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Best Chainsaw Bar Length For Under Ice Beavers #6824530
03/31/20 03:08 PM
03/31/20 03:08 PM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 153
Saskatoon,Saskatchewan
YOTEBOY Offline OP
trapper
YOTEBOY  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 153
Saskatoon,Saskatchewan
What’s the best overall chainsaw bar length for under ice beaver trapping that would cover most ice depths? I’m looking to buy one but I’m undecided on how long a bar I want.

Re: Best Chainsaw Bar Length For Under Ice Beavers [Re: YOTEBOY] #6824538
03/31/20 03:13 PM
03/31/20 03:13 PM
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 2,740
Wisconsin
B
Bear Tracker Offline
trapper
Bear Tracker  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 2,740
Wisconsin
Depends on your local, I run a 24" in WI

Re: Best Chainsaw Bar Length For Under Ice Beavers [Re: YOTEBOY] #6824548
03/31/20 03:23 PM
03/31/20 03:23 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
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Boco Offline
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Boco  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
18 inch here minimum.If your cutting more ice than that even in the dead of winter the house is not worth trapping-not much beaver activity and likely only a pair of beaver.You should be targeting full colonys with at least 2 age classes of beaver if trapping thru the ice for numbers.

Last edited by Boco; 03/31/20 03:24 PM.

Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Best Chainsaw Bar Length For Under Ice Beavers [Re: YOTEBOY] #6824585
03/31/20 04:02 PM
03/31/20 04:02 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat Offline
trapper
bctomcat  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
I used a 20 inch bar as it was used for clearing trails, firewood and ice. As "Boco" stated if your cutting more than 18 inches your probably wasting time. You should be able to find thinner ice around any well populated active lodge or feed pile.


The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.






Re: Best Chainsaw Bar Length For Under Ice Beavers [Re: YOTEBOY] #6824591
03/31/20 04:09 PM
03/31/20 04:09 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 581
Northern Maine
Jeremiah Wood Offline
trapper
Jeremiah Wood  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 581
Northern Maine
I use 18" bar, sometimes cut through 24" to catch beaver, depends on several factors in addition to how active the lodge is. Started using an ice auger more this year. Im finding it much easier than the chainsaw,for what it's worth.

Re: Best Chainsaw Bar Length For Under Ice Beavers [Re: YOTEBOY] #6824604
03/31/20 04:18 PM
03/31/20 04:18 PM
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,162
Green Bay, Wisconsin
tlguy Offline
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tlguy  Offline
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,162
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Lots of guys use chainsaws to cut holes for sturgeon spearing. The last few years, my buddy and I have used our ice augers to drill side by side holes. My ice auger is powered by my battery power drill and weighs in at around 13 pounds. It can't cut trees, but it could easily cut 20+ holes for traps that measure 16"x16", plenty big to drop a 330 and pull up a big beaver. I don't trap beaver under ice, but if I did, that's what I'd use.

It can't cut trees, but if you already have an auger, it's something to consider. In order to cut overlapping holes so you dont have to chop them open, the auger needs to have a center point.

Re: Best Chainsaw Bar Length For Under Ice Beavers [Re: YOTEBOY] #6824621
03/31/20 04:46 PM
03/31/20 04:46 PM
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,623
alaska
3
3 Fingers Offline
trapper
3 Fingers  Offline
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3

Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,623
alaska
I use 20” on all my saws and also same gauge chain so everything is interchangeable. Sometimes I’ll have 24-26” of ice trapping river beaver so then I just chisel out the last few inches

Re: Best Chainsaw Bar Length For Under Ice Beavers [Re: YOTEBOY] #6824643
03/31/20 05:07 PM
03/31/20 05:07 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
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The Beav  Offline
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T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
Sawing through 18" of ice to catch a $10.00 beaver. LOL


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Best Chainsaw Bar Length For Under Ice Beavers [Re: YOTEBOY] #6824645
03/31/20 05:10 PM
03/31/20 05:10 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,539
Sandhills Nebraska
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Gary Benson Offline
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Gary Benson  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,539
Sandhills Nebraska
I tried a chainsaw for muskrats but got really wet. Abandoned the leaning board idea and went to pushups and feeding piles. Much more enjoyable.


Life ain't supposed to be easy.
Re: Best Chainsaw Bar Length For Under Ice Beavers [Re: YOTEBOY] #6824648
03/31/20 05:10 PM
03/31/20 05:10 PM
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 4,951
rogers city mi.
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jeff karsten Offline
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jeff karsten  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 4,951
rogers city mi.
i'm with Beave on this one


olden tyred
Re: Best Chainsaw Bar Length For Under Ice Beavers [Re: YOTEBOY] #6824650
03/31/20 05:11 PM
03/31/20 05:11 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
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Boco Offline
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Boco  Offline
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Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
II used a power auger once or twice when doing spring beaver runs.Auger is fine until you hit feed,then you'll wish you used the saw.Not to mention if your dropping snare poles you will have a lot of slush removal using an auger.
Beav,you can sell the hides too not just the castors.

