Snaring beaver by the tail….??? How? I can understand a small beaver going through a 9 or 10 inch loop once in a while and getting snared by the tail. Maybe the snare dragged a little…??

What about when you snare a 60 plus pounder with a gut as big as mine by the tail?? I think they recognize that it’s (the snare) unnatural and swat at it with their tail. ???

What do you folks think? Thanks for any input.

Sorta like catching them by the tail in a 330. Not sure how it happens but I have caught a few that way as well as with a snare by the tail. But one thing for sure, tail caught beaver are never happy to see me!

Setting a snare well submerged, centered, and a loop large enough to allow a beaver to swim through it, a snare not loaded to a snares potential, a snare with the lock set at or past 2:00 would be my first suspicions, possibly one that turned due to being spooked.


Several possibilities in my opinion

I don’t think I’ve ever snared one by the tail in the water. All I remember were on dry cross overs or trails. They are done when that snare locks in on their tail though if nothing breaks.

I can see that. Good point.

I snare beaver under the ice with snarepoles with multiple snares on each pole.
Most beaver are snared right behind the front legs,but not uncommon to snare them by the neck, the nose,the teeth the front foot,the back foot or the tail,or combinations of those on the same beaver.

These were all on dry land. I have snared one huge female by the teeth up over the nose on land. I knew something was really odd the way she was fighting it and the cable coming straight out from her nose! Haha. I couldn’t see good because of the vegetation and I dispatched her really quick. I’d been after her about a week. I’ve also snared a few by the foot. I assumed that the snare had been knocked down and the beaver came along and stepped in it and caught them by the foot. No telling though.

A catch is a catch....lol

10" loop is too big for beaver in many circumstances. Especially when you follow " the book" advice to set 1-2" off the ground

I can certainly understand a dry beaver snare getting them that way.

I've snared quite a few by the tail in and out of the water. I've used 10-12" loops all the way down to 6-7" loops and still have caught them by the tail. Animals do crazy things. I doubt it was a smart beaver. Most smart beaver (or any "smart" animal for that matter) just simply avoid the location. Just like Swamp Wolf said....a catch is a catch. Good job 44.

Do you load your snares? Maybe they need to be a little faster. But, crazy things do happen.

They are loaded 5/64 1X19. Fast! I wish I knew how to snare them by the tail. Great hold and no fur damage.

If you wanted to intentionally snare them by the tail, I’d start by using large loops and possibly non loaded snares?


I don’t know, doing that on purpose might be a bit trickier. I would think it would be easier to get consistent leg catches than to get consistent tail catches...?

I was just kidding about intentionally tail snaring them. I’m happy to get them caught period on an ADC job. I still believe some of them swat their tail at a snare because they know it’s not supposed to be there. The night footage on Thomas Morelock’s video show both raccoon and beaver stopping at a snare and looking it over. Some went on through and a couple backed off. Excellent footage of both land and water critters working a set. (Or not).

Beaver caught by the tail goes through the snare, which rides down its back as it closes.
It isn't rocket science.

Three things :
One, most loops set for beaver are far too large. and. . .
Two, many snare men I've met do not know how to match a certain lock, with the right cable, or even load a snare.
Three, see number One