Anyone know why Wisconsin doesn't allow regular trappers to set traps (except DP's) within 15 feet of a beaver dam? It seems like it'd be a great place. Maybe the state is worried we'd catch incidental otters.

Here in Connecticut we have to be 10’ away from a lodge at the water line. But no dam restrictions. I believe Maine has a dam trapping restriction too. I don’t know your laws on otter quota but that would be a possible reason.

I think youre right! Some nontrapper, rule maker figured they was protecting our over abundant otter. Some things look good on paper.

Well a beaver dam Is a great otter trapping location and you could kill a bunch of otter there. But you can do that at any pinch point on the creek.
I don't really have a problem with It since we can't set the dam we have learned to deal with It.

I'm not sure who made that rule but I have a strong feeling he may have set a trap or 2 In his time.

Isn't there a DNR advisory question this year that kind of deals with this problem.

I don't know why jurisdictions make laws like this,do they actually think it can stop a trapper from harvesting an animal?All it does is cause a minor inconvenience to the trapper,when he has to move his traps 15 feet down the channel below the dam.

It's the same mind set that won't let you place colony traps in culverts or let you do any guiding when using those traps.
You can fence off the whole creek with 330s but you can't set on the dam. You can fence off the whole creek with 160s but you can't place 2 colony traps side by side. It's like giving you a whole box of donuts and then telling you you can only eat one. LOL

Once set a hoop turtle trap next to a beaver dam and the beavers built the turtle trap right into the dam.

Beav,
you are correct. Question 14 addresses some aspects of this:


Dave

Wildlife Services can set on the dams and they can even use lure, whereas we the private ADC trapper can not do either.

Please turn out at the Spring hearings and vote yes to setting on the dam and yes to using lure or bait for ADC trapping of beaver.

Why only private land? I think the rule is more of an inconvenience for the other beasts that use the dam and the ability to put them on a slide wire, making a clean catch.

Beav mentioned colonies, another over regulated tool. When I substitute these in place of conibears for muskrat my incidental otter catch goes down to zero. Unfortunately our regulations limit practical use.

Interesting that WS gets permission to trap on dams wherever, private and public.

Can you imagine how many otter are left to rot In the back woods after WS Is done. And no matter what they tell you those trappers aren't hauling out to many of those otter. And If they aren't hauling them out they sure aren't making a paper count on how many they caught.

WS = job stealing

X2