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Under Ice Beaver Travel? #7107735
12/27/20 03:11 PM
12/27/20 03:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,142
Wisconsin
M
Moosetrot Offline OP
trapper
Moosetrot  Offline OP
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,142
Wisconsin
Starting to get things ready to go into a landlocked (no current) pond I took 2 out of earlier this Fall. I don't know how deep the pond is but an sure it is well-iced by now. I know for a fact there are more beaver in there, at least a couple big ones as when I was there during open water there was a day I saw 5 swimming around at the same time.

At one end of the pond there is a deep ditch leading out into the marsh. At the mouth of the ditch there is a huge feedbed and I believe the bank dens are very nearby. Out toward the middle of the pond it looked like they were building another feedbed but not sure. They had knocked down a big tree along the edge of the pond and it looks like they were stashing the branches between the tree and the original feedbed.

I am going to be using baited snare poles. I know I can set up near the original feedbed but am wondering if it may be worth my while to set a couple in the pond between the original feedbed and what looks like a second feedbed about 30 yards away.

Do you think they will be travelling from the original feedbed/bank dens? Worth my while or should I concentrate on the original area? I don;t want to clean them out but would really like to take a couple more out of there.

Thanks!

Moosetrot


Last edited by Moosetrot; 12/27/20 03:12 PM.
Re: Under Ice Beaver Travel? [Re: Moosetrot] #7107754
12/27/20 03:20 PM
12/27/20 03:20 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
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Boco Offline
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Boco  Offline
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james bay frontierOnt.
The greatest amount of beaver activity under ice is around the house and feedbed.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Under Ice Beaver Travel? [Re: Moosetrot] #7108052
12/27/20 07:42 PM
12/27/20 07:42 PM
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 11,194
Maine, Aroostook
Posco Offline
trapper
Posco  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 11,194
Maine, Aroostook
No bubbles, no beaver. I got all excited about a new colony I found but when I went to set it I couldn't find water deep enough to set a trap, not on the feed pile side. Cut ten holes. Nothing.

Re: Under Ice Beaver Travel? [Re: Moosetrot] #7108067
12/27/20 08:05 PM
12/27/20 08:05 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,142
Wisconsin
M
Moosetrot Offline OP
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Moosetrot  Offline OP
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Wisconsin
A lot is going to depend on water depth when I punch some holes. I am guessing the ditch is about chest deep at the very bottom. Around the feedpile it was a little over knee deep but slants and drops off really quick. If I set the feedpile I will probably have to tuck up pretty close but not so close to cause entanglement. We got a little snow so will not be able to see bubbles but I know they are there. Gotta work this week but might start out the New Year with some sets on the pond.

Moosetrot

Re: Under Ice Beaver Travel? [Re: Moosetrot] #7108135
12/27/20 08:59 PM
12/27/20 08:59 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
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Bruce T  Offline
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Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
The adult beaver still travel to the dam and any inlets as well ,under the ice.


Nevada bound
Re: Under Ice Beaver Travel? [Re: Moosetrot] #7108142
12/27/20 09:01 PM
12/27/20 09:01 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,142
Wisconsin
M
Moosetrot Offline OP
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Moosetrot  Offline OP
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Wisconsin
No dam and really no inlet, that's why I was wondering about what looks like a secondary feedpile.

Moosetrot

Re: Under Ice Beaver Travel? [Re: Moosetrot] #7108286
12/27/20 10:14 PM
12/27/20 10:14 PM
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 11,194
Maine, Aroostook
Posco Offline
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Posco  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 11,194
Maine, Aroostook
Love the under ice beaver trapping. I seemed to have plenty of water when I scouted it, went in over my hip boots and it was deeper yet. Perseverance.

Re: Under Ice Beaver Travel? [Re: Moosetrot] #7108523
12/28/20 12:05 AM
12/28/20 12:05 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
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Bruce T  Offline
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Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Originally Posted by Moosetrot
No dam and really no inlet, that's why I was wondering about what looks like a secondary feedpile.

Moosetrot

Dang,never see a beaver pond with no inlet or dam.Interesting.Have seen it on big bodies of water such as lakes and rivers.


Nevada bound
Re: Under Ice Beaver Travel? [Re: Moosetrot] #7108541
12/28/20 12:18 AM
12/28/20 12:18 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,142
Wisconsin
M
Moosetrot Offline OP
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Moosetrot  Offline OP
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Wisconsin
Bruce T-I had typed a long description of the pond, etc. but deleted it because it would have clearly described the area I found the beaver, and there are others on T-man from this area.

No real inlet, except during floods, and no dam.

