dont post on here much or at all but got my beaver line going up here in northern ny i set one area year after year this year no different i use some of the same locations that produce year to year, today i check my line got some nice muskrats and beaver the last set is on the other side of this beaver dam thats been in place for decades as i get to the end of the dam i see a huge beaver floating i thing wow he went to the end of my tie wire no biggy i get over there its a big one 65 or 70 pounder floating but no 330 some one a hunter im guessing took the beave out of the trap left the beaver and stole my victor square jaw 330. . most people would not now how to open a 330 to steal it and leave the beaver any to say i was hot is understaement its going to be a super blanket so thats good but a theif i cant abide banchee

How odd that they would take the trap and not the beaver. I wonder if it might have been a dog hunter that used to trap back in the boom days. He would know how to open the trap, not want the beaver, and might have stole it because he was afraid you'd catch his dog. Keep your ears open as I bet he runs his mouth about it to someone in town.

Very unusual

yes, that's odd, for sure,

i hate it when that happens

Let the game warden know just in case this trap ends up set somewhere else with your name tag still on it.

Strange things happen for sure. If you have or can get a long metal hook you might want to drag the bottom under where the beav was floating. If you had a shallow head catch it’s possible the beav threw the trap with nerves before it totally expired.

Definitely an ex-trapper...didn't want to lug that old hoss beaver out of the woods. Sad.

Only one trap? that would be a good year for me......jk

I’ve had it happen with coyotes. When coyote market is in the crapper they would take the trap but leave the shot to (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) coyote. When coyotes were worths something they would take both.
Sorry for your loss. 330s aren’t cheap if you have to replace them.
Jim

I have had to do this before. Have MJ 600 Sterling stole on private land stinks. But I only trap for pay. And only on private land. Most people. Use cheap traps when it comes to = well it might get stolen. But I can't make myself. Use a cheap and infuriour trap

How was the trap staked? Did you root around for the chain at the set location? Did he die from being concussed and/or pull-out? Wishful thinking on my part but I found a fired 330 once and a dead beaver across a stream bed

This^ Double check the water with a hook. Maybe got rapped good on the noggin.

Makes more sense than someone taking the beaver out and stealing the trap.

That's odd

Get one of those good magnets with a tie-on loop. Throw it out back and forth and around the area of capture. I bought one years ago for finding stabilizers that occasionally got kicked out to deeper water from beaver and otter at different times.

I keep mine in my truck all the time with 20 ft of tarred cord on it. It is only 2" X 2" in size. You can re attach the bolt to the top or end depending upon your
need for its use. I keep mine attached to the end since I am usually dragging along the bottom of a stream or on the ground for something I may have dropped that is metal.

Master Magnetics 37010B HD Holding & Retrieving Magnet 40 Lb. Pull

Ebay has this deal going on now. Pretty sweet deal.

Up to 1500LBS Strong Fishing Magnet Kit Double Sided Pull Force & Rope Carabiner

Someone with the knowledge to set a 330 without setters or a rope is limited even on this site. If he had that resident skill set- he /she would also have a pulse on this years beaver prices.

^Second this.


I’ve had it happen and I don’t trap many beaver!

Also had one just by the top jaw barely hooked behind his front teeth. If he’d have wiggled just right he’d have gotten out.

…. Also, beav in the water is a bit suspect. If someone removed it on the bank, my guess it the beav would still be on the bank. Not to mention, there should be ample tracks/sign on bank where beav was removed. I think it’s worth a fresh look banchee. I know you don’t post much but let us know how this comes out plz.

I agree hook or magnet the area. Cable and stake missing also?