I’ve caught several beaver in #4 double longs, 330’s, 280’s, 1 1/2 longs, #2 coils and longs, #5 longs and TS-85’s. The 1.5’s and 2’s were not set for beaver but happened to catch them. I’d say I like 330’s the best. Quick and easy, can set them by hand. I like TS-85’s because they are easy to set by hand but I’ve had damaged hides from them. #5 long I won’t use anymore because I have trouble getting them open after a catch. I guess my go to traps for beaver are the 330 and #4 double longspring.

Snares are not legal unless fully submerged here. I confirmed with MNR that this means 100% underwater...which means (water is usually muddy/zero visibility) that they would really only be functionally blind sets... not ideal here in most situations.

I use a lot of Duke #4 CS on rebar drowners to keep costs down if theft becomes an issue. A lot of my beaver trapping is nuisance work and as much as I try to be ninja like when setting and checking, there is always a chance that a yoga pants peta person on a paddle board or kayak will spot and mess with my equipment. This is the same reason that I avoid 330's unless I am confident that no "civilians" will poke at them LOL

So, this is a good discussion I guess, but I use a mix of conibear, CS and LS traps and it largely depends on what I happen to have in the milk crate in the truck at the time LOL. In my eyes, a #5 DLS, a #4 DLS or a #4 CS... Duke, Bridger or otherwise all function equally in terms of putting cuffs on beavers and sending them to Davey Jones' locker and only require a bit of tweeking to the trap bed, approach fencing or etc.

Disclaimer - I have trapped fewer than 100 beaver in my career (but that number is going up rather quickly) and much of that trapping has been nuisance work. Take the above for what it's worth.

What happened to the best beaver trap thread? I wrote a lengthy reply to it but when I went to post it apparently it was no longer in existence.

Thread appears to have been axed. Somebody must've gotten out of line

You I made this thread in hopes of......eh never mind them days are long gone.....

Sorry

If I can not catch them with Duke 330's or snares, forget it.
Not buying $35 foot traps for $10 beaver.

If I could only have one type total, it would be quality snares. Not just any snares, but snares made by someone that really takes pride in their product and cares enough about their product that they build it right or it doesn't make it out of the shop. Snares are just too versatile. Next would be Belisle 330s for several reasons, the most important reason being their safeties.


If you're asking about footholds, I use MB750s. It's what I use, and I have no complaints. If I had to deal with size restrictions, I would use MB650s that have been modified to be closed jaw. If I could buy factory closed jaw 650s for beaver (actually closed jaw, not just modified to be closed jaw), I would have already ordered them.


I have no experience using other large beaver footholds such as the CDR, TS-85, No B.S., etc. I wouldn't hesitate to use them, I just haven't bought any. I liked MB750s enough to keep ordering them when I wanted more.