Moosetrot

Re: Under Ice Beaver Travel? [Re: Moosetrot] #7108583
12/28/20 12:40 AM
12/28/20 12:40 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,263
Lakeland,Minnesota
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Bogmaster Offline
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Bogmaster  Offline
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Posts: 5,263
Lakeland,Minnesota
No inlet and no dam is pretty common ,in a lot of the pond beaver I have trapped Finding otherwise in the areas I trap,would be the oddity.
Tom


If my feet aren't wet,I must not be trapping.
Tom Olson
MTA life member#100,also WTA life member
Re: Under Ice Beaver Travel? [Re: Moosetrot] #7108584
12/28/20 12:40 AM
12/28/20 12:40 AM
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
I've trapped 100s of beaver ponds with no Inlet or outlet.
Lots of times beaver will have feed holes in between the den and the feed pile. I'm assuming there Is snow on the ice so you can't see any bubble runs.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Under Ice Beaver Travel? [Re: Moosetrot] #7108603
12/28/20 01:02 AM
12/28/20 01:02 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,142
Wisconsin
M
Moosetrot Offline OP
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Moosetrot  Offline OP
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,142
Wisconsin
Will not be able to see bubble runs but I am reasonable certain the bank dens are across the channel in the high bank. There's 2 or 3 places right off the feedbed that look good and there's a few sticks and mud piled on them. Was not able to cross during open water to take a look.

Moosetrot

Re: Under Ice Beaver Travel? [Re: Moosetrot] #7108845
12/28/20 10:03 AM
12/28/20 10:03 AM
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
Some times a beaver will have It's bank den cave In and It will build a roof over that cave In. Look for any frost around that pile of sticks and mud up on the bank. If you find It that will indicate an active bank den.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Under Ice Beaver Travel? [Re: Moosetrot] #7109067
12/28/20 12:39 PM
12/28/20 12:39 PM
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 11,194
Maine, Aroostook
Posco Offline
trapper
Posco  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 11,194
Maine, Aroostook
This is the inlet to the pond I'm setting. I figured I'd be more apt to pick up an otter than a beaver if I set this. It's sixty or seventy yards upstream of the lodge. What are you thinking, a baited 330?

[Linked Image]

Re: Under Ice Beaver Travel? [Re: Posco] #7109466
12/28/20 06:02 PM
12/28/20 06:02 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
trapper
Bruce T  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Originally Posted by Posco
This is the inlet to the pond I'm setting. I figured I'd be more apt to pick up an otter than a beaver if I set this. It's sixty or seventy yards upstream of the lodge. What are you thinking, a baited 330?

[Linked Image]

I'm thinking that big Male beaver will be swimming up there.I would have it blocked off with a 330 with the trigger way to the side if you don't want to catch a otter.


Nevada bound
Re: Under Ice Beaver Travel? [Re: Bogmaster] #7109471
12/28/20 06:05 PM
12/28/20 06:05 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
trapper
Bruce T  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Originally Posted by Bogmaster
No inlet and no dam is pretty common ,in a lot of the pond beaver I have trapped Finding otherwise in the areas I trap,would be the oddity.
Tom

Around here without the dam there would not be enough water to survive the winter.Interesting how different areas are so different.


Nevada bound
Re: Under Ice Beaver Travel? [Re: Moosetrot] #7109523
12/28/20 07:04 PM
12/28/20 07:04 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
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Boco Offline
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Boco  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
There are some ponds here that lose their water in february.These ponds have dams but the inlet is what we call bush run-off,as opposed to a stream or creek.
Some guys think otters drill a hole in the dam but this is not the case-the water slowly percolates thru the dam and all the ground water feeding the pond gets locked up by late winter.These beaver survive just fine,as the ice is hung up around the house on the feed and the beavers can still acess it.As long as wolves cant get in they will be fine.

These ponds are nearly impossible to trap at this time because if you open the ice,you will see a bit of water at the plunge holes but these will freeze up if you remove the snow and open a hole in the hung up ice to place a trap there.

When we find these ponds in late march when trapping beaver we just leave them for seed,or make note of the location and trap in fall before freeze up the following year.

Last edited by Boco; 12/28/20 07:06 PM.

Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Under Ice Beaver Travel? [Re: Moosetrot] #7109969
12/28/20 10:44 PM
12/28/20 10:44 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
trapper
Bruce T  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Interesting.Thanks for posting.


Nevada bound
Re: Under Ice Beaver Travel? [Re: Moosetrot] #7114049
12/31/20 04:56 PM
12/31/20 04:56 PM
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 11,194
Maine, Aroostook
Posco Offline
trapper
Posco  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 11,194
Maine, Aroostook
I finally got some sets in today. I put in two baited 330s, one MB 750 and one #14 Jump. I built these trap chairs because I hate constructing platforms in the field. They weigh almost nothing and they're a breeze to attach to a pole. I drilled a couple of holes through the upright to run wire through to attach it to the pole. I put bicycle innertube on the prongs the trap rests on so there is no metal-to-metal contact. I loosely wire the trap to the platform to keep the beaver from knocking the trap out of the way but not so tight that it can't be puled free from the platform. Laugh if you want but they work great.

I used Bruce's old trick to attach the #14 jump. Saw fresh mink and ermine sign but nothing else.

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

Last edited by Posco; 12/31/20 04:58 PM.
Re: Under Ice Beaver Travel? [Re: Moosetrot] #7114874
01/01/21 02:19 AM
01/01/21 02:19 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
trapper
Bruce T  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Nice.Seeing that #14 set that way sure brings back memories.I remember well when you could not see the trap when looking down the chopped out looking hole putting the pick down in the hole going off to the side then slowly bringing it inward to see if I could feel the rounded jaw of a set trap.


Nevada bound
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