Set a fake castor mound with a foot trap. Trap untouched, but mound flattened out. Piled it back up, added a twig of more Backbreaker. How many times do you think the beaver will return before ignoring it? Obviously hoping for only one more time with good foot placement. And if it ignores that set, will it work the same set down the bank?

Try it again with same lure....same set....add another trap.

If it don't work....make a new set nearby with sac oil only.

I rarely set a big fake mound. It’s overrated. I kick in a pocket nearby and confine their foot placement to the “ inside “ rather than the huge outside of a target area.

I see guys wasting time making a giant sexy,showy,gaudy,eye appeal mound…wasting time and energy…..

I don't make a lot of fake castor mound sets, a lot of times if I am making a 'castor set' I simply find an indentation, usually where the beaver are already using to get out of the water, take a dab of castor on a stick, and poke it in the ground a foot or two from the water, set a trap where the beaver will exit the water, and splash some water on it, If I do make an actual castor mound, I take a double handful of mud and/or leaves, scooped off the bottom. Slap that on the ground, put some castor on it, and splash water on it. In either case I will often rub my foot back and forth three or four times, where I want the beaver to exit, before I splash the water, to slick it up like beaver have been climbing out there. The mound takes maybe thirty seconds longer if there is soft mud and leaves at the site. And if there isn't, I don't even consider bothering with a mound.

For ADC, I use a lot of sets with no lure or anything to attract. I try and set where they’re already goung. Now I find myself rarely using lure any time of the year. If they’re already going there, why add a lure?
The lure and other tricks come out if I run into trouble. Then the game gets personal and money is no barrier to success……lol

I have done both what bearcat2 and Shakey have described but have also set a fake castor mound the first time around along with the scented castor mounds I make. I usually don't like to use lure on my first go around but If I see freshly made castor mounds I'll set traps at the existing ones IF the terrain allows me. Spring trapping problem beaver is when I'll make a fake mound no lure along with my scented castor mounds and they work pretty well, I have also transplanted an already existing beaver made castor mound to where I could create a set. It all works you just gotta kind of know the beaver's habits. Oil sac like Swamp mentioned is a killer on the fake mounds, the existing mounds and the sets like Les has described.
A very under used attractor in most trappers books.

He'll keep coming back.

I would suggest however picking spots where you can have more control over the beaver so his approach/exit is more forced.

Brian he could be going around from back side??
Do you have a camera set up?

A flattened castor mound isn't always a beaver...

No, I should just because it's a state park. Public places make me nervous, especially with dog walkers.


That thought had crossed my mind, it was flattened again this morning. I repositioned the 750 a bit. And added a stick alongside to try and guide him over the trap.


He has to come between a couple trees, or climb over stuff. As long as he doesn't give up before I do. I added a 330 in a tight spot today a good distance away.

I picked up a two year old today at another job, I'll take some sac oil from it and use it tomorrow if needed. I've never used straight sac oil before, how much is too much? Dip a twig type thing?
I already educated him at a dam break and took his toenail a week ago. IF it's the only one working my castor set, I don't want to mess up again, but the dam break isn't being repaired, so I'm thinking there isn't a second one there.

Thanks for the replies.

Old bank den with lure, works for me.
Beaver did the work you

Doesn’t take much lure for beaver, you can body slam the beaver you caught and make a set there

Yes....just a very light dab or two of sac oil at the water's edge. Drop a drop into the water between the trap and bank.