Im trying my hand at under ice Beaver this season and I'm having a hard time with it. I can see the hut and I can see where there has been activity on each end of the small pond but I have no idea where the runs are coming from the hut. I set a few baited sets and set one spot I could get to where they were going down stream to feed. I'm just looking for any help I could get to be more successful. I'm really not that much of a beaver trapper but I'm trying to learn so anything would be great.

I have never done under ice for beaver yet , but are you allowed to use a snare under water, those multi snares on a bait pole by the hut seem to work good.

Yes we can. I haven't tried those yet cause I don't have any snares. But that might be my only option for now till the ice melts.

Do you have a Spud, or ice chisel?

I do and I walked around the hut last night trying to find the run but no luck. There is 12+ inches of ice on this pond so chopping ice is a chore. I did find soft ice at the other end of the pond at what might be a bank den but I'm not sure. I'm going back sat am to try to find where they are and hope to get some more info to help me.

Im not a beaver trapper. But I would suggest pictures.

I can get pictures when I go back Saturday. Not saying I can post them cause I have tried before and can't figure it out. But it looks like a white snow covered pond/ swamp. Lol

When you get the hang of it you can hit the ice with your spud and listen for the hollow sound. no need to cut thru the ice. do this close to the hut. If you have a chain saw use that to cut thru the ice get on your knees cover your head and the hole with your coat and have a look around again by the hut. if the area is clear put in your set, the beaver will find it.

Just put your baited trap or snare pole close to or midway between the house and feed pile. They will find it.

The bait sticks should be fresh aspen, or whatever the primary food source for beaver is in your area. I like to nick them to give the appearance that they have been nibbled at. Additional snares can be added depending on water depth. When setting near a feed pile, which is generally the best location, keep several feet away to avoid the snared beaver getting tangled up in the pile. Also, do not attach snares on the dry pole any closer than 20" to the ice. If the snare is too close to the pond surface ice you risk having the beaver freeze into the ice when it is caught after it extends the snare and floats up beneath the ice. A frozen in beaver involves a lot of extra work to retrieve.

Rather than attaching snares with staples I prefer, and find it much easier, to attach them to the dry pole with a pigtail tie wire connected to my snare.

I can't even find the feed pile cause there is almost 2 feet of snow on the ice. Lol . I just got this property and didn't get to scout it before snow and freezing.

My guess is they are no longer there. Look for a frost cone ore melted spot on the lodge. If your on a run and bust through you'll get a woosh of air come up.

I'm not sure there are Beaver in the one hut I have found. But I know there are beaver around due to sign but I'm not sure how far a beaver can travel under water. The one spot I found that looks like a possible bank den is about 50-60 yards away from open water by my traps.

if its that cold and snow covered and you find open water without current you found the sweet spot! Tap on the ice in front of the bank den it will sound hollow or be really thin to thin to walk on usually. Once the snow is gone look for the bubble trails they will put you on their dens and or feed piles. A active hut on a cold day you can see a small stream of steam coming out of it. Beavers can swim a hundred yards easily under water! Some of those holes you think are dens are just breather holes. check that hole if its hard on the bottom its probably active

I've trapped bank dens up to probably 200 yards from the house under ice. They can travel amazing distances under ice.

I have been trying to figure out this beaver game and I'm not winning yet. I have sets plugged up with sticks from the beaver but I can't seem to catch any. In baited sets or just trying to set where they are coming over the dam. Im going to go bald trying to catch these beaver.

You have open water in New Hampshire right now?

Only a small amount where it's running over the dam. But the Brook below is wide open below the dam.

I scout my areas and look for the deeper water before ice locks them up. Most of what I trap are small ponds or dammed deadwaters. I've never had a problem catching beaver if I know where the deeper water is. Shallow ponds and thick ice really narrows their movements. A chainsaw is your friend. Sounds like you're going to have to make some exploratory holes.


Are you using footholds and/or bodygrippers? Describe the sets you're making.

The photos show on this post is the way I had snare beaver . I did do some things different . Over all it is the same .I set more then 2 alot of times that they are 180 from the others ones until it fills the pole from where it will stick in the bottom and then up to few inch from under the ice .If it take 4 snares will do it or 6 or just 2. I would normal set them where the first dam is above it .Of if there is just a lodge not fr from it. After I will check the bank above that to see if there is any dens and set a 330 for the ones I do find. in front of it.It dose not take much for the beaver to died with this set.
https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2887304/Beaver_-_Under_ice_Snare_Pros

it is Northcountry post and photos.

Here is another post that Rally show the same type of set

https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2319353/3