Post by: kirkdekalb on February 26, 2013, 04:09:53 PM
Used different sized cages and put the mound kinda in the center. Wanted to see how they responded. Also used an experimental lure, but I have caught beaver with it before. Set the traps in the order I thought would be most productive. Set the shorter less open cages in a higher situation on the ends. All are double doored except the one in the middle. The largest trap has no spring loaded door. Set a primos camera on set.
I think I will catch at least one over the next two days. I believe there is a good chance of catching multiples. I just wish I had used some fresh castor.
(http://)
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on February 26, 2013, 04:25:03 PM
Post by: singleshot12 on February 26, 2013, 04:38:49 PM
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on February 26, 2013, 04:59:10 PM
Post by: kirkdekalb on February 26, 2013, 05:15:51 PM
I think there is about a 30% chance of catching 4. Believe it depends on whether I catch one of the dominent male or dominent female as to the multiples.
A negative, the wind was blowing from the pond to the land. I believe this could make the beaver come up on land and circle instead of coming right in.
You see it as I do. We just got a lot of rain, so the beaver should be active.
Post by: madmack76 on February 26, 2013, 05:16:48 PM
Post by: Humptulips on February 26, 2013, 05:54:39 PM
Post by: onetrapper on February 26, 2013, 06:07:37 PM
Post by: fast60eddie on February 26, 2013, 08:49:26 PM
Post by: dscubame on February 26, 2013, 08:53:26 PM
Post by: CementFinisher on February 27, 2013, 05:51:04 AM
Post by: brianmtsinc on February 27, 2013, 06:25:27 AM
Good luck! :tup:
Post by: jackmaster on February 27, 2013, 06:51:18 AM
Post by: 100 grain on February 27, 2013, 07:05:09 AM
Post by: Bigshooter on February 27, 2013, 04:12:45 PM
Post by: kirkdekalb on February 27, 2013, 04:22:06 PM
The wind is not projected to change for several days. If I don,t catch anything in three days, there is a pocket that is Ideal for a scent set with a cage on the property corner.That is the set I would have made if I hadn,t had cages available and if I was trapping normally.
I have made similiar sets like this but only with two cages this close together with snares and footholds next to them( unless I was setting den holes.I have found multiples are common when using live sets close together. Seems to throw of their awareness.
Seