished.
Happy New Year everyone, !
Allan

My problem is the beaver are coming out of the creek and stealing my oak trees, but they are bank beavers. I see so many giving advice on beaver dam trapping, but Ive walked up & down the stream and theres no beaver dams. Plenty of bank holes, but hard 2 know which ones are active. The water along the shoreline is mostly rocky. Im started to think the beaver activity on my stream is seasonal in that they must change patterns throughout the year. Trapping bank beaver seems like a different ball game.

Well AJE is it a flat bank or a cut bank where they are coming out to cut your trees ?
As for bank beaver dens the active dens will or at least up here they will have a trench wore into the bottom of the creek or there will be a color variation in the bottom or even freshly peeled sticks near the entrance.
When setting the 330 put the trigger on the bottom and brace the trap with dead sticks through both eyes on the springs adding a couple more if needed to keep it stable when the beaver leaves the den.
Tie off to what ever is handy on the bank and sharpen your knife.
Beaver trapping is no different than trapping anything else sometimes you have to think outside of the box, if it's larger rock making up the bottom you may have to use steel supports to stabilize the traps.
Allan

Bank beaver really arent hard to trap as long as you dont have floods forcing them out of their holes. If its a larger creek where you cant wade across, I concentrate on areas where they have shown recent cuttings and make castor mounds and/or castor smear sets.

Thanks for the info. I took a photo and tried attaching it but still havent figured out how to shrink pics so this site allows them.

The banks are generally steep, but theres places where its ~level for the 1st 4 ft of shoreline.

Glad u raised the points about flood. Id say at least once per year we have a high water event I would consider dangerously high, but its never high enough 2 flood peoples cabins.

If the water stays high for an extended period of time, the beaver will let you know where they are. They dont seem to cut trees down at this time but what they will do is take the bark off them. Sometimes nearly girdling them, if not completely. Then I go in and place castor sets in spots near those anxiety chewings and smack em.

I havent noticed any girdled trees.

When the water is high in this stream, it typically recedes after a few days or less.

I didnt think they like oak trees, but these sure do! Must b some strong beaver. Some of the trees were bigger than Id expect, and they hauled them away!

Beaver can be strange and will eat about any tree they can if preferred choices arent available. Ive got beaver up here eating IRONWOOD(hornbeam birch) and pine.

Is it common knowledge that beaver do more chewing/wood cutting in the winter when other easy to eat vegetation is dormant for the year? I havent noticed a pattern yet, but am wondering if u guys have?

I theorize that possibly they have to work harder to find things to chew on/eat in the winter, so they may spend more time on the bank, but I could b totally wrong. This property we have is 25 minutes from the house so its not like Im down there every week walkin' around.

They really dont start chewing on trees seriously here till late November and into December. They will cut some earlier in the year if they need to. Last year it was so warm here, some colonies here barely touched trees.

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Aix, I think I may have found 1 of these spots the last week of season. I just found a pinch point in the flowing stream below their big impoundment. It didn't take long and I had a 33 lb female. Reset the same conibear and got a 46 lb female beaver the last day of season. I really didn't have time to do much investigating, but my strategy of putting a trap a bit downstream paid off.

This. The "Holy Grail" set in particular. Love that natural dive that has been used by generations of beaver.

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Wow, those are quite the dams Aix.

Aix, you sure you want to break that dam yet? Might need some drowning depth. Is that weed growin on the dam? Them bucked toothed rodents are high right now...laughing at ya. Danged hippie beaver from California. No wonder I don't see any round these parts. Lol.

Aix, when spring time comes, and the water will allow, young will move. Some go up, some go down. It continues that way and will get as crowded as the waterways will hold. If there's not enough water, they'll find a way to make more.

There are a few rules I try to live by after having educated my share.

1. No matter how much my mouth watered on setting that perfect spot that you KNOW a beaver will travel through.....it may not be the best thing to do. Yet. Sometimes it's impossible, but I want zero beaver to know what's going on until the sheer drop in numbers is the only thing raising a red flag.

I don't mind setting hard, but only if I can hide my catch underwater. At first.

Sometimes I know my approach will be slower up front but it pays off in the back end.

I'll drop a trap at every castor mound and crossover where I can drown and I won’t use even a drop of lure. If there's a long string of dams, I like to work the lower end first. Footholds are key here. You can put a bodygrip on a drowner for hiding purposes but it doesn't always work out.

Once I wear them out, I'll use 330s at the lower ends and maybe a dab of lure on the mounds as I go. I rarely pull a trap unless I have to.

Move on up closer to their fort and hit them the same way as above. In the end I like to use a little lure but will also make food lured sets depending on the circumstances.

It's really not possible to lay out a specific approach. There are times where there are ZERO existing castor mounds and I personally wouldn't introduce any. They're absent for a reason.

Once I'm to that point, I'll start breaking lower dams. I try not to change the environment or water levels on purpose at first. That's not to say I never have, because thousands of beaver bit the dust that way. I just approach situations like yours as if I know there are 20 beaver present and I only have 1 shot to get it right or the job just got extended by a week or a month or two.

