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Ride along today #7135791
01/13/21 11:34 PM
01/13/21 11:34 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,493
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Paul Dobbins Offline OP
"Trapperman custodian"
Paul Dobbins  Offline OP
"Trapperman custodian"

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,493
Goldsboro, North Carolina
I hadn't done one of these ride-alongs in awhile, and thought I'd show some of the new folks what my line is like. I'm trapping for a timber company and cover quite a large area. You'll notice this in the number of miles I drove today.

The first site I went to was 81 miles from my home. I caught one beaver at this site. They had replaced two large culverts here and beavers had started plugging it up. I caught a two year old Friday and today I caught it's mate. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture here. I'm not use to taking pictures, but I made up for it later.

The second site was only 2 miles from the first one. Here I have pine eating beavers. I had caught the old female and two pair of yearlings. The old male was being difficult. He wouldn't come to any lures, so yesterday I made a mud mark beside the riser and positioned a #5 for a front foot catch and put a dab of sac oil on the mud mark. I was fortunate to have the old boy today. Usually it's the old female that is the last to go, but not in this case. When I had caught the old female last week, I thought this site was going to be easy - lol.

Where they were eating the pines.
[Linked Image]

Here's the old boy. Note I put some sticks behind where the set was to discourage otters from crossing there.
[Linked Image]

The third site was 5 miles from the second one. These first three sites were on the same tract of land. I just set this one yesterday and picked up this male today. I used a dab of food lure up on the slide.

[Linked Image]

The fourth site was 25 miles from the third one. I set this trap on Monday and used castor lure. There was no action here yesterday, so I put a dab of food lure down and I had success today. I had another set here, but it was empty and ignored. I used a curiosity lure there. I'm thinking the rest may give me a problem.

Another adult male.
[Linked Image]

The fifth site was 31 miles from the fourth one. I have caught four beavers here so far in two sets. Today I only had success in one of the sets. There were castor mounds all over the place, so I made a castor mound and lured it with a castor lure.

Another adult male
[Linked Image]

The sixth site was only one mile from the fifth site and on the same tract. I have removed one adult pair and two pairs of two year old beavers here in three sets. I thought I was done until I saw a fresh scent mound in there today. I will probably have to resort to a footholds to finish up this site.

This was my last set of the day - empty
[Linked Image]

Then I drove 111 miles back home. The total miles driven today was around 256, which is about normal, or a bit below normal. Sometimes folks ask why I don't have more traps out. When I'm spending 5 - 6 hours driving each day, there's not so much time left for setting.

Here's the result of the day's work.
[Linked Image]

I got to wondering if a beaver eating pines would taste different than one eating sweet gum. So I took some meat from the pine eater and some from a sweet gum eater. It'll probably be next week when I cook them up to see if there's a difference.

I hope you enjoyed the ride-along.



Re: Ride along today [Re: Paul Dobbins] #7135802
01/13/21 11:40 PM
01/13/21 11:40 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,661
Minnesota
330-Trapper Offline

trapper
330-Trapper  Offline

trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,661
Minnesota
Extremely nice to see your Office Paul!
What a Job!!!

Thanks


NRA and NTA Life Member
www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com




Re: Ride along today [Re: Paul Dobbins] #7135805
01/13/21 11:40 PM
01/13/21 11:40 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,142
Wisconsin
M
Moosetrot Offline
trapper
Moosetrot  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,142
Wisconsin
Thanks for the ride along, Paul! I have often wondered what and how much driving was involved in what you do.

Moosetrot

Re: Ride along today [Re: Paul Dobbins] #7135807
01/13/21 11:41 PM
01/13/21 11:41 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
Nice catch of beaver and pictures.


Nevada bound
Re: Ride along today [Re: Paul Dobbins] #7135820
01/13/21 11:45 PM
01/13/21 11:45 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,997
Oregon
beaverpeeler Online content
trapper
beaverpeeler  Online Content
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,997
Oregon
To think I rode 256 miles today and my hiney isn't even sore.

