Blsum's 2015/2016 rookie season

[Blsum]

Oh but on a side note. Talking with the boss man, I found out that his sister has a beaver problem and will let me come in and help her take care of them for her. Just need to get those traps built asap.

[Blsum]

So for you cat guys. Looking for some pointers. I have one set near where I have the trail camera pics of a cat. How long will you leave a set before moving it? Thinking the set might be to far into the timber. Is there anything I can do to possibly better my odds if catching this cat? How big of a piece of beaver do you use for bait? Do you set your traps in thick areas or say on a type edge? (Alder-reprod, reprod-big timber) if on the type edge which side of the edge do you put it on? How far from the edge?

[Blsum]

Finally on the board. Finished a couple of 9x18x36 spring door collapsible traps. Took them out to my bosses sisters place to try and help her out with the beaver that have been harassing her. Set the traps in the creek. First couple of days didn't catch anything. Plus the water went down. So I moved them. One to a nice pinch point and the other to a section that I fenced off a bit of the creek with some branches. Got a text this morning saying the doors were shut so took the kids and drove out after work. Haven't had a chance to weigh the beaver guessing it's about 40lbs or so. I will confirm in a bit. The kids thought it was pretty cool if you can't tell by their smiles.

[Blsum]

Just weighed the beaver. Came in at 42 lbs.

[redi]

Nice looking traps. Good job on the catch. Great to see the smiles on the kids faces.

[Machias]

Nice job!!

[ouchfoss]

  nice catch!
My daughter loves going trapping with me too! I think I have more fun watching her reaction when she sees what's in the cage than I do!

[Turner89]

Nice beaver, and traps

[bear hunter]

Nice coated and stainless trap. Nice catch to.

[Blsum]

Finished another trap. Decided to go with a 12x18x36. Spring door. Conibear trigger. 1.5x1.5 coated wire. I believe it's 1/8th in wire. Collapsible.

[Kit Carson]

So for you cat guys. Looking for some pointers. I have one set near where I have the trail camera pics of a cat. How long will you leave a set before moving it? Thinking the set might be to far into the timber. Is there anything I can do to possibly better my odds if catching this cat? How big of a piece of beaver do you use for bait? Do you set your traps in thick areas or say on a type edge? (Alder-reprod, reprod-big timber) if on the type edge which side of the edge do you put it on? How far from the edge?

I have also been wondering these same things..

[ouchfoss]

Not sure if its the best way of not but I will wait between 2-3 weeks before I move it. My reasoning is that if there was a cat who frequents that area, you would have already caught him by that point (if he's not cage shy). I usually only have so many traps to use so I figure my odds are better to try somewhere else. Twice last year I found some fresh cat poo and caught a cat from that spot within two days. Makes it hard for me to justify keeping a trap in one spot for too long.

[JakeLand]

Well you're more patient then me ! If I don't have a cat in 5 days I'll move the cage it might be as little as 50 yrds or a mile  but I will move it. I always set my cages on benches overlooking beaver ponds or creeks or on the bottom of rocky cliffs in pinch point scenario. When it comes to bait I figure bigger is better I'll use a 6 or 7 lbs worth or a BIG chunk in the cage hanging on the back wall wired good ( weasels will haul it off) but I think up on benches is the best overlooking creeks and ponds . My 

[ouchfoss]

Well you're more patient then me ! If I don't have a cat in 5 days I'll move the cage it might be as little as 50 yrds or a mile  but I will move it. I always set my cages on benches overlooking beaver ponds or creeks or on the bottom of rocky cliffs in pinch point scenario. When it comes to bait I figure bigger is better I'll use a 6 or 7 lbs worth or a BIG chunk in the cage hanging on the back wall wired good ( weasels will haul it off) but I think up on benches is the best overlooking creeks and ponds . My 

I might try with less time this year. Seems like the places that had "catchable" cats produced in a week or less over the last three years. There was some spots I trapped last year that I know had cats which is why I spent up to three weeks in those areas but seems like if I was going to catch them, it happened in the first few days.

[Blsum]

Finally had time to go move the cat traps. Hopefully have something in them soon. One I'd down the ridge a ways above a swamp and the other in not to far from a creek that has some beaver sign. Put a little castor beaver lure in one with some beaver meat and the other has some montana long call lure in it. Figured it wouldn't hurt to give it a shot. Also learned anot her lesson today. Just cause it looks ankle deep doesn't mean it is. I was going to set some beaver traps this afternoon and went to cross a beaver run. Looked like it was only ankle deep. Yeah no. Ended up going up to my belly button in the muck and the mud. That was no fun. I will have to take pictures of the sets tomorrow since I left my phone in the car.