Question #1…Don’t laugh, but do body grip traps work in and out? I mean does it matter if the beaver comes from the water side or land side? Does the trigger have to be facing one direction?

Question #2…If a beaver sees its mate or another beaver caught, do they vacate the area?

Question #3…Are turtles absolutely brain dead? I swear I’ve caught the same one in a run for 3 straight days! Twice across the shell and once by the foot. I finally just pulled the trap.

These may seem stupid, but I’m trying to learn so take it easy, lol.

Most body grip triggers come set to fire from both directions, some come set to fire if the trigger is pushed in any direction (including lateral pressure). You can however set up triggers to operate in 1, 2, or 4 directions depending on how the notch on the trigger and dog are filed.

Beavers typically operate out of a fairly small territory surrounding bank dens or a lodge and will not leave this area unless the lodge/den is destroyed and there is no possibility of reconstruction. Up here that typically only happens if the lodge is repeatedly destroyed or the lodge/dam are destroyed as winter is starting. They will not leave if they come across other beavers in traps, but may avoid that particular area or may learn to avoid that shape/type of trap or trap placement. We catch plenty of beaver resetting traps in the exact same location as previously caught beaver.

Turtles are dumb. You may need to move the set or, alternatively, set it at dusk and pull at dawn each day to avoid periods when turtles are active.

Usually bodygrips fire both directions, though certain brands have been known to have an issue with there triggers not allowing the trap to fire in one direction

When turtles start showing up, you basically have to stop blind setting with 330s.

start eating turtles. They are actually pretty good !
(where legal, of course)

1.body grips fire from both directions
2.Dead beaver do not bother other beaver
3.turtles are stupid.

Reminds me of the hit song.

I don't beaver trap but when I trapped more coons with my 160s. I always tried to guess which way the coon would come from and set the trap so the jaw with the trigger on it was the first jaw as I wanted as many right behind the ear catches as I could. I centered the trigger that was in a V shape on the trap. Very few coon with even one front leg in the trap. Maybe a few more sprung but I never had many. Don't know if that would apply to beaver or not.
I know coons can become more aware of locations where others have been caught. If I could I would move up or down the trail for the remakes. Sometimes after a few catches or 3-5 days I would pull and come back in a couple weeks and catch more coons which may be coons that moved in however.
Never caught turtles in body grippers. Have in 1 stoploss or 1.5 coils and that is always an adventure.
Bryce

I have wondered the same thing about caught beaver! Don't know the right answer though (exception would be Bruce Ts) reply.

The main reason I asked is the night I caught the beaver, another came over the dam and then went back. Ain’t had a pic of it since. This isn’t a beaver dam, just a crossover on a manmade dam between two ponds.

Well said!

And the only stupid question in my book is the one you don't ask.

Catfish ain't no prize either. I swan I caught the same one 4 times in a week.

Lol! Ain’t run into that yet! I’ll eat a catfish over a turtle any day!

i have caught prolly 10 turtles in otter sets on land.

one good snapping turtle is worth more than a sack of catfish

i also caught a 5 pound bass in a 220

I'm jealous had 1 degree this morning But you have snakes Had more repeat catches on beaver after going to long cables so the beaver could thrash or float out of the channels or locations

Ok, beaver came back. Turns out my first beaver must have been a male because this one was a huge female. The trap was gone and the 8-10ft cable was pulled out. Thought it was a miss or something because I saw nothing floating. It wasn’t until pulling it in I realized how big it was. Guess she was so big because of the 3 kits I pulled out of her after skinning. She had to have been real close to delivery. Even joked with the landowner that that counts as 4, lol.

Congrats

You might be able to sell them to a taxidermist.

Didn’t think of that. I was just gonna chop them up as bait.

Yes, no, yes

Had a large female with 6 kits a few years ago. Sold the kits for $20 apiece to the local taxidermist.