I've been trying to catch on in one of these, really want to get it working, but mine keep getting buried when they come to fix the breech.

I have that problem when the tray is not deep enough in front of the breach....too much water drop or I set it too shallow due to conditions at dam.

Keep your breach NOT wider than the tray and ensure the depth of water over the traps is at least 10" or 12 ".

Trick is for beav to bump into it and climb up on it or attempt to climb over it to reach where he needs to be to work on the breach.

That should prevent any mud shoveling.

I've built them trays since you told me about them. They are a life saver and are even better when you double up with them. lol

For sure!

They change the game in deep mud and allows you to put a beaver foothold trap where it needs to be. Very, very few misses.

Thanks. I thought that may be the problem. I moved it out some, but not far enough it seems.

I think you can catch a beaver in any kind of trap or set.
I think I have tried them all including this one.
To catch all the beaver consistently, in a timely manner I have come to the conclusion that I just need to get very proficient with what I can set quickly and have results.
Body grippers and cage trap I don’t use during while turtles are moving (mateing).
Out of season, I try very hard to not catch any incendentals and footholds are about 99% all beaver.
1# footholds - year around
2# Comstock cage traps – From March to August I don’t use
3# Body grippers – From March to August I don’t use
4# Snares, but I am not good or confident with them.

I agree varmintshooter with all you stated, but I will add this: a beaver CANNOT be captured at certain locations & conditions unless you have the right equipment.

'Shooter, spend the money and take some snaring lessons from a pro...it'll up your game.

Paul gave me some great tiips and the Newt. I really just have not used snares very often.
Now beaver traps weigh a lot more than they did a few years ago and snares are looking like a better choice for those sites I can't drive or boat to.
I can catch with snares, but when I do it's a surprise. When I set a foothold and I don't have a catch its a surprise. Maybe one day I can set a snare with confidence I will have a catch.
I have figured out Jims traps and those cage traps are deadly and fast to set. Just cant use them when turtles are moving.
VS

An old veteran Idaho trapper named Calvin Cobb told me that, "Sometimes a trapper has got to put his footholds(or any other tool) away for a season and use nothing but snares to master their use." Now I know that is farfetched for trappers hired out to remove problem beavers, but it just makes sense as it'll force you to utilize that tool more often.
Good luck.

I'm always looking for a good snare location. Rarely do I "make" a snare location...although I will set up a few leaning limb snares occasionally.

Most (not all, but most) spooky beaver will still swim or crawl thru a snare.

Those power door cage traps have their place, especially around people and pets. But, I can't tote one of those very far.

Big momma wondered why the chillins' didn't patch that small dam break yesterday, so she came to check on it.

Trap gone...

Big momma..

Nice work Swamp!

Lay a log- or I should say Stake a log parallel to a Dam on the deep side to make a "natural" looking Swim through set. (catches the Adults first)
it creates a swim through channel perfect for a snare on each end.

I can never find a log that'll float that I can move....

Five or six baby 12" gators at a beaver job this afternoon. Momma gator was there but I only got a glimpse of her.

Typical dam break set this afternoon.

2 NoBS Beaver Extremes in a tray in front of break.

Note beaver lodge in background. This wont take long...maybe.

2 more tray victims...

Told landowner that there would no extra charge for this 4 footer nor for the magnum 5+ footer.

These two fine south Georgia cottonmouth specimens have let me walk by them for a week and on day 7 I'm pulling traps. One is 10ft from a 330. He died. Walked on down stream and pulled 2 more 330s. Right where I had just walked is the even bigger snake....he died too.

For you snake lovers....I ain't sorry!

I like those yellow signs swamp wolf. Nice catches. Keep hitting em.

And you all dont sleep on ivarmintshooter. Hes the fish fryingest, beaver trappingest, ball bustingest fella youll meet. Great trapper and great steward of our culture. And a good friend.