If you predator hunt, do you have a thermal ? Easy peasy. But, a swimming beaver is a small target. Wait until he gets to shallow water to feed.

Also, do a search here for a thread on the trays that hold foot traps.

Hammer's suggestions are excellent. Only thing I would add, is when dealing with a real trapwise beaver I have had to cover my traps a time or two, even underwater. If the pond has leaves around it or in it, take a couple watersoaked leaves and put over the trap. Not much extra effort and it just might make a difference.

The one thing you have going for you is that he is staying active, I have trapped some beaver where if I went in and made any disturbance, pounded in stakes, walked close to their den, etc. They would hole up for a couple weeks and not move.

Beaver are really easy to trap. . . until they aren't. A trap wise beaver can be one of the smartest animals out there to try and trap.

An educated beaver can make you willing to cry on national tv. Sometimes, just leaving the beaver alone for a month or so and give him a chance to relax a little, will work. Then go back in as quietly as you can and get him in a deeper run especially if there has been limbs and brush to fall over the run. Don't block like a picket fence; he won't fall for it. Leave the castor at home.

Rickey

I ended up removing one successfully with a foothold. More than one apparently so will ise the same techniques. Thank you all for your help!

Did you get him on a blind set? Castor mound? Cross over? Basically how did you end up getting him to make a mistake?