No, I'll be staying in state and supporting the OTC sales. If the rivers ever decide to calm down a little I might get another good batch together for March.

First post here, longtime lurker. Beaverpeeler, do you have any advice you could share on river beaver do's and don'ts during high water? Im mainly a snare guy, but use #4dls on occasion.
I have a hard time getting them to cooperate with fluctuating water levels since my sets are only in the zone for a short time. Its frustrating because Im trapping a small river (not so small right now) that borders a hazelnut orchard. With the high water they get naughty and jump the banks and are now doing more damage than any other time of year. Thanks!

Timmee, what I do is pay close attention the the northwest river forecast model from NOAA. (www.nwrfc.noaa.gov) or something like that. Then wait until the river is dropping and set on fresh sign. I've been boat trapping the rivers in Oregon for about 45 years and this has been a particularly rough year to get much accomplished. But the good news is high water gets 'em moving and they are quite susceptible to castor and sack oil sets right now. It is also right in the middle of breeding season; so another plus.

Get your trusty hatchet out and chop up some big cottonwood chips and put them in a gallon ziplock. Then add the sack oil of one beaver and shake the heck out of it. Slick up your bank a little and throw a few wood chips up there and they will get visited almost guaranteed. You can add a smidgen of castor too if so inclined. I sometimes do castor for the first check and then switch up to sack oil chips for the second check.

Good luck and stay safe out there.

I use wood chips too BP. Never put oil with them but will now. Thanks for the tip.

Good luck TG hope to see some catch pictures

No water sets out right now, but caught this guy today...2nd one!

Nice cat John

I trapped tide water some when I was a teen. I found that if I set the trap at the high water line or out of the water, and rather than leaving it uncovered like I do generally underwater, if I covered the trap with either mud or leaves that I had good luck and the trap is always working no matter how much the water drops.

Fluctuating water levels are a pain though. Make sure that your drowning stake or weight is in very deep water so that if the water level drops a couple feet or more, there is still enough water to drown them.

We’re still chipping away, got a couple otter for tomorrow.

When is your Herkimer sale NF? Looks like you'll have a nice pile by then.

Nice one newfox, good job. Is it pretty frozen over in your neck of the woods?

BP, February 3, we are going to prep everything this weekend.

Musty, yeah it’s been cold, rainy last couple days. This is some freezer fur for a couple friends.

I'll be looking forward to hearing your results.

Last February and last April averages for us, February sale we had more small and mediums because we cleaned out the freezer. I hope this next sale continues to advance. Both of those averages were before commission.

It's been a good week chasing beaver. Crazy weather we've been having. Ice turned to rain and high waters sure got them up and cruising.

Got a couple otter fleshed this afternoon.

Musty, looking good.

I'm envious Musty. Haven't been able to get out yet since the sale. Hoping by Sunday I can hit it.

Nice lookin otter newfox. I love those darker ones.

BP, hope you can get in and bust some sets out. I don't know why but January always seems like a difficult month to trap. It's either bone dry and warm or pouring rain and flooded.

Beautiful plews Musty

I told you guys that Musty has it down!

River levels are going up another 2 feet today and tomorrow so I won't get out traps until Monday at the earliest. Had some bobcat/civet traps out and the road in to get to them got covered by a landslide last night. Road won't get cleared until Monday at the earliest, which means Tuesday I'll need to go pull those traps. I set on bobcat discovered carcasses yesterday so I was disappointed not to be able to get to them today.

Wow had a great day in the shop, had a couple young guys that we’ve been helping a little and today they helped us prep fur. We are ready for next Saturdays sale.