I don’t typically do spring fishing, but anyone who does can do so!

Long day. Fell in a beaver run. Discovered the safety on my gun was not working properly (thankfully no accidental discharges but still not pleased).

But I got some traps set up and saw some squirrels starting to run around and spent the day out in nature so the good outweighs the bad.



Haven't really got experience with dam break sets so I don't really know if this will have the effect I want, but I've gotta start somewhere.

Spending time out in the woods and enjoying nature is one of the best ways to enjoy a day. I have fallen in a few creeks myself and I know they are no fun. Good luck on those beavers!

Dam break sets using body grips in that way usually end up fired with an educated beaver. That's been my experience. I prefer a foothold at a dam break. The beaver usually comes to a dam break with a limb or peeled stick which fires the body grip in it's face as it brings it into the break.

I'll invest in some footholds for next year for sure. I think I'll move my 330 into a run instead, like how I placed my other two. Though maybe trying two different techniques would be better but if I know the dam break won't work the way I want it to I can always just go with what I know. Thanks for the tip.

I never considered that a beaver would snap a trap with a stick he was carrying. I’ll keep that in mind as well!

(Explative) I disassembled my gun and cleaned it and the safety is still not working. It's just my 22 but it's one of those Anchutz 22s that Savage imported for a while in the 70-80s and I'd really preffer it if I could get it working. Will swing by a gunsmith tomorrow and get an opinion.

Honestly I pretty much never chamber a round until I'm getting ready to shoot so it's not even a big deal but there's something about knowing it isn't working that makes the back of my brain itch.

I prefer footholds for pretty much any set on a dam over bodygrips. But bodygrips will work on dam crossover sets fine as long as the beavers aren't "square shy". Rather than breaking the dam, find a spillway (there is always at least one, usually more on every dam) and set your bodygrip there. Often you can see a worn or slicked up spot on the one the beavers use most often, but not always. they will cross the dams at spillways though, so if you have the traps set every one, if not set the best looking ones. And as Paul said, steer clear of dam break sets with bodygrips.

I agree with the wisdom of not using a conibear at a dam break.
Conibears still have a place at the dam though. Rather than a "dam-break" set, find where the beaver are crossing over the dam, and make a "cross-over" set. I much prefer doing it on the bottom side of the dam rather than on the top. By setting at the bottom the beaver (or otter) is already committed to that route, it looks more natural, and there's usually a bunch of sticks to wedge the trap between and fasten to, this makes for a more natural looking set.

I wish I had more 330s. I can think of a couple good cross overs I could try setting. Would it be a bad idea to snare a crossover? Or is it too likely to get a non kill catch?

A dam patrol set with a 330 works too. Set your 330 parallel to the dam out about a foot, when beaver inspect the dam they swim back and forth along it

With or without a dive stick?

I don't use one. Here I'm setting under ice, but when I lived in SE I used that set with no ice or dive stick. It's just like setting a run, they're usually on bottom

Gotcha. I'll definitely give it a shot. Always nice to have an extra tool in your belt.

Have you disassembled your firing and safety mechanism for your gun?

Disassembled cleaned, and checked what I could. Brought it to a gunsmith this morning cause it seems like it will be less trouble than trying and failing to fix it and then going there anyways.

Got out trapping though, and took a shot of oppurtunity at a nice beaver. Just have to carry it the mile back to the road without a pack cause I didn't plan far enough ahead, apparently.

Nice beaver! Did you use the .22?

I used my 22-250 I had in case of coyote. Don't like to bodyshot beaver with a 22 last one I tried made it far enough away that I lost it. Headshots are okay but my 22 isn't scoped so I can only shoot to about 50 yards and expect a headshot to land.

If you have to carry it far. I opened a small hole , and let the guts out . gets rid of some weight. If there is snow, you can drag them , also. old 243

If you have to pack it too far, sit down and rough skin it, you can do that in just a few minutes if you leave plenty of meat on the hide and it is a lot lighter to pack out, you just have to flesh/reskin when you get home. I tried gutting them, and found that I hate skinning gutted beaver. lol