Number 3s for beaver
#7071331
12/02/20 10:26 PM
12/02/20 10:26 PM
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 992 Ohio, USA
Ave
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 992
Ohio, USA
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Hey guys, when I’m trapping some of my high theft areas, I use some of my number 3 sized traps ( about a 6 1/2) inside jaw spread). I usually catch beaver, but also miss a couple each year using these. I hate to miss them, but I know I’d hate to have a number 5 or 750 stolen even more. Can anyone give me tips to use these smaller traps? I’d like my catches to be more consistent. I know you guys up in Pa have no choice but to use smaller traps, how do you get by? Thanks!!
Ave don't go where the beaver don't flow
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Re: Number 3s for beaver
[Re: Ave]
#7071348
12/02/20 10:33 PM
12/02/20 10:33 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,261 Iowa
~ADC~
The Count
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The Count
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,261
Iowa
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Re: Number 3s for beaver
[Re: Ave]
#7071355
12/02/20 10:34 PM
12/02/20 10:34 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379 Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
James
"Minka"
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"Minka"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
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Try to set the trap for a front-foot catch.
Jim
Forum Infidel since 2001
"And that troll bs is something triggered snowflakes say when they dont like what someone posts." - Boco
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Re: Number 3s for beaver
[Re: Ave]
#7071405
12/02/20 10:55 PM
12/02/20 10:55 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794 100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
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^^^^^^^^^^^^ Yes have caught many beaver in #3's targeting a front foot!
Last edited by bctomcat; 12/02/20 10:57 PM.
The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.
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Re: Number 3s for beaver
[Re: Ave]
#7071492
12/02/20 11:53 PM
12/02/20 11:53 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,271 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
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#3 + # 4 dls have taken many many thousands of beaver. Requirement is strong springs and positive drowning setup. And dont set the transition area.Make sure he's walking when stepping on the trap.
Last edited by Boco; 12/02/20 11:54 PM.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: Number 3s for beaver
[Re: Crit-R-Dun]
#7071545
12/03/20 12:28 AM
12/03/20 12:28 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,550 Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,550
Rodney,Ohio
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I'm surprised the depth of experience here advocating for front foot catches. Is that specific to the #3 (or 4) or do most experienced beaver foot hold trappers prefer to target the front or is it strictly specific to the set location circumstances. A properly set rear foot target with the correct trap seems to be a more dependable, higher percentage catch in my experience. it seems to me from watching beaver in their natural habitat they often put little and sometimes no weight on the front feet, often working with front feet and moving forward almost dinosaur like with hind legs only. Legal requirements in some areas force you into setting for the front foot with smaller traps. Water depth for drowning could also force it, though if I have to rely on a front foot catch for drowning Im propbably not setting there with a foothold.
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Re: Number 3s for beaver
[Re: Ave]
#7071548
12/03/20 12:31 AM
12/03/20 12:31 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,271 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
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Back foot will span a #3 and you will get toenails. You can drown a beaver in 2 feet of water when caught by a front foot as opposed to 4 feet when caught by a back foot. Not hard to get a beaver by a front foot when they are walking,but not 100%.Castor mounds or house haul outs are poor choices as the beaver will often be carrying mud clutched to their chest . Blind sets are what you want when targeting a front foot.Top of a dam crossover is about the only set I will make for a front foot.Strictly bait sets work too.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: Number 3s for beaver
[Re: Ave]
#7071582
12/03/20 01:31 AM
12/03/20 01:31 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,493 Goldsboro, North Carolina
Paul Dobbins
"Trapperman custodian"
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"Trapperman custodian"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,493
Goldsboro, North Carolina
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When I first started my beaver'n career here in NC, I used mostly #3 Northwoods coils with the JC Conner Taos Lightening springs. As long as the trap was positioned properly, I hardly ever missed a beaver, whether it was front or hind foot.
For the hind foot, the trap needs to be positioned so that the beaver steps between the jaws. When the trap is positioned so that the beaver approaches across the spring lever, the success rate is pretty good. If the trap is positioned so that the dog is either facing away from the approach or toward the approach, misses are greatly increased.
Like Boco said, the beaver's hind foot can span the jaw spread. Where the trap is positioned with the dog facing away from the approach or toward the approach, I found that the heel of the hind food can rest on the pan while the toes drape across the far jaw, and the foot will be thrown out of the trap. If the heel of the hind foot rests on the near jaw and the toes span the jaws, you can very easily end up with a toe catch, or miss completely.
If the trap is positioned so the beaver is approaching over the spring lever, the hind foot can be on a jaw and the pan, but will still end up with a catch most of the time. This is because rather than the jaw pushing the foot up and out, the closing jaw causes the foot to pivot somewhat and you end up with one of those hind foot catches where the foot is held at an angle. I like it where it looks like that foot is buried above the ankle in the trap, and I would get a lot of holds on the hind foot like that.
Take if for what it's worth. It's just my observation of how trap position plays a critical role in catches vs misses, regardless of jaw spread size. It is more critical on the smaller jaw spreads though.
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Re: Number 3s for beaver
[Re: Ave]
#7071656
12/03/20 07:47 AM
12/03/20 07:47 AM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,312 Firth, Nebraska
jabNE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,312
Firth, Nebraska
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A bridger 3 coil has as big a jaw spread as a 4 longspring. Caught many beaver by front and back feet in both size traps. Wouldn't even hesitate today to reach for a 3 bridger coil when beaver trapping. Jim
Money cannot buy you happiness, but it can buy you a trapping license and that's pretty close.
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Re: Number 3s for beaver
[Re: Ave]
#7071711
12/03/20 08:49 AM
12/03/20 08:49 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,324 Hancock Co., Indiana
Kart29
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,324
Hancock Co., Indiana
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I bought a few #3 Bridger coilsprings to be a dual duty beaver/coyote trap. But for me to use that size of trap on land, laws say my trap must have an offset. (I do not know the reasoning behind that requirement at all.)
Anyways, I have had terrible luck in holding beavers in a Brider #3 offset. After finding them empty at the end of a drowning wire a couple of times, I've sworn off using them for beaver. I suppose they might work better for beaver if they weren't offset.
What from Christ that soul can sever, Bound by everlasting bands? None shall take thee From the Strength of Israel's hands.
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