Paul, is there still any excitement after all these years to see if you connected at a set?


My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
Re: Ride along today [Re: Paul Dobbins] #7135825
01/13/21 11:47 PM
01/13/21 11:47 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,661
Minnesota
330-Trapper Offline

trapper
330-Trapper  Offline

trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,661
Minnesota
No Snakes yet?


NRA and NTA Life Member
www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com




Re: Ride along today [Re: Paul Dobbins] #7135841
01/13/21 11:54 PM
01/13/21 11:54 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,265
james bay frontierOnt.
B
Boco Offline
trapper
Boco  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,265
james bay frontierOnt.
Love the ride along posts Paul,thanks for letting us look at your line.
I'm about 3 1/2 months away from open water yet.

Last edited by Boco; 01/13/21 11:55 PM.

Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Ride along today [Re: beaverpeeler] #7135861
01/14/21 12:02 AM
01/14/21 12:02 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,493
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Paul Dobbins Offline OP
"Trapperman custodian"
Paul Dobbins  Offline OP
"Trapperman custodian"

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,493
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Originally Posted by beaverpeeler
Paul, is there still any excitement after all these years to see if you connected at a set?


LOL, I think it's a sickness. After nearly 30 years of this, I still have a hard time getting to sleep some nights thinking about the sets I put in. Especially when I'm dealing with an educated beaver. They're a challenge, and I really enjoy matching wits with them.



Re: Ride along today [Re: Paul Dobbins] #7135874
01/14/21 12:09 AM
01/14/21 12:09 AM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,912
Idaho Falls, ID
G
Grandpa Trapper Offline
trapper
Grandpa Trapper  Offline
trapper
G

Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,912
Idaho Falls, ID
Also enjoyed it. Is it easy to get back into the trapping locations or do you at times need four wheel drive?

Re: Ride along today [Re: Boco] #7135877
01/14/21 12:10 AM
01/14/21 12:10 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,493
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Paul Dobbins Offline OP
"Trapperman custodian"
Paul Dobbins  Offline OP
"Trapperman custodian"

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,493
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Originally Posted by Boco
Love the ride along posts Paul,thanks for letting us look at your line.
I'm about 3 1/2 months away from open water yet.


I know how it is up your way. Did I ever tell you the story about my open water beaver trapping on the AF base in Alaska when it was -20F? There's not much open water up that way when it's -20.



Re: Ride along today [Re: Grandpa Trapper] #7135885
01/14/21 12:13 AM
01/14/21 12:13 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,493
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Paul Dobbins Offline OP
"Trapperman custodian"
Paul Dobbins  Offline OP
"Trapperman custodian"

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,493
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Originally Posted by Grandpa Trapper
Also enjoyed it. Is it easy to get back into the trapping locations or do you at times need four wheel drive?


Some of those logging roads are rough and I have to use 4wd at times when it's wet.



Re: Ride along today [Re: Paul Dobbins] #7135887
01/14/21 12:13 AM
01/14/21 12:13 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,759
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline
trapper
Law Dog  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,759
Central, SD
What lure do you use? wink


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Ride along today [Re: Paul Dobbins] #7135889
01/14/21 12:14 AM
01/14/21 12:14 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,661
Minnesota
330-Trapper Offline

trapper
330-Trapper  Offline

trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,661
Minnesota
Originally Posted by Paul Dobbins
Originally Posted by Boco
Love the ride along posts Paul,thanks for letting us look at your line.
I'm about 3 1/2 months away from open water yet.


I know how it is up your way. Did I ever tell you the story about my open water beaver trapping on the AF base in Alaska when it was -20F? There's not much open water up that way when it's -20.

I dont recall that Story Paul


NRA and NTA Life Member
www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com




Re: Ride along today [Re: Law Dog] #7135890
01/14/21 12:15 AM
01/14/21 12:15 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,493
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Paul Dobbins Offline OP
"Trapperman custodian"
Paul Dobbins  Offline OP
"Trapperman custodian"

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,493
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Originally Posted by Law Dog
What lure do you use? wink


Mine



Re: Ride along today [Re: Paul Dobbins] #7135892
01/14/21 12:15 AM
01/14/21 12:15 AM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 10,404
Northeast Oklahoma
M
Mike in A-town Offline
trapper
Mike in A-town  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 10,404
Northeast Oklahoma
Part of my naturally morbid curiosity is really waiting for the answer to the taste question. Pines are rare here, but the beaver will travel quite a distance from water, bypassing species nearer the water, to cut ash trees.

Mike


One man with a gun may control 100 others who have none.

Vladimir Lenin
Re: Ride along today [Re: Paul Dobbins] #7135893
01/14/21 12:15 AM
01/14/21 12:15 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,997
Oregon
beaverpeeler Online content
trapper
beaverpeeler  Online Content
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,997
Oregon
Same here Paul. LOL


My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
Re: Ride along today [Re: Mike in A-town] #7135897
01/14/21 12:18 AM
01/14/21 12:18 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,493
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Paul Dobbins Offline OP
"Trapperman custodian"
Paul Dobbins  Offline OP
"Trapperman custodian"

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,493
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Originally Posted by Mike in A-town
Part of my naturally morbid curiosity is really waiting for the answer to the taste question. Pines are rare here, but the beaver will travel quite a distance from water, bypassing species nearer the water, to cut ash trees.

Mike


I'll let you know how the taste test goes. Rhonda will be visiting her mother next week, so I will cook the two meats up and compare, since I will be doing the cooking.



Re: Ride along today [Re: Paul Dobbins] #7135901
01/14/21 12:18 AM
01/14/21 12:18 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,973
Ohio
C
Computer Hater Offline
trapper
Computer Hater  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,973
Ohio
Paul,

Enjoyed the pics.

Do you think a whole family of beavers would move a few hundred yards from a river to a man made pond?

I was asked to remove some beaver from this pond in May. They had plugged the overflow pipe and then dammed up the emergency spillway. The water was starting to flow over the dam of the pond when it rained.

I caught a big female and a young beaver that was probably about 15 pounds. All activity stopped. I put a couple large holes in the dam at the spillway and they never got repaired. I suspected that there should have been a male but had no way of knowing if he was still there. The owner removed the dam at the spillway and unplugged the overflow pipe and the water went back down to normal.

The owner called me in early November and said that the beaver were back. The pipe was plugged and they were damming up the emergency spillway again. I suspected that the male either had been there the whole time or had returned from the river. I talked the owner into letting me wait until our season came in.

Since I returned a few days ago I have caught 2 blanket males, a blanket female that had a front leg missing at the shoulder, and 2 young beaver that probably weighed about 12 pounds.

I'm scratching my head on this one. I never expected that many beaver. I'm thinking the one male may have been there the whole time and that the family of 4 moved up from the river.


Randy
Member NTA, FTA
Re: Ride along today [Re: Paul Dobbins] #7135905
01/14/21 12:22 AM
01/14/21 12:22 AM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 10,404
Northeast Oklahoma
M
Mike in A-town Offline
trapper
Mike in A-town  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 10,404
Northeast Oklahoma
Thanks Paul. I'm genuinely curious.

Mike


One man with a gun may control 100 others who have none.

Vladimir Lenin
Re: Ride along today [Re: Computer Hater] #7135911
01/14/21 12:25 AM
01/14/21 12:25 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,493
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Paul Dobbins Offline OP
"Trapperman custodian"
Paul Dobbins  Offline OP
"Trapperman custodian"

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,493
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Originally Posted by Computer Hater
Paul,

Enjoyed the pics.

Do you think a whole family of beavers would move a few hundred yards from a river to a man made pond?


Yes, I have encountered that same type situation, except it would be beaver ponds in streams emptying into a nearby river. These sites are chronic problem sites because of the close proximity of a river or large tributary. Rivers here are beaver highway loaded with beavers looking for homes, and many times it's whole families.



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