Last edited by Boco; 03/31/20 05:13 PM.

Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Best Chainsaw Bar Length For Under Ice Beavers [Re: The Beav] #6824690
03/31/20 05:48 PM
03/31/20 05:48 PM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 153
Saskatoon,Saskatchewan
YOTEBOY Offline OP
trapper
YOTEBOY  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 153
Saskatoon,Saskatchewan
Originally Posted by The Beav
Sawing through 18" of ice to catch a $10.00 beaver. LOL

Well I’d rather be outside trapping than self isolating in my house watching tv or doing something else that’s mind numbing.

Re: Best Chainsaw Bar Length For Under Ice Beavers [Re: YOTEBOY] #6824723
03/31/20 06:11 PM
03/31/20 06:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 581
Northern Maine
Jeremiah Wood Offline
trapper
Jeremiah Wood  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 581
Northern Maine
Originally Posted by YOTEBOY
Originally Posted by The Beav
Sawing through 18" of ice to catch a $10.00 beaver. LOL

Well I’d rather be outside trapping than self isolating in my house watching tv or doing something else that’s mind numbing.

Like reading and posting on here all day!!!

Re: Best Chainsaw Bar Length For Under Ice Beavers [Re: Boco] #6824728
03/31/20 06:17 PM
03/31/20 06:17 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 581
Northern Maine
Jeremiah Wood Offline
trapper
Jeremiah Wood  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 581
Northern Maine
Originally Posted by Boco
II used a power auger once or twice when doing spring beaver runs.Auger is fine until you hit feed,then you'll wish you used the saw.Not to mention if your dropping snare poles you will have a lot of slush removal using an auger.
Beav,you can sell the hides too not just the castors.

It is a pain hitting sticks, but I just set over and start another hole. Definitely more slush...I need an oversized ice scoop! Still can cut a hole much quicker with the auger....less than half the amount of time in thick ice

Re: Best Chainsaw Bar Length For Under Ice Beavers [Re: YOTEBOY] #6824820
03/31/20 07:38 PM
03/31/20 07:38 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat Offline
trapper
bctomcat  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
An auger may be nice for cutting holes but when your running a snowmobile line it's a clumsy single use tool to pack around whereas the power saw is an easily packed tool useful for many jobs encountered on the line.

Last edited by bctomcat; 05/03/20 10:50 PM.

The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.






Re: Best Chainsaw Bar Length For Under Ice Beavers [Re: YOTEBOY] #6824888
03/31/20 08:37 PM
03/31/20 08:37 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,120
Manitoba
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Northof50 Offline
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Northof50  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,120
Manitoba
Get an old Homelite with a 18-20 inch bar, the way the air filter is you don't turbo-charge the water over the screen like the new saws do .garage yard sale specials
Great advise from Rally;
and before that I thought they were boat anchors

Re: Best Chainsaw Bar Length For Under Ice Beavers [Re: YOTEBOY] #6824893
03/31/20 08:43 PM
03/31/20 08:43 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
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Boco Offline
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Boco  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
Good point tomcat,another is when setting wide entrance runs you need a fairly big hole to get 3 or 4 traps in.Cutting big holes is faster with the chainsaw than a power auger.Also plunging the bar to find the run is much faster with the saw. [Linked Image]

Last edited by Boco; 03/31/20 08:47 PM.

Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Best Chainsaw Bar Length For Under Ice Beavers [Re: YOTEBOY] #6824902
03/31/20 08:49 PM
03/31/20 08:49 PM
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 1,018
MI
C
Co�s Offline
trapper
Co�s  Offline
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C

Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 1,018
MI
I think I'm going to haul my saw out next winter for snaring, I about blew my elbows off spudding this year. What do you guys use for bar oil? I've been told canola but am skeptical it will perform in single digit temps.

Re: Best Chainsaw Bar Length For Under Ice Beavers [Re: YOTEBOY] #6824926
03/31/20 09:05 PM
03/31/20 09:05 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat Offline
trapper
bctomcat  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
I used no oil, water is a lubricant and coolant itself. If you think you should use an oil, use vegetable oil.


The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.






Re: Best Chainsaw Bar Length For Under Ice Beavers [Re: YOTEBOY] #6824956
03/31/20 09:30 PM
03/31/20 09:30 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
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Boco Offline
trapper
Boco  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
I have a saw with a manual oiler.Dont need to thumb it when cutting ice.

Last edited by Boco; 03/31/20 09:31 PM.

Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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