Howdy Yall! Got trap wise beaver problems. Big beavers rebuilding 3 dams overnight. Private property in WI. Caught a 84lb beaver same area 2 years ago. They've seen it all and I've tried it all. Dam breaks with 330's on each side. Dam breaks with drowners on both sides. Caster mounds. I know where there den is but it is inaccessible until the water is frozen enough to walk on. Anyone have any more ideas or tips? So frustrated.

Cut up poplar sticks for bait. Coil spring or long spring set for back foot catch on drowner. No scents

84 pounder! Holy cow what a honker of a beaver!

Good luck Gurdy

Or shoot them

When that happens to me which is rare,

i pull all the 3 30s out and my traps for a week. And a 1 two weeks, and then I go back in only with MB 7 50's, and get in the water and stay in the water. And everything has to be made in the water.

and then I use Papa, Bud oil or beep Birch oil. Nothing to do with unless you have the oil sack. From one of the other beavers in the family that will work too. But you have to go light on the scent. I'm talking 23 drops and appeal. Pople stick up on the shore near the water's edge

How are they getting around the 330s to patch the dam? Get em way out infront and make em dive.
Natural Dive spots set? Channels? Under ice should be a piece of cake, but not sure how long you'll have to wait for "good" ice.
Footholds especially in a tray system whacks em goos.
Every situation is different and it's tough to tell without actually seeing it sometimes.

Shakey ...he spelled Castor wrong...so we're dealing with a green horn.

Footholds with Poplar ...I guarantee

Snares

Once again...two 750-size footholds in a tray attached to seperate drowning rods or chains & placed right where the beaver is in your pic. Beaver swims up, bumps into tray,.....climbs onto tray....

There is nothing above the water for beaver to see. There is no better tactic for shy beavers.

No sticks, no lures, no snares, no 330s......

Try all those and if you catch the beavers...then they were not really shy beavers.

Water behind the dam is over my head, ask me how i know. After the dam the water is about 4 inches deep. Not deep enough to put a legal 330. Had 330's on either side of the top of the dam under water. Even had one right in front of the dam break. They just set them off with the sticks and (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) they're carrying. They also seem to set off the drowners too. From the top of the dam there's only a 4 inch shelf then it drops off. I've tried setting on either side of the break and in front of the break. They are B-lining it for the dam break instead of using the other channels. Thank you for the bait stick idea! Not a green horn BTW, been catching beavers the same way for 4 years, sorry I misspelled castor..........

If snares are legal..... try this. https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/13186/beaver-leaning-stick-snare-set#Post13186

The situation you're describing is perfect for trays.

No such thing as trap shy beavers....I used to say.


Until I finally encountered one on a damage complaint. When you're just a lowly fur trapper they don't exist though...

Get some poplar ...a nice fresh stick..one inch in diameter ..18 inches long

And just shove that stick into the mud on the edge of the dam...where the water is like 4 inches deep.

No trap...no lure...and check it the following day. If it's gone..

Replace the stick ( same spot ) .But slide a foothold trap...on a drowner..5 inches ... slightly

Off center....in 4 inches of water. We've all been there..

I've had them fire 330s ....and bury them in the dam...lol..

If it wasn't fun...we wouldn't do it

You’ll get em Gurdy!
Now’s the time you really learn. It’s OK to let it get personal too……..lol
When I run into a situation like this, I smile knowing that it might cost me time & money, but I’m gonna learn something and be skinning a beaver in the next few days.
After a while you start setting for smarties all the time. It seems like I get called after the beaver have been harassed for 3 months and only a couple are left. The truth eventually comes out…….lol

The trays swampwolf is talking about.

Buy this dvd it will help you with the trap shy ones.

Thanks again for posting my pics. I don’t have those on this phone anymore.

Mr. David (in the video) don't use the trays like I do. He support them with limbs that he cuts on site and sets up in knee to waist deep channels with the trays about 6" under water. Same concept as beaver swim into tray...climbs up on it and....

I put legs on the ones I built and use them entirely at soft, mucky dams and in front of mounds that have muck bottoms. My use is 100% as a stable trap platform for the beaver footholds. And it does not matter that the trap may be a little tippy due to being center swiveled and laying on the wire tray. Once the beaver climbs up on that "obstruction", he/she will be all over the traps. Push tray down into mud about 10 or so inches under water. You will need to readjust depth and position as water drops so tray remains underwater and not visible to the beavers.

How deep are those trays? I’m wondering if I can’t possibly combine that with a beaver float, because where I live in the springtime traps must be completely submerged, so traditional beaver floats with 330s are a no go.

Ope never mind read the post above mine that said how deep

As deep as you want them to be.

I push them down in the mud about 10" in front of a small dam break.