Here's a couple good size beaver I packed out a bit over 1/4 mile thru muskeg a couple years ago.(I'm 64).Muskeg is tough walking,its like walking on a thick sponge.
You guys sound very soft for young men.
I have seen big strong looking young guys wore out from packing one quarter of a moose,when there were 7 lquarters left to pack out.At the same time I have seen some older smaller men pack out several quarters.

If a damaged spine makes one "soft" then I'm guilty as charged Boco. At 53 years young I weigh in at 175 lbs mid summer, 185 mid winter, and it's likely a good thing we aren't at the rendezvous or hard might just have to be proven out. Back problems and all. Specially if there's drinking of spirits involved. Nuff said...

So my take is this, classic B and B problem. Brains vs Brawn eh?

The displacement equations, the amount of work necessary to move said dead weight from point A, trap, to point B, truck, is not going to change. What is going to happen is some bearing surface is going to wear while that work is done, there's always frictional losses in all systems.. I'd rather it were on a set of ball bearings than disks and cartilage in my back since I really like standing up and walking. I've apparently already done that to a certain degree so it is what it is. Working on concrete for rich people is stupid but it pays well, I wonder why? Next time I get it imaged I'll post the loveliness if ya like.

Regardless I'll figure out how to move what I need to move when I need to move it. No amount of testosterone or challenges, my EGO which is significant, nothing will have me even consider crippling myself (per my doctor(s) who asked me "how are you even working") for furs.

I appreciate the motivation for sure....very much a part of why I want it to snow and freeze....greatly reduced coefficient of friction = a sled on snow. Then it's just a matter of sliding them up out of the holes and pulling them to the truck. Ropes, block and tackle, and etc are amazing things. I have to adapt to limits placed on me even if I don't like it. I'm not a slouch by any means but I do have some legit stuff going on. Not soft dude....smart.

Funny how one is always presented choices

Dang.How about skinning it?

Sorry Tadeo,didnt realize you were disabled.

No problem Boco, The back is just what it is, it's not going to stop me from catching some of these, hopefully. Getting them out will just take a bit more creativity that's all.

About 75% finished with my fleshing beam, I could use now if I need to but I have a little more work I want to do.

And that's what I was thinking Bruce, I'd have been skinning

Good luck

Keep us posted cant wait to see results.
Jim

JTaddeo

Good thread. I have had a very bad back for a long time. You have to learn to work around it. What has worked very weak for me when beaver trapping is a sled.

I buy the kind like ice fisherman haul their gear with. May not be the answer for everyone. For me I can haul traps and equipment and fur a whole lot easier than I can lug it.

Even on bare ground those sled work pretty good. (Better on snow of course) I am sure that some guys can load a back pack and even put Shaquille O'Neal on their shoulders and move through the woods like a ninja. I cannot, so a sled works for me.

Mac my back was very bad also for years to the point where I was falling all the time.Surgery with 2 pins,1 vertebra back in place,1 disc above and 1 below removed and then fused to the vertebra above and below and now my back is as good as new.I did everything the doctor told me to do.

Well, nothing in my crossover sets this morning but that's OK. I spent more time looking around at how these beaver are living and I can see the feed beds and travel ways. I need a few more traps. I did get a baited conibear set in at one feed bed and more scouting.
My nose wasn't lying to me, this place is full of predators and prey. I bet there's muskrats in here too. Fox ran down my footprints last night, coyotes also came through, and even a mink. This is a nice place. Gotta figure out how to catch some of these beavers. Everything is thawing out again, just can't get anything stable but bad ice. I definitely had my sled with me just in case. Sooner or later I'll connect on these.

Alot of fur sign.Nice spot.

put a handle on them!

That's beautiful man! Beaver handles.....awesome...

Well, I didn't need any handles or go-carts for my first catch but it is a beaver. I caught a kit in the first crossover this morning so it's a start. Heck I only have 4 traps out right now, so at least I'll be skinning and fleshing tonight.

I get my exercise and it keeps me out of trouble....mostly. I bought 3 more 330's and a couple more Bridger #3 coils from Paul's last evening. More sets going in for sure..

Looking at the ponds this morning it'll be mostly open water by the end of today I'll bet. I didn't take any pictures, it's raining and it's just a small beaver but I'll take it.

There's more where that came from, they let it be known this morning.....with massive splashes. Hey, who's throwing big rocks in the water while I'm over here fishing????

Side NOTE TO SELF: I've been watching predator calling video's on YouTube and noticed something, a detail I forgot about. In the parking lot DON'T SHUT THE DOOR'S HARD......

I played sneaky Jim this morning, and I saw two foxes on the trails headed down to me beaver traps.....this is way too much fun.

And now I have to go to work......blasted responsibility and integrity......hahahaha

Can't I just keep trapping????

Way to go.

Great pictures!

Cool place to trap!!

Once the ice is gone they should be moving more.Pay attention to witch bank has the wind blow out over the water and make a couple caster mound set on them.

Well, I got that little guy peeled, fleshed, and boarded last night. Not even 20" on the board but It's good practice I suppose. I know this, I sure do like fleshing with a Necker 600 although I did get a bit aggressive and mess up one edge on the belly skin. So it's not a nice round beaver skin but I'll get there...The coons are going to be getting thinned out come 2020 fall cause fleshing isn't an issue for me any longer...you just gotta get the right tools and hang around people in the know.

I definitely have to make some marked out beaver boards and practice nailing these out properly......only one way to do that....CATCH MORE!



You can laugh if you want too, I'm pretty thick skinned....This kit was pretty easy to skin and flesh, it's my understanding that the larger ones will take quite a bit more work.

Any way you look at I'm betting I'll be getting more practice soon.....my baited set missed one (something anyway) this morning, and I bought a couple of castor based lures.

I'm hoping to go out and make some more sets this coming Sunday so I'll be slinging mud and slicking up banks, dropping foriegn castor in their territory, get them jumping into some steel.