Here's the sitch: Been trapping for many years but am no expert and have only dabbled in the summer. I have a property that is managed by the state. Beavers are plugging up the existing concrete dam. They raised the water level three feet before I was called, flooding a lot of areas I'm used to . There are NO obvious trap sites that I can find and they are not interested in castor sets. I have ordered Woodchipper but it isn't in yet. I'm also limited by the fact that it is a very popular outdoor area for fisherman, hikers, etc. I've tried floating sets in the past but people always mess with them. Currently I have three basically useless sets and one dam set that they plug everyday. Water is over 12' deep directly in front of the dam.

Any ideas? I'll even take bad ones.

I'm thinking footholds submerged on either side of a small dam break might help you out there and the Woodchipper is good stuff and might work for you also. Good luck.

Sac oil on a slide? It's not a competitive territorial smell like castor can be.

Cages are a good option at dam breaks. Just have to worry theft so charge accordingly. Beaver torpedoes might be another option

“A” snare.

Footholds on a drowner on the sides of the dam….but where you have 4-5 feet of water to drown. Put a fresh piece of poplar at the waters edge and a foothold in 3-4 inches of water .Just peel up the stick too.

The breached dam set is usually the best option where beaver are impounding water. No scent or bait needed, just open a small trickle, bed a good foothold on a drowner and you can often take all the beaver with that set.

The problem you may be describing is that the "manager" often pulls out the old dam first and surprise....the beaver build it back. When you get called to clean up the mess you're stuck with a new plug made of fresh sticks that is almost impossible to bed a foothold on. Always charge double when they've been messing with them before calling a trapper.

Agree if they have been messed with forget the smells even steel above water will spook the sly ones. I’d go with the dam break off to one side on a slide set up.

You might order the dvd called "annihilation of trap shy beaver". Worth it.

X2^^^

Order Dobbins book, Beaver & Otter Trapping, Open Water Trapping. There are a number of ways to catch trap shy beaver in it.

Usually castor-based sets worked for me year round. But, if a beaver has a bad experience around a castor-based set, a castor-based set can be like a repellent, not an attractant.
I caught several trap shy beaver using unusual sets that I found in the book that really worked.

Woodchipper has often worked for me when castor didn't.

Get a canoe and scout the whole pond,Let the beaver show you where to set.
If they are using fresh cut alder or other brushy vegetation for dam building material it should be obvious where they are cutting,especially if the dam has been opened regularly.Blind setting approaches to these areas is a good set for spooked beaver.Look for territorial castor mounds-these will be up in the backwater on a drainage and will be conspicuous if there is another colony upstream.Blind foothold sets there will take beaver from both colonys if you can locate them.
Also locate where they are living,sets can be made there to take the last beaver if one proves difficult.

Start off with some lured sets to take the easy ones then revert to the blind set locations for the ones that wont respond to the lure.

For "trap shy" beaver, if able to locate a channel obstacle beaver must dive under and set a blind 330 under it, no bait, lure or exposed trap tie wire or exsposed stake.

Around here summer channel sets produce fish, turtles and beaver. leg hold blind sets work best for me. Lure catches raccoon very well.

A lot of good thoughts. Thanks guys

This stuff peaks their curiosity

Nessy, food lure or castor based?

Most beaver lures work the year around lure shy beavers are the exception in some cases, if all fails look for the fresh pealed pinky sized sticks and set there.

Castor based….but it smells like no other lure. It’s smells so good …I use it for underarm deodorant in a pinch. It’s always in my basket.

Prime spot for shooting, especially if you can coordinate with the crew who opens the dam. If they open it completely in the morning, you should have some action at sunset or shortly thereafter.