Re: beaver job
[Re: Traps R Us]
#6261631
06/17/18 01:07 PM
06/17/18 01:07 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,519 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,519
james bay frontierOnt.
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The first thing I do before setting up any new nuisance beaver job is thoroughly scout the pond\ponds in order to set and remove all the beavers in the most efficient manner possible.Locating the house/bank dens and territorial castor mounds is key. For example you could set up a pond,but if there is a larger pond upstream where the beavers are actually living,your traps at the lower pond may not see action for quite a while.This is especially true in summer.Even after a rain when beaver get more active,some beaver in the colony may not visit the lower impoundments for quite a while. By scouting the entire area you will be able to identify the areas of frequent use,like crossovers,channels etc.It will also allow you to assess the probable size of the colony,how old it is and how many beaver you can expect to be there.By identifying large territorial castor mounds it will indicate you are dealing with more than one colony,and you can expect those adjacent beaver to move in after you remove the one colony,if you don't eliminate them too.Google earth can be an asset also.Another consideration is to know what lies downstream especially if you are in charge of lowering the water to natural flow after beaver removal.This can dictate if you can dump all the water in a couple of visits,or if you have to let the water down gradually over a longer time period. This is not necessary when running and gunning for fur in season,unless you want to remove all the beaver.
Last edited by Boco; 06/17/18 01:16 PM.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: beaver job
[Re: Traps R Us]
#6262178
06/18/18 01:55 PM
06/18/18 01:55 PM
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 402 Wisconsin, USA
Traps R Us
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 402
Wisconsin, USA
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quick update. this is roughly 10 acres of swamp, water levels get beyond 4 ft quickly, so no way to wade around in it. perimeter is maybe 1/3 accessible, rest is out of my reach due to business park and subdivisions that boarder up against it. I don't see how I can scout it for runs, slides, mounts, huts etc. I tried scouting with a short kayak, but that was so so, there is one main channel, the rest is smaller runs where maneuvering a kayak quickly becomes close to impossible. I am pushing my way through cattails there. footholds on slide wires have not resulted in anything yet. I noticed a clear run approx 1 ft wide at one side, turns out that's turtle territory, with a turtle or two every morning stuck in my 330's. Anybody want turtles?? I managed to set 2 conibears at somewhat of pinch points in main channel, after first night I had a muskrat this morning. Suffice to say that so far I am getting my butt kicked. Luckily the 90 degree weather is about to let off a little here. I did poke a small hole in the dam to lower water levels and to get beavers moving, they have been back once to patch the dam. there's a raccoon visiting the dam every night. (timestamp is off).
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Re: beaver job
[Re: Traps R Us]
#6262244
06/18/18 04:33 PM
06/18/18 04:33 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 329 wisconsin
forester79
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 329
wisconsin
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As I understand it they are in the process of changing the no bait/lure and dam trapping law. I've had very good results with aixs kill pole set up catching them in deep runs swimming on the surface.
Last edited by forester79; 06/18/18 04:39 PM.
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Re: beaver job
[Re: forester79]
#6262444
06/18/18 09:56 PM
06/18/18 09:56 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,165 Central NC
traprjohn
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,165
Central NC
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This is a live catch set up. . Not if you run them down a drowning rod. A short snare works best. But it takes deeper water than Aix set up.
Last edited by traprjohn; 06/18/18 09:59 PM. Reason: Add info
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Re: beaver job
[Re: Traps R Us]
#6271048
07/02/18 10:36 AM
07/02/18 10:36 AM
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 402 Wisconsin, USA
Traps R Us
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 402
Wisconsin, USA
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Aix, thanks for checking. Long story short, no, I have not caught them. I caught a good share of turtles and a muskrat. With my trail cameras, I was observing beaver coming in to fix the small hole I tore in the dam, but they managed to avoid my traps. We had a lot of rain during that period, the water level dropped very little, and the beaver showed up roughly once a week to check on the dam and do repair work. Really got some amazing pictures of the beavers, raccoons, all sorts of birds, etc! One morning I got there and somebody had moved in with heavy equipment to take the dam down, dropped water levels a good foot. My client had no clue this was coming, neither did the neighboring business. As you can imagine, all my traps were now out of the water, and I decided to take them down and find out what's going on. I still don't who did it, but I suspect the construction crew at a new subdivision going in at the top of the swamp. I agreed with the client to pull back for now. He does not want to deal with it at the moment, not upset with me, he called me and asked for his invoice, thanked me for my for my efforts and for responding very quickly. Even if not catching the beavers. I gained permission to trap there in winter and we'll see what else happens. I suspect the dam is fixed by now and the relief was very short term. Right now, licking my wounds a bit, learned a lot and looking forward to the next adventure. If I get around to it, I'll post some pictures of all the wildlife on the dam.
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