Once the dams are broken, and there's no more takers to repair, plug the channels with 330s. That'll be the deepest water for travel. And I'll leave traps several days with no action. Sometimes a beaver will hole up for several days. Ill plug a 330 in the den entrance if I know I'm down that far.

I hope my thoughts and spelling were coherent. It's 0430. Lol.

Look at me rambling. Sorry. I get to gettin serious on them buck toothed freakos. Lol.

Sounds interesting Aix.

MC- Thanks for the comments about methods to avoid getting too aggressive right away at the risk of spooking other beaver.

Great post Aix and John and others....your weather and conditions probably have your beaver a week or two ahead of us Northerners...but let me throw this out.... you might have female beav with young ones already??? If not born already the female might be ready to go at anytime. This might slow down normal travel activities....Guys what do you think?
John it is uncanny the way we trappers think and operate. I mimic your style of trapping. I'm like a cat at beaver jobs anymore. Trying to keep noise and traffic down to a minimum....trying not to spook beaver. My problem is I'm usually trying to inform my oldest son on things to do and look for....instructions. And. ...I'm trapping the same properties for the last 25 yrs.
John can I call you some time and chat? Pm me thanks.

neat Aix,the state of PA. is about to become a giant beaver pond if they aren't careful.a lot of property owners will be getting a surprise when they find out it costs money to remove the critters.

Yep. The idea of a trapper working his tail off for the "privilege" of working his tail off is for the birds. People that think trappers should work for free should try that approach the next time they call a plumber or electrician over for a problem and see how it works out for them.

"But beavers are worth $400 each!" Just ask some property owners. I've been asked to pay an annual fee to trap some properties because I make "a fortune" on fur. Lol.

Agree with above comments but here's the rub. When rats are $11-12 each there are a few "trappers" who will pay to acces a property. Good news is when prices tank these guys disappear.

John a lot of truth to not setting up that perfect spot, yet. Still like to find it first if possible.
Lots of folks in this part of AR, damage not as severe as in the east, would rather pay a track-hoe operator $150 + per hour to dig out dams rather than pay a trapper to eliminate the problem.

I've been on a bunch of jobs where excavators and redneck marksmen were full time fixtures in the swamps. I had a guy tell me they had totalled 15k of expenditures to try and get the beavers gone.

That's amazing Aix. I think you found the beaver mecca. I wouldn't be surprised you pull an otter or 2 out of their as well. Keep an eye out for snakes. Hopefully the turtles don't plug your traps. I have a feeling this beaver job will keep you busy.

Looking forward to following this thread, and looking at pictures.

I like the pictures part.

Are you using drowning cables or rods?

somebody call the techs and get the "hide help" button fixed so he can put up pictures!!!!

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X2

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When beaver pile up mud like that along the bank they are deepening their run.
When they pile mud on the dam they are blocking water running thru.
When they pile mud on the house it is for insulation.

Thx for the pics!

Nice pictures.

Were u surprised 2 catch the hog you were telling us that u had seen tracks of?

I'm back! Almost forgot this thread! Six, where are ya?!?!?

What's the body count?

Beaver may have spooked and he needed this rain last night and today for them to be active to catch some more.

Par for the course here. Should be some similar there for the time of the year.

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Damage in this area is out of control!

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Aix, rock them suckas like AC/DC!

What if you see something you don't want to see? Like a 12' gator? Lol. Or Jimmy Hoffa. Still alive...smoking a cigar? Careful what you wish for. Lol.

Wow!

very,very interesting.Thank you

It looks like there would be between 30 and forty if you got all the little ones.

Great post. You mentioned measuring distance and surface area. I find this program to be very useful for a lot things:

http://findpondsize.com/nonmobile.php

400 ft is best for a beaver survey.You will see everything.

Very cool thread!

Jeff, you're doing a fine job there. You ought to be proud of your patient approach. Not everyone can do it that way.

Teach them suckers who number two works for!

You always have to make sure your drowning system is positive and water deep enough.If in doubt pass up the location or use a killing set.
It is best for the animal and trapping as a whole.

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What do you look at/for when making an estimate for multiple family groups?

I have heard belisles are bad for that in some types of sets.
I assumed you were talking about a foot trap when you mentioned targeting a front foot catch-my bad.

Boco, it was a 330 set for a neck catch. I was only saying that my future chances of catching it by the front foot (in foot trap) have now been cut in half.

Gotcha.

Jeff indicated that there has been many years of limited human agricultural activity of any kind. He described finding one large house and a small one. He also described a series of ditches and the aerial photograph indicated much inaccessible area which probably indicates at least two more dens, probably bank dens that may have been overlooked or just not found.

That area has received extremely heavy rainfall on at least 2 occasions in the last 6-8 years. This would allow more migration of the surrounding beaver to this area during times of regular migration-dispersal.

The aerial photo-graph itself shows years of beaver activity as well as many areas of water over 4 feet deep.

Also, he is in the south there is lots of plant growth and no frozen bodies helping predators, limiting where the beaver can go.

#%@& that,that kayak woulda looked like it had a 40 horse motor on it if that was me.

