Bear/beaver story(sorry Les). Northern Wisconsin spring trapping years ago. In National Forest and I had for years driven down on old railroad grade to access a river at the only point for miles any direction and the Forest Service closed my access. So I packed in 4 foothold setups the couple hundred yards on a good solid grade and set up. Couple days later I hiked in and had four travelers which I expected and had along a skinning knife so I reset and then roughed them out on a nice dry grassy slope in the sun and packed out the hides. Couple more days pass and I hike back in planning to pull and pack out my gear and more roughed out beaver. Had four more BUT the carcasses were all gone, the grass was flattened and it smelled STRONG of bear. Imagine skinning four beavers while on your knees covered with the odor of fresh beaver and pretty sure that there are eyes, noses and ears focused on you. I was even spooky with the hides in my pack on the hike out. Never saw a bear but I did hike faster going out than coming in. Yes, North OF, lots of LOUD singing and whistling.

I wired three beaver carcasses to a tree about a week ago. Pulled the card on my camera today and found this. Cleaned me out.




Cat and the carcasses.

I learned long ago to pack out the beaver where I am trapping them in the summer for nuisance.
Others would take the beaver out of the trap,and toss them away from the sets after removing castors.Not long before they were dealing with unacceptable numbers of missing traps,beaver and in many cases had harrowing experiences with irate bears.
I have had some bears take beaver and traps,especially in summer in bear country on extended checks in warmer weather,but I always pack out beaver even if I am not pelting them(nuisance).Just way too many problems in bear country if you leave the carcasses near where you are still operating.

I haven't seen any bear sign yet, but I haven't looked at every black, goopy looking turd on the road either. I have picked up a shopping bag of wolf turds from the forest roads though.
28 for today, and I didn't quite get all the traps checked, 54 of 60 traps. It got dark on me.
I have 36 to skin, so...I am now a little behind, lol.

I'll let them chill in there for a few days.

That's a good 8 hours work there if you clean skin.Nice haul Les.

You are a machine, Les. What a haul.

Wow-sa!! My body hurts just looking at all those chisel tooths!! Good thing its going to be a cool week, we have a little thunder-snow action this morning!! I won't be planting in the garden for a few days...

very nice sir and most look like pretty colored beaver you get there.

Les.....let’s say the pelts averaged 30.00 each ....like 12 years ago......could you still make a good haul like that....or would there be stiff competition ?

Your an animal, bud! Not my idea of a good time, catchin that many. Makes my back hurt to look at that pic!

Nessy, I think he is sleeping or skinning beav.......in his sleep!

There would be stiff competition.

I am awe struck. You are DA MAN Les.

Impressive Les. Heck of a lot of work, and the numbers you're catching, WOW!

I did notice your carcasses still had the tails on them. Do you toss them, or take them to make BTO, or sell them? Those big ones like you got sell for a couple dollars around here. You don't seem like a guy that would miss an opportunity or toss something that could be used, but when you're catching my whole beaver season in a day, priorities may change. I don't know that I'd worry about a tail after skinning the piles you're catching. Great work! Fun watching!

I have 3 big pails of tails lopped up and rendering in the sun as we speak. I haven't had a worthy market for tails, especially this far north.

I was shooting for a certain numerical goal , but don't believe I have the numbers to achieve it. Things, the catch , that is, will start to peter out here shortly if I don't move things around. I have nearly every trap set now.

Call me lazy (I'm good at that) but at my advanced age if I were to make catches like that I would be selling them on the carcass at today's prices.

Good job, Les....you ARE an animal.

Nice work Les, that pic makes my whole body hurt . Hats off dude

Holly cow Les you are a busy man and looks like you are about to get even more busy! Good job!

Son of a gun Les! I think you just talked me into trapping some beavers.