Swim Through Traps

[Carp Commander]

I am in the market for several swim through traps for Otter and Beaver. I would like to hear what brand/model is working well for everyone. I don't like spending money blindly!

I have also heard about good prices at the rendezvous but have never been to one. Are the prices good enough that I should wait or just start ordering now?

Thanks

Doug

[Blacktail Sniper]

Tagging to see what you find out.

[Humptulips]

I doubt you will find a lot of them for sale at the Rendezvous. I would bring some if there is interest. I've been charging $130 for 10x10s. I would need $150 for the 10x18s. I have some old ones that were the first I built. I have changed the design but they do work. They have seen use. I would sell them for $50 each.

[Carp Commander]

Bruce,

I know you build your own but have you ever tried any of the Comstocks or Dekalbs? I have heard good things about both. I just hate the thought of buying anything I haven't seen before.

Are there any other manufacturers out there that are worth looking into?

I have also heard decent reports about beaver sized colony traps. Anyone have thoughts on them?

Doug

[trapperguy22]

Doug,
I make my own non powered door swim throughs and they work well for beaver and some otter, i think i miss some otter  with the doors free falling. this summer i will be making some powered door ones like bruces.
 I have seen both the comstocks and the dekalb traps i like them both the dekalb that i saw was the 12x12x36 i think the guy who owned lt liked i seemed like a well built trap. i have also seen the comstocks and they seem well built also. the one thing that sucks about those traps is the shipping.

[Humptulips]

Fred Lawrence will be giving a talk on the Comstocks at the Rendezvous Saturday. I don't think there will be any for sale but Fred will have one you can look at.
Kirk Dekalbs traps, I don't know if anyone will bring one. Dave Vinke has had them there the last couple of years but again just to look at.
Kirk is a member of this forum so maybe he will chime in.

[kirkdekalb]

I Happened to see the forum post tonight. My computor has been down for a week.

I believe for the money you should consider Bruces" traps. Shipping is a problem.

We currently have been short of labor, so I am behind. We are not currently making the swing downs. We will as soon as I feel confident of the quality and we have time. I have a new guy who is experienced well, but not in all of my models yet. My employee that has been with me so long has had quite  a few problems with sickness and death in his family. He should be back soon.

We are presently selling traps as fast as we can make them. Very little inventory. I have come up with a better hog door, so that is taking away from the time for the other traps.

We have many models that are good for beaver and otter, but are only presently selling the guillotine models. I guess I may have to build a model simmiliar in size as the larger comstock. If I do the design I have will be easier to set, more open appearing to the animal, easier to remove animals,  have bar doors, and be stronger- to be set for live catches as well as submerged sets. My favorite though is the 12x12x 36 swim thru for submerged sets and the round centered ones for live and submerged sets. We have a 24 hr check here so live sets are more thought of and tend to allow more opportunity for trap placement here.

One of the best sizes I have found in testing, Is a 14x14x38 powered guillotine doored trap. I would offer if I had enough orders to start. The 14" gives a nice opening and the guillotine doors are faster than a swingdown door in water. I can make it with more support bars on top like the 36" swimthru for strength. I will try to have some in Lima NTA.

We have been selling a lot of the 12x17x38 guillotine door traps because they can trail set them for beaver and other animals, submerge them,and float them to catch beaver. One USDA customer caught 5 beaver in 4 nights with a floating cage then ordered 5 more.
 
I have had a rail less guillotine doored trap in my mind for quite some time. I made one last weeK. It is really slick. Like every trap, It has features that are better than other traps and other traps have features better than it. It just saves on the shipping.

I am not sure whether I will show that for now.

If you are making traps for beaver, a cage trap for beaver with attached pontoons has been very effective for my customers. You may want to build your trap with that in mind. The trap just needs a minimum width of 12", taller the better, and be set so as the animal floats into it or about 6" of water. It will work with a gravity door as long as the trap is long enough.The longer the trap the wider the trap needs to be.

Good Luck

[pnwmtnmn]

I currently have 18 12x12x48 swim through beaver traps with the free falling doors. I am taking these to blackfoot. If I can I will have 10x10, 12x12 and 14x14 all 48 long at the WSTA rendezvous. The ones I currently have are $75.00 The traps are based on the swimthrough posted on here.

[kirkdekalb]

I will have some swim through traps at the NTA. Swing down and guillotine door. You will be able to see 12x12, 14 x14, 12x17.

It is a way to see various types. Will also have a new large animal trap I mentioned on the caging coyote thread.

There mainly to show.

[rasbo]

if you get out to royal city area you could look at the one I bought

[kirkdekalb]

Made five sets at one location just before dark. All live sets. Land owner had dam wash away and is going to make a larger pond and clean up.

[kirkdekalb]

Caught 4 turtles.

[kirkdekalb]

caught a beaver and more turtles.

[kirkdekalb]

Went back late this afternoon and set a trap on a den hole, set a trap as a dam set, and took 4 more turtles out of the traps.

Went to another location and set a swim thru, a snare, and a mb 750. All scent sets. It was almost 100 today with no rain. It was almost 80 this morning at first light. Told the land owner at the new location I would trap 3 nights. Daming up a cross drain on driveway to home in a subdivision.

[MtnMuley]

Made five sets at one location just before dark. All live sets. Land owner had dam wash away and is going to make a larger pond and clean up.

If he had a dam wash away and he wants a larger pond, then why are you removing the beavers?