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foot traps and travellers but my state is messed up.

I trap both ponds and roadsides. I try to find a string of ponds, at least three in close proximity to each other, where I can get my atv with a trailer to the dam, and that haven't been trapped in at least three years. I'll set seven traps if I know the colony has two year olds. Most sets are bait sets on the dam with footholds and drowners, either rods or cable and Pogos. I set dams because I know the majority of beaver will visit there, and there is always water to drown. Along the roads, I use footholds whenever possible, but usually ends up being 50/50 with 330's. Two or three sets per spot, castor mounds and bait sets, if theres an active colony ill set more. I often run those in the dark.

Snares would be my choice. Unfortunately can't use snares in the ROW here in AR.

330s fast efficient and cheaper then 750s. No drowning systems to deal with lots of different options.

my PA regs--20 season limit,only 10 traps of which only 2 may be 330's,6.5 in max outside spread,15 ft from house or dam.must say after 30 yrs i'm pretty good at trap placement though.

That's just plain bad. And I thought our laws were bad. Restrictions will always make you a better trapper.
But we know have a new Fur Bearer biologist and he Is trying to clean up some of these stupid rules.
One of our Laws says In the off season we can't legally use bait or lure to take critters. WE have been breaking the law forever.

I'd try to line up as much private land with active colonies as possible. It's easier to plan your route and judge numbers I think. Land owner should know if anyone else has been in there and when. Also how long the beaver have been there. Although you shouldn't drive past any more public colonies without setting them as well. I run a mix of MB750's on drowners and 330's. I think it helps to have both options. I rarely use snares for beaver except under ice. I have about 35 properties lined up to trap as soon as the ice starts going in the next month or so. With a handful of public stops thrown in along the way. I hope to average 2-4 beaver per colony. With the low prices there are not many guys out chasing beaver so gaining permission is pretty easy.

I think a lot of this is determined by the type of country you are trapping. I might say something different here in NC than back when I was up north. So, up north I'd set colonies under the ice with mainly snares. Road line would be footholds in spring dispersal backed by 330s where they make sense (tight culverts, small creeks). Fall would be a mix of foothold and 330, with mainly 330 being my choice.

One season of trapping so far here...I don't know. Drive to areas with high densities and set everything in a system? Pick the "low hanging" fruit in between.? Densities here can be quite high. I've pulled 43 now off just two farms this spring while running 12 330s. I like footholds and snares, but then you have to check daily. Fine for a road line, but not great for an expansive swamp.

All that to say if I could I think I would hop in a boat here and set along the major rivers during dispersal. Local laws make it so that 330s are the only choice to extend trap checks, so that would be it.

Around here where roads are almost all one mile squares and ROW trapping with snares is legal, a person could pile up a lot of beavers bridge hopping with snares and just a couple sets at each bridge when the beaver are traveling in the spring.

Jethro, that's a tough one. In your country, it's an easier one because of all the trees and potential spots for 330s. If I can only choose one, I think I'm choosing 330s. Though footholds are my favorite. Snares are also important. Man, I don't even like having to think of this. Lol.

Footholds and drowners and 330's. Here we could set multiple lines and check every other day.

Well then, you're going to get a hundred different answers. Because all our situations are different, due to location and different topography/conditions. All areas are different.

In my area, all beaver are on private property...and we don't have ditches with water in them. It's agricultural land. As far as MY trapping, and having to make a choice...it'd be 330 Beslisles in castor mounds, diving sets, channels, and bank runs.

I know we PM'd about it Goldy, but I would still love to see some pictures of your pogo set up. Sounds like its the Bee's Knees.

I'll work on that.

Most of my trapping is on the right of way, or on public land. Exclusive rights to private land is a great deal, if possible.

Im leary about row trapping beavers equipment is to pricey for someone else to borrow it. I will however put a old turd 330 in a blocked down riffle to catch all the travelors. Bacically a enlarged otter set. I've never tried a baited set for beaver its majority blind or a castor mound. What is a good commercial beaver bait/food lure ?

Some peeled sticks on the bank where they're swimming (to catch their eye), with some castor behind them is pretty good. I really don't know how important a food lure is. Pretty sure every beaver I kill until I tip over will be drawn to a castor lure, if a lure is needed.

Guess I didn't really answer your question (but in a way I did). Sorry.

Usually seven

I just finished up a beaver ADC job today. They showed zero response to any sort of castor smell, so I ended up catching all of them on Dobbin's Woodchipper, and O'Gorman's beaver call and beaver pro. I just took a couple of green sticks, skinned them up a little bit and laid them on the bank. Put the lure on the sticks, or a chunk of apple or corn for extra eye appeal. Had a foot trap on a drowner on one set and a snare on another, both ended up producing.