I'm certainly not a beaver expert. But from weighing caught beavers over the years there seems to be distinct weight ranges that show up. Ranging from mid 20lb beavers to one like I caught last week, 86.5lbs. I know they continue to grow through their entire lives. So, how are beavers correctly aged (tooth samples) or another method?

86.5 wow did that come out of the river?

Big beaver!


Found this here https://www.jstor.org/stable/3798194

I can pretty much figure out age classes on the beaver in areas I trap. Successfully for the first 3-4 years...But I can't tell the difference in a 3.5 year old or a 5.5 year old. I do notice that on some of the older beaver they start to get some discolored scales on their tails. In an Oregon Game Commission report they had a known age tagged beaver make 16 years of age when caught. A veritable Methuselah for a flat tail.

Beaver came out of a local canal that is part of the state park system. It's about 60 miles long, happens to be close to where I live. State pays $$ for removal. I don't need to worry about competition, they have a real have time getting anyone to trap.

Can only use a 330 or snare. No footholds. Also, restrictions on depth of water the trap needs to be in. Lots of spots where a 750 would do the job much better so handicapped somewhat. And the big one, if no boat/kayak you need to walk between roads crossings to access crossovers, etc. Some are too far to bother with.