You'd been in my dust, too! I'd looked like I had Jerusalem Cruisers on!

Gators live in beaver houses,or do they go in there looking for a snack.

Boco,imagine goin to check a 330 and it havin a gator in it.just something i never imagined i guess.

I have to say I was surprised. If I had to guess, he was looking for some grub. 5 lb Kits are the perfect size meal for a 6 foot gator.

Imagine the head of that thing coming up thru the ice hole,lol.

Yep, i would definitely need to go home and change my clothes if that popped up in front of my kayay!

Didn't want him riding around looking at you? LOL

Beaver season closed here yesterday,this morning got calls for 6 locations.
Going out this evening to set up.

We keep castor and turn over pelts to our fur council which uses the revenue for the membership.(supports aerial surveys and workshops fieldtrips etc.)
A nuisance trapper working outside the program could keep pelts to sell out of season by getting a permit to posess out of season online.I done that many times when working as a private agent (beaver control) for a company on salary.

Perfect strike on that gator LOL

Got these 2 on a drainage job last week, ended up with 5. 3 subs and 2 adults.

LMBO, me either..

I like setting up in the evening.Sometimes you can finish the job in 5 minutes,without even setting a trap.lol.
Seen 2 bears doing the nuisance spots today,got a pic of the smaller one.Bears are coming out now should be good for a hunt soon.

Glad you got Lefty.

Geez Boco, you using a 30-06? LOL

7.62x39,I don't want them to suffer,lol.

NAFA ain't going to like those..lol

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The bottom of your 750 looks like it's painted orange. What's the thought behind that?
Glad to see you got him.

Yes, I paint the bottom of my 750s orange. Just one of the ways I mark my traps. Traps are very expensive, and if someone steals my traps, that's just one more step they have to take to cover it up.


Beavers and Otters don't see the orange, at least not before it's too late.

Good job catching that one.

Yep gotta agree with you...love me some beaver trapping!

<Doesn't everyone love it when everything smells like castor? As long as I'm beaver trapping, I'm happy!>

Amen to that!

On another note, I had a “lefty” situation this past fall with a Belisle 330.......never did reconnect. And we don’t have any gators to blame

What is a beaver torpedo?

I love being out beaver trapping. Trapping different species is like kids. You cant love one more than the other but you always love the one youre with the best.

Got any pics ? Got a large pond I just started but the area with the most tree damage is shallow, about knee deep.

That ! Is ! Amazing !!!!!!!!!!

That ! Is ! Amazing !!!!!!!!!!

Thanks. That may be the kryptonite I need. Dealing with about 20 acres of knee deep water and flat banks that are as clean as a kitchen table. There might be enough deep water in front of a lower dam to run a Bridger #5 on a drowner which is my favorite.

What size pipe do you use?

when you say balanced, I'm assuming you place a "keel" weight so the snare support is always up ?

Thanks! Figured it was like a decoy and had to have a weighted keel. Had a couple of 5/8 bolts I secured with gorilla tape to hold them in place while I foamed. I'll check and mark the top before rigging the support.

Aix I'm gonna have to give this a try. With these Corp controlled rivers I trap these just might be the ticket.

Aix you've probably already said this, but what is the attractor for the torpedoes? Some castor or other lure smeared on the pipe? I guess you haven't had an opportunity to try it on trap shy beaver yet have you?

Starting to rain here every three or four days so the Arkansas will start yo-yoing more than it already does. Plan on building a few of these this weekend and giving them a try. Thanks for the tip Aix.

good read Aix

When you attach the torpedo to the rebar in deep water do you have the snare attached to a vertical drowner? I saw where you said you want them doa. I use regular kill poles in shallow water all the time and I wondered how you used them in deep water.

Really appreciate all the great info. I’m going to try the deep water kill poles. I have a bunch of shallow water kill poles I use mostly as a shallow water or dry land combo support/anchor. Never really used as a true kill pole. Mine don’t have the cross piece . Going to build some as you describe. Come in very handy on some of my adc jobs . A few of my adc jobs have concrete retaining walls and deep water and very hard to find a way to set up. Thanks again for the thread. .

Go get 'em Aix.

You are going to have some fun...and a big check.

that was a very good ride along as well as very informative ! I will never have to wory about that in Mo theres no such thing as a unmolested beaver colony here they are either scent shy or gun shy and even shape shy but I have yet to find any cable shy.

Jethro, my guess is a picture of 7 beavers right off the bat.

Wow, that is a serious beaver colonization. I have never seen anything that can compare to that size. The largest and oldest beaver project that I worked on was fantastic, and I enjoyed the adventure tremendously. But, it was small compared to your beaver fantasyland. Plus, you have alligators! Please keep us updated as the adventure develops. Good luck and be careful!

I would imagine snakes to go along with the potential for gators, Willy.
That sure does look like beaver paradise. Probably a site that could keep you busy for a while, Aix.

Jethro, we need an update.

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Nice!

I knew a 7 beaver picture was coming.

You need to quit hanging out with Miss Cleo! She may give you the scoop on beaver catches, but she’ll drag you down in the end.

Call me nooow.

Lol.