Bruce Jenner different.

Amusing thread.

I've been known to wade in barefoot in shorts when it gets blasted hot down here.

Holy cow! I never heard of that happening down here. I’ve had a lot of things happen to my traps, but never had a connibear hog ringed. That’s a new one! Couple old grumps around me, could have been one of them.

:

Went to trap a few beavers that are plugging up culverts and flooding fields. The creek is like 4 feet deep of water and some holes look bottomless. How the heck can I set a trap in this?

I took Boco’s advice and looked for some channels at the corners of the dam. Yup! There’s a beaver channel!...On the other side of the creek. You think I’m wading across with the water up to my belly button? NOT!
I’m standing here looking at the dam wondering if I can walk across it. Has like 20 inches of water flowing over it and the top of the dam is a bunch of trees and branches.
I put one foot on the edge and held onto the tree branch beside me, oh boy! These branches are not holding me up!
I slowly allowed my foot to sink down onto the mud base of the dam. In water up to my waist. Nice! I got a couple feet out onto the dam and had to let go of my security branch and hope I don’t lose my footing and fall into the deep end.
These branches were so spongy under my feet and kinda tangled around my boots, I had to stop about half way down. Then I looked down and was like what is this!!! Am I standing on a feed pile or is it a dam? I pretty much lunged for the shore on the other side. Grabbed a tree (2” water tree) and pulled myself up. Whew!!
Set my trap in the channel and worked my way back across the dam/feedpile or whatever it is to the other side. When I got to the shore I looked back and thought how the heck am I going to cross that thing tomorrow with a beaver in my hands lol.

Not really liking this, but I am excited to check the traps tomorrow!

Just set some traps at the waters edge ...I do it in flip flops....don’t ovah think it.

Sheesh, it’s been 4 months.. I thought you were coming back to tell us you got over your phobia! Although it’s more entertaining if you don’t. Keep us posted.

He's still listening to "Alanis More-upset?
(At least that's how she sounds to me)
Good lord man find yourself some heavy metal
Jim

Caught one of those beavers!! It wasn’t too tricky carrying it back across, but there is a big drop off at the end of the dam that I didn’t notice yesterday. I found it today though!



The remake.


This is the lousy dam I have to cross with a bunch of water running over it. You can see where the trap is set just to the right of the dam on the other side.






Now that I’m home, I’ve forgotten about all the crap I went through to get that beaver and I’m ready to do it again tomorrow.

That's why I use mostly footholds or snares when I trap beaver...that way I can make the beaver come to me with lure instead of having to chase them into dangerous situations.

I might have to try doing that one day. So far every trap I set for beaver have been without lure. Thinking about buying some.

You can make your own with the castor and oil stones from that beaver.

That's what I'd do, too.

Are the oil stones the oil sacs?
Just mix the oil and castor together or what?

Dry the castors for a few days then chop them up with a scissors(keep any juice that's in the castors too when you cut them up).Put the small pieces(about the size of your fingernail)of semi dry castor in a baby food jar,and squeeze about 1\2 the oil from 1 oil stone over the castor pieces and mix it up.Now add a little mineral oil(1 tbs) also to carry the scent on the water.You can use 1 piece per set as is or you can add a couple drops of anis oil to the jar for a change up beaver lure.
I have caught tons of beaver with this simple lure.

You want something to make you crap your drawers … wait until you are just finishing setting your 330 and still standing in front on it and a beaver come out of its den right into your trap … the trap springs, gets the beaver, but the momentum knock you off your fee in about 3 feet of water and the beaver is still thrashing out in the trap. That is exciting … I guarantee.

Garry-

Awesome Boco! Thanks! I’ll make that tomorrow. But is a oil stone the oil sack?
And what do I do with this piece of castor at the set?

Lmao! I can only imagine!

Yes an oil stone is the oil gland/sack
scuff up the bank with your boot and put the piece of castor on the ground or on a stick a foot behind the trap which should be in the water.

Like this

Ok sweet! Do beavers have kits in their houses this time of year still or are they only paired up and having babies in the spring?