I'm trying to catch a beaver that is taking down our trees. Before the season they were all over our property and many runs I could have trapped. They have seemed to move out of the area and go down stream. There is am old gate system in the stream that we could put board in to raise the water level (hasn't been used in 30 years) right at the property line. The beaver is coming up on land not on our property and no I can not get permission to trap that property (protected area). They are not going back in the water on our side and it is all rip rap rock. We have size restrictions on traps not in water. Any advice? Also I am new to beaver trapping.

Can you use snares?

Since they aren't on your property anymore maybe your problem has gone away. If they come back, then if you can use snares that would be the way to go.

You could wrap the trees you want to keep in wire mesh. Otherwise, find or make a run up the bank. Put a pile of mud and leaves, about the size of a dinner plate about 18 or so inches up the bank. If you have a castor based lure, put a teaspoon quantity on the top of the pile. Dobbin’s Backbreaker is an excellent choice. Put a snare vertically in the run and stake it into the bank with a long metal stake, 20-inch long cable stake or cross stake it on the bank.

Then make sure you check it every day. Bring a .22 caliber with you. It will be alive.

Hancock live traps are very expensive. There are others on the market that are more affordable. Please note, the cost of a cage, even a Hancock, is small compared to damaged trees if protecting is your goal.

If you are talking about a Stoplog Structure (normally CMP with side grooves like a widow) for water depth control, I doubt, adding a "flash board" and raising the water upstream will be attractive enough to cause them to return, especially in the winter. Protecting "positive value" trees, as mentioned, is the best method when beaver are not accessible. Come springtime, beaver movement will increase and daily scouting will be a better use of time should they reappear on "your side of the fence". Use a foot trap with lure at the water's edge where they show sign of emerging and a Body Grip in any water channel they are traveling on yours. You can use H.D. fencing to funnel or channel beaver into or out of water toward a waiting trap. Check with your C.O. as to a damage permit (and its limitations) as you may have less restrictive options when after a certain individual(s) causing problems. MY (45 yrs of ADC) Experience ........................... the mike P.S. if you have electricity close, you have another world of deterrent that can prevent damage. .............the mike again

I've got a trail camera on where they are coming up. Again they are coming up not on my property (wish it was because very easy to set foot hold or a 330), then there are big rocks on the side of the banks. They walk along the rocks and take down the trees, drag them back the way they came. Fortunately the trees they are taking are not the best trees. We have lost hundreds of trees from beaver over the years and want to try to get them before they get further into the property. I'm hoping they work their way back to our pond before trapping season ends. There are about a dozen slides they used. I had them in the pond all of October, then a week before the season started they left. Now they are taunting me...LOL

Well, wherever the next tree falls, assuming other similar trees are very nearby, make a big castor mound. Talking 16" tall and 2 feet across. Set at least 4 sets, flush with the grass or whatever your ground is. Very lightly cover them with grass clippings, small loose leaves or similar. This is for foot hold sets. Secure properly and check early. Don't forget Backbreaker. That is critical.

12 gauge and buck shot.