Had the call I didn't want two days ago. It went something like this, " Ha how are you? I have beaver plugging the culverts at the crossing by the house. Can you come trap them?" The next day I drive over and yes beaver are plugging the culvert. I set four body grips, three exposed on a fence set and one at a choke point with just enough water to be covered with a dive stick and sticks for fencing. The first check I had a beaver at the fence set in the trap to the right. 2 year old, female. Sticks had been pulled on the up stream set so it could go around the trap. Today a snapper in the center trap and no sign of beaver. I figured a pair, but there was not much work at culverts. The land owners on the creek shoot every beaver they see for miles, so who knows. Now we wait and watch. Snapper was released unharmed. The picture was taken standing above the culverts on the crossing. Its a little shallow for a foot hold at the crossing.

Sounds like a pair that got through the gauntlet of hunters. No way I would sit there waiting for beaver. Any mosquitoes? Congrats on the 2.

I have had two checks, one with a beaver and one with no new beaver sign. I will give them a day or two. He pays well. Bugs are not bad, but I could stand it cooler. The good part is he is about 16 miles from the house and the check takes about 15 minutes once there. I set a spot a couple years ago and only ever took one two year old. I left traps a week and pulled, came back by a week later and still no sign. So you never know 100% on what you think should be there.

It's a little late in the season for much movement unless they are looking for water which it looks like you have. Here things are drying up. Went checked out a new dam today and it's not holding much water anymore.

It is drying up here too. I was not really suppressed when he called. It is one of the few places around with moving water.

two year old female. How much does a two year old weigh in your neighborhood?

I can not say I ever weighed a two year old beaver. I would guess 20-30 lbs maybe 25-35. I have caught enough beaver to have half a clue what they are.

Well , carry on

Les, go and pick some garlic. I may go pick June berries on Wednesday

Your June berries are ahead of ours

I would rather eat June Berries than garlic. I hope all is well.

Long chain a foothold set or two covering a new slick spot crawl out with a few white peeled sticks and a few drops of birch oil or popple bud.

Ok I'm confused about title of the thread . Why did you "not" want to get this call. You said you are getting paid ?

I am to the point I don't care for hot weather. I don't like it more in waders or hip boots. I would just as soon trap beaver in cooler weather. With the low water due to a lack of rain and snow run off this spring I figured he would be calling due to beaver moving in. When it is over 95 degrees out its not that much fun in waders.

Agree MJM it's to hot even without boots of any sort. I would rather be outside at 10 below than 90 above.

I second that emotion! The worse part is there is about 2 1/2 months left around here. lol

Although we can get cold in the winter it can get plenty warm here in the summer. It shows it cooling off a little starting today. I saw no new sign on my check today, and will pull tomorrow if I don't see anything that looks like movement. It's hard to catch a beaver that isn't there.

I don't know of a way to age beaver except guessing by weight. Those in the 30-35 lb lb range this time of year, I have been thinking are 2 year olds as you do. Yearlings in the spring in my country are 17-20 lbs.

I don't know of a way to age beaver except guessing by weight. Those in the 30-35 lb lb range this time of year, I have been thinking are 2 year olds as you do. Yearlings in the spring in my country are 17-20 lbs.

2 1/2 year old beaver are around 35lb.