Beavers

[bigbrother]

Anyone have advice / favorite sets they make for Beavers that they want to share? I've never trapped them but 2 farmers have asked me to trap some this year on their properties. They certainly have a mess made at both places. Our Beaver season does not come in until after Christmas so more than likely I'm going to be looking at iced over ponds. Any help you guys could provide would be appreciated.

[buckhunter]

Dynamite. Bang they are gone.

Believe it or not it happened here. Beavers back up a river that flooded a bunch of McMansions. State would not remove them so someone did in one large bang. No more beavers.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Dynamite. Bang they are gone.

Yeah.....along with everything else!

Actually, I like beavers.....they make some of the best duck hunting habitat one could ask for Be that as it may, I realize some folks don't care for them, esp. when flooded crop fields are an issue.
Here in MI I believe most of the season is later in the fall & winter, which means ice. I've never trapped them, but from what I understand most folks who do find a 'run' and set a 330 conibear in the area along with some beaver castor scent. I've found a few of these 'runs' by accident while duck hunting....fastest way I know of to go from walking to swimming!
Also, check out some of the videos on Youtube....there is a wealth of information there and I've picked up some good tips that I plan to use this fall.
Good luck................

[bowhunting23]

hope your not looking to make a profit out of trapping them. heard there not going to give much for beavers this year but i heard coon and muskrat prices are going to be up a little.

[bigbrother]

LOL....how true! No, I've heard the same things in our area. 18-24 for beavers, but they're thinking 8-9 for rats! Only bad thing is I don't have a lot of rats but beavers have sprung up everywhere the past couple of years. It seems that no one is trapping them due to some past stingy regulations in PA and the low costs.

In certain WMU's this year the regulations on methods has loosened up because there are so many problems with them. I thought it could be just another thing to do after Christmas to take up the winter boredom.

[skeet]

I did trap beavers once or twice. The price really isn't all that good on 'em and to get a really nice pelt it takes a LOT of work. Too much for the return.. But then again they make really nice gifts for our less politically correct friends and family.

As far as the damage they do it is truly amazing. The state did a dynamiting of a damn..er..dam. Didn't get the Beavers. 3 days later..the road was flooded again... Happened twice and they finally hired a trapper to get 'em. He did and they destroyed the dam again..hehehehe. Permanently that time. I do have to agree with Mr 16. They do make GREAT wood duck shootin areas. But they do destroy a lot of woods habitat for other critters. A friend in Md had a beautiful little stream bottom with about a hundred acres of marketable timber. Critters moved in and dammed it up. Destroyed about half of it..one short summer was all it took

[jiminpa]

scout them out now for after x-mas.remember the location of the runs and set 330 on them . if you got open water,caster mounds will work.