I was out setting beaver traps this afternoon minding my own business when two guys running dogs for rabbits came around. They weren't too happy I was trapping, that's it.

Question: Do you all have any specific tips for avoiding beagles? I'm using both foot holds and 330s.

Or, are there no tips? That would be fine too if that's the answer.

I'm on quasi-public land. It's a land trust where I have permission.

Thank you.

Completely submerging your 330's is one suggestion and using bait sticks and mud for attraction on your footholds and 330's rather than scents unless you use poplar bud oil which should not be attractive to a dog.

If a rabbit dog is swimming he deserves to get caught and the owner needs to learn to train dogs. Rabbits don't swim.

Rabbits do swim. No swampers in MI?
MnMan's suggestions seem about right.

If there is a chance of dogs in the area,put your hip or chest waders on and make your sets back in the deeper water.
There are a bunch of sets you can make for beaver that use submerged traps and are totally dog proof.

I would look for runs to set body grips (blind sets) in a location that require hip boots to get to. That would be my first choice, and maybe only choice. It would seem like a safe bet, setting blind sets, away from shore, and in a couple feet or more of water. Usually this would be my preferred way to trap anyway.

I might be, no, I would be pretty hesitant to use any lure.
I would probably be hesitant to use foot holds where there were dogs, and if I used them it would be all blind sets.
Probably not much chance of trouble with beagles but what if somebody like me that takes a lab hunting? Those fools like to waller around.
The last thing I want to happen is to be front page news.

Mac

Guess y’all ain’t got Canecutters up there.
I’d also be worried about duck hunters and labs as well.

Thank you everyone! I'm going to print this thread out and put it in my trapping notes.

I've been trapping beavers on lands leased by hunt clubs for many years. They run dogs about all winter chasing deer, bear, coon, bobcats, foxes and coyotes. I haven't caught a dog yet in my beaver sets. I use lure and footholds, but I put the lure way up on the bank if I'm setting a foothold. The location can't be a place where animals cross the creek, ditch or pond. The dogs will sniff the lure up on the bank and have no reason to go into the water. If I'm a bit worried about the set, I'll lay a branch across the set where the water meets the bank. The branch is suspended to where it will be 6 or 8 inches above the water/bank spot. There's plenty of room for the beaver to go under it when approached from the water, and a dog will not go under it.

Didn't we have a president that got attacked by a swimming rabbit?

Friend of mine was here today. Ron Parker. He was president of the KS houndsman association for quite a few years. Was close to 30 years ago when I went hunting with him for the first time. Went down on the Maires Des Cygne river near Quenemo KS. I had a bunch of pocket sets for coons on the stretch of river he turned those dogs loose. 1 1/2 coil springs in the water. His dogs treed a couple three coons and we shot them out. I skinned them for him. Then told him I doubted I trapped any coons that night after all that commotion. I had to show him my traps as he couldn't believe I hadn't caught a dog. One set had been dug up from the bank like a coyote does. Was a few weeks later I found out he was telling anybody that would listen I could even trap coyotes without catching a dog. So I had to get with Ron and make sure the local houndsmen knew that wasn't true. Ron doesn't hunt much anymore its just to hard on him to walk like that.

Anyway I haven't trapped a lot of beaver but I think catching a dog in a beaver set would be pretty rare.

foxpaw that was hilarious. only time in my life i ever saw a grown man afraid of a rabbit. i am surprised that film ever got released.

One time I had some #330's set under water in holes. It came a flood and I went down to see about my traps. I met two rabbit hunters that I knew, their first question was, Do you have any traps set that will catch our dogs? I said no, they are all under water. I got over to the creek and to my surprise the ditch was like 1/2 empty. The first trap I came to was up out of water, and along the slicked over bank was a set of beagle tracks that led right to the trap. he apparently looked at the hole and decided not to go in. His tracks were 6" in front of the 330. I threw every trap I came to and when I got to the dam, the flood had washed it out and drained the creek. The thought of catching that beagle shook me up. There really is a God!

I'd just make the 330 sets on the off side of where most activities would most likely occur. I've trapped public land for 30+ years ...no dog issues...even with lured sets.

Birch oil and popplar bud oils are a really under rated scent for water animals. You could try those in traffic areas.

Exactly what Paul and 330 said. I’ve trapped beavers for more years than I want to admit and never caught a dog or even a fox or coyote in a beaver set! 330’s keep at least half submerged. If remote chance of dog activity, fully submerged works just as good with guiding and dive stick. When using footholds set deeper for hind foot catch. Keep lure further up on the bank for either conibear or foothold. If you’re concerned still, set 330 fully submerged in a blind run set.

Best advice I can give you is use your common sense if you have any.

A 330 kills. Dont risk it. You kill one dog and the black eye for trapping gets bigger..

Just because it might be legal on some instances you are better off not to make a set that you are reasonably sure will catch a dog.

People can call anti if they want.. Im not but somwtimes ya just gotta pass on a set that has the potential to create a very bad situation that could paint trappers In a bad light.

We have enough of that going on without adding more fuel to the fire.

Sometimes you have to weigh the situation and pass.

This ia all my opinion of course but thats how we see it.

We have passed on good sets to avoid a possible black eye for local trappers..we have enough of that crap out there without adding fuel to the fire ourselves.

Not fussing at you, just saying in general sometimes we gotta use the good sense God saw fit to give us. Just my .02