Cross overs can be a two way street.

This crossover was set with the #4 on the top side and a 330 on the bottom which held a beaver this morning. It is a long walk into this spot and not really much for set opportunities.

Sometimes a vertical stick or even a larger log from the dam to the left or right of the trap will keep them staying offset the perfect distance.

Make sure the trap is bedded solid. A crossover with a #4 set offset in a couple inches of water is my goto beaver set. I know what looks right, but never measure, but I would say an inch to two of water over the pan in preference, usually close to an inch. Less than an inch is better than too much. Like Paul said, dog 90 degrees to the path of approach. Are you using longsprings or coils? Either will work, but I've always found longsprings to be easier to bed solid. When bedding press on all parts of the jaws and springs and make sure it doesn't move or rock. The beaver stepping on the edge of the trap and rocking and moving it before hitting the pan may cause misses or toe catches.
If I had the trap bedded solid with an inch of water over it in a crossover I wouldn't bother with breasting sticks.

I know that during spring dispersal when you mud on a signless stretch of water the beaver will mud you back immediately. I also find it interesting the number of hind foot catches in these shallow landing. Setups. I have heard of the backing in theory but have always been uneasy with it.

What triggers dispersal in the southern ice free states? Flood? Is it usually hot and heavy or slow and steady?

But I bet In most cases they are investigating that scent before they try to cover that scent.

In my experience with beavers using footholds I rely on using MB750 traps bedded so there is absolutely no movement. Set for a front foot catch with the dog parallel to the bank. Scent or not or mud. The beaver can walk all over until it steps on the pan. Use a good trail camera.

As has been stated make sure to bed the trap solid and the dog parallel to the bank so they step between the jaws not over and, 5 pounds of pan tension helps a bunch. For all beaver sets. Ya want that paw inside the jaws before it fires, not just a toe or two. What Paul stated is very true, never say never and there is no always in trapping.

What trap are you using? Pan tension?

I am using a Duke #4 coil. This the 1st time I have tried them for beaver. I cannot say it's the trap because this is something that happens even with my more higher end traps. Checked today and the same thing, trap snapped and all the way down to the cement block. I don't have any idea what I am doing wrong. I need to learn this. Cannot use 330's every where.

I have watched hundreds of hours of trail cam footage of beavers. I’ve never seen one back up more than a half step. Very rarely one will move one back foot to the rear one step (that’s half a full pace, so I call it a half step), and after that foot goes back one step, they turn to one side or the other and proceed forward.

I also have a lot of trail cam footage of beaver making castor mounds. Never seen one back up to it. Not one. Now loud flatulence, that I see often. Well maybe not flatulence proper, but sounds the same to my ears. Let’s just say those castor sacs clearly have some gas that is expelled when they spray the yellow...

Are you targeting a front foot or back foot? How much water Is covering your trap?

I am targeting a front foot. Maybe a inch of water over the trap. I am going to check pan tension when I check again. I even have tried hind foot lately thinking maybe they are coming in and hitting the trap with their chest. I don't think they are but I am 2nd guessing everything now.

Thanks for the insight. I know a few really good beaver trappers who study the patterns during dispersal. Everyone of them comments on the number of hind foot catches in shallow sets that target the front foot. Which imo a front foot catch is cleaner and consistent. I would think the vast majority of misses were hind foot caught and escaped.

I'm not sure why but I've had terrible luck with larger Duke's and beaver trapping. Last spring I ran around 40 MB750's, 1 Duke #4 coil, and 1 Duke #4 LS just to test them out. I caught beavers on each of the MB 750's but caught exactly 0 on both the Dukes. My theory was that I wasn't able to adjust the pan tension properly on them, they didn't pinch and hold as well as the MB's, or the jaw spread just wasn't big enough and I was just pinching toes rather than feet. The Dukes are on the shelf for me now. When an MB snaps, it holds.

Have you built a mud type berm in front of your trap or placed a large dead branch so you have the beaver stepping over this berm or the branch. when I mention branch I should say something like a 3" log. The main thing Is you have to have them walking when targeting a front foot.

How far Is your trap from deep water? lots of times a beaver will come In from deep water to shallow water with It's front feet tucked against It's chest. If your trap Is to close to that water depth change you could have that beaver hitting that trap with It's chest and setting It off. A few chest hairs may be caught In the trap and when the beaver takes off and your trap could end up down the slide wire.

On this dam there is a big enough shelf to hold the trap. 3 feet out from the trap I would say the water is 6ft deep. In order for me to use breasting stcks they need to be a foot long. The whole dam is like this, almost straight up and down on the front and back.

Are you setting a dry cross over or are you setting a dam break? If your setting a dam break how much water Is running through It?


Or just get off the dam and make either some baited sets or castor sets.

Dry cross over. Today no activity. Thinking I wised them up. Thats my next thing is to put some fresh popple sticks someplace and see if there is any takers. I also thinking this area might have been trapped before. Its backed up into 2 - 3 different properties and who knows if somebody hit them last fall. Now I am just dealing with the wise ones, which are wiser than this guy. I was called by one of the land owners where the dam is on. But went for a walk and got to an area where I could see a ways. These beaver been doing work on all the landowners properties all around.

Finally struck, big male on a castor mound tonight. Set for a front foot up tight to the mound end ended up with a rear foot catch. Either way its a catch. Switched traps to a #5 Bridger coil spring.