Doing some adc work on beaver. It is a drainage ditch that is dam-ed up and they have been there a couple years minimum. I got 3 kits the first night, 2 kits and a adult the 2nd night, 2 - 2yr olds the 3rd night, then nothing the last 2 nights. But here is the deal, yesterday on my check I found that next to my sets that a beaver had put his own castor mound about 2-3' away. I have pulled all my 330's and only left my 750's on drowning rods. I had him make the mounds off the side of 330's and my foot holds. I used Backbreaker for my castor mound sets and some of them I used a drop or 2 of sac oil. As of right now I have not been down by the dam at all. I was planning on setting that in the next few nights. All my sets are up from it at least 400yds across the gravel road.

I am thinking this one has me pegged and he will be a difficult catch. Any advice would be appreciated.

Use some of the sac oil from the adult you caught there.

Like Swamp Wolf said….use a couple drops of sac oil from the other adult you already caught. It is a familiar scent to the educated beaver and it will be curious of it since the already caught beaver has been missing for a while.

Other options are blind set foothold on the dam crossing rigged on a drowner. Or you could set one of the natural castor mounds that it made along side of yours. Do not add any foreign scent to the natural mound. After a rain, slip in and relure your original set but don’t add anything to the natural one. It will likely freshen up its natural mound in response to your relure.

Or get the wind in your favor and shoot it.

Knock some holes in the dam and make him work.

I will try to set his castor mounds tonight. He freshened them up again last night. I am determined!

I do not know what your water and bottom conditions are but if possible enter the water several feet away from where you plan to make the set and work from the water so you do not disturb the area or leave scent around his castor mound.

Always have this in yah corner…..as your closer . ( Baseball ) …lol

I have punched a hole in the dam and the water has been drawn down about 16" and there has been no action at all on any of the slides or the dam break. I was sure that there was one left but I am wondering if he didn't flee for his life so to speak. This is a drainage ditch and the water is now at the deepest about 2 feet. I have had a cell camera on the dam for 4 days without a picture of a beaver. I have been watching the slides and the cornfield for any sign and there has been nothing. What do you guys think?

Today I think I am going to move the camera and put it upstream and see if there is one that swims past. Kind of a last ditch effort I guess

Put a fresh piece of poplar right at the waters edge….just peel the bark a touch to let the aroma out. If it’s gone….you still have work to do.

I’ll add to Nessys comment...if possible take a walk downstream and look for activity. Like you mentioned the beaver might have spooked and left.

rbsheadache, Well? Did you have any action?

Sound advice, Nessy.
I did just that with Apple branches (But I put a trap there)
Last Beaver was avoiding castor set & snares, where I caught others.

Beaver was working over owners Apple trees


I cut some small branches off an Apple tree and planted them along the shoreline. (no lure, just fresh, tender Apple branches) I placed a foothold out from shoreline.
Two days later...Had the last one

No dice. There has been no action for a week now. I am thinking it moved on. They are taking the dams out in the next couple days so we will see if he shows up again. 8 caught out of one small ditch

Nice going Hern !

I pulled the traps and they removed the dams. There has been no activity since. Thanks all for the advice!

I am on to another one now that I have trapped before. It seems like a new group moves into this spot every year. There is a large colony downstream about 3 miles and they will not let anyone trap them. Been there for years. Closest I can get is 1/2 mile and there is still plenty of activity 1/2 mile upstream.

Sometimes when you get to the last one, or a smart one they will relocate, sometimes you run into them again.