Do vertical snare poles typically only produce one beaver at a time, or are multiple catches at the same time common? Assuming say 6 snares on a pole, 3 on each side - does one beaver tend to put the remaining snares out of order, that are all wired to the safety wire?

Doubles are not the norm in water that is under 3 feet deep.That would be 4 to 6 snares.
Snare poles set in deeper water can have a double,one on top and one on bottom.In deep water I wont use more than 6 snares on a pole-4 on top and 2 on bottom.Beaver will usually work the top of the pole most of the time,but will work the bottom.They dont normally work the middle of the pole in deeper water.
it also depends somewhat on the size of the colony.if there is only a pair of beaver the chance at a double is much less than if you hit a colony with 8 to 12 beaver.I set more poles(4) at a big colony and 2 poles if just a pair in a new colony.

Oh, okay - so each snare is roughly every "foot" of length up each side of the pole - that makes sense. I was originally thinking there would be some space in between each snare, but loops that almost touch eachother makes more sense. I'm considering a spot with about 6 foot depth under the ice, next to a lodge and feed pile with active trails on each side, and was thinking of dropping a snare pole on each side just off the feed pile. So, my snare pole might have 4 or 5 snares on each side. Assuming the snare pole hasn't been chewed to bits (48 hour checking) do you find that you are able to reset/reuse the same snare pole after readjusting each snare again? Also, is that sprung snare typically kinked and useless after one catch? (I'm new to snaring)

Thank you, Boco, for the detailed info as always! I sincerely appreciate it.

It wasn't detailed enough. Snares are set just below the ice. and maybe near the bottom. I don't do bottoms. You set the snares in a triangular ( if it is three snares) pattern around the top of the pole just bellow the ice. The beaver wants to steal the pole and take it somewhere where there is air to eat the bark. He will try to cut the pole just below the ice, sometimes at the bottom. Hence snares at the top and at the bottom. Sometimes the bait pole is cut and not reusable, sometimes not. 3/32 snares are most times reusable. 5/64 snares not so much. Doubles on just one location (top of pole) snares are rare. I have had a few.

Thank you for expanding on this, Dirt! All very helpful. Glad you mentioned the triangle pattern.

We use 1/16 cable here.Knocked down snares are re usable,Some that catch beaver are also re useable.
You will get more doubles and less misses with the dry pole method as opposed to the green pole method.Takes a little longer to set the dry pole method.better to use drypole method if you want to re set.
In both cases snares are set in pairs.

Green pole.


Dry pole.

Boco, I can hear your accent in that photo. lol.

That's just the tightness of those coveralls and riding on an old Elan for 6 hours that accent you hear.
Top snare the beaver can freeze in the ice in extended checks

Hmm, I think I've only seen green poles, but I think I understand the dry pole concept in your picture - thank you for that. So, if I understand that right, the green poles "sandwich" a dry pole from the bottom of the lake to the top of the ice with snare setups the same as a green pole setup, right? And with the safety wire on the dry pole. You're right, it does sound longer to setup, but longer lasting. Thanks again for the info, guys.

I wouldn't worry about beaver freezing in the ice unless you have close to zero weather and little ( less than a foot) of snow cover. I don't know exactly when a beaver turns from sinker to a floater from internal gases. If you are trapping close to the feed pile, you could have a worse problem. Beaver tangled in feedpile.

The dry pole has some advantages.-Dry pole does not require a safety wire like a green pole.The bait sticks nailed or wired to the pole is where the beaver is going to go.-Note the ice on the drypole in the pic,and where the bait sticks(snares) are located beneath.When trapping in February ice is forming all the time,so you can get the beaver to work the bait further under the ice.Your snares are set only where the bait sticks are attached.You dont want baitsticks beyond where the snares are-less misses/knocked down snares.A bunch of smaller baitsticks 2 feet(4 snares) or 3 feet(6 snares) long can be cut,scored and piled in a sleigh easily.Dry poles can be left near your trapping area stood up under a thick spruce in the off season for use next season.

I use green pole setups later in the season when the ice is not building up.Safety wire required and long green poles cut on site or need to be dragged in.Can be set up fairly quick when cut on site.I use the greenpole when taking beaver from smaller colonys and/or late in the season.

On large colonys often just the safety wire with caught beaver will be left with chunks of the pole where the snares are attached.
With the drypole,you only have to attach a couple new baitsticks from the sleigh,and any snares that are kinked too bad from a catch.

Dirt ;a beaver swimming under the ice for 20-30 minutes is needed to drive the air out from the underfur for it not to float.
It is not the internal combustion creating the gas to float.
Also depends on how much the struggle is when snared
Boco example is of a good lung closure with his snare.