Beaver Trapping

[Trapper John]

A friend of mine over in Montana sent me this picture.  He said that he can't afford the expensive beaver traps but catches a lot of beavers on complaints using his large cage traps.  This has worked for him for years.

So for you New Trappers and others that can't afford the price of Hancock and Koro traps, swim-throughs, custom beaver traps; convert your large cage traps into beaver/ otter traps.

Have a great season
JC   

[Norman89]

I have seen pictures of comstocks set this way as well and have heard it works. Just run the risk of people messing with your traps if in a public area something to keep in mind

[Kain]

Thats pretty cool

[trapperguy22]

Have always wanted try this as a castor set on a river with no good channels or a pond. I used to do it with330 as a flow to rising rivers in Wisconsin and it worked great. I need to try this soon with a swim through.

[JakeLand]

Aren’t footholds and body grips legal in Montana  ? A 330 is $20 and lighter and faster

[Oh Mah]

what is that bait?

[Humptulips]

Looks like peeled sticks to me. I have had good luck with cottonwood sticks for bait. Beaver love cottonwood and poplar.

[Magnum_Willys]

Aren’t footholds and body grips legal in Montana  ? A 330 is $20 and lighter and faster

Ahhh the good ol days,  a pair of 330’s in some runs and a couple leg-hold drown sets with castor bait piles and you knew you were gonna be skinning that night. 

[Oh Mah]

Looks like peeled sticks to me. I have had good luck with cottonwood sticks for bait. Beaver love cottonwood and poplar.

yes sir i figured it was sticks was very interested in what type of sticks baited this beaver into an obvious trap. 

are beaver a smart animal or a dumb one?

will beaver walk up their slides or do they use a different route?

do you put the castor in the trap or by it?trying everything to get a beaver to commit to my trap.

[Mt.Beaver]

 I have used this setup for otters in a marina and it works fine. But that is a controlled situation behind locked gates. I have enough swim throughs and Hancocks that I can conceal better in areas less secure.  My preference for beaver is a special permit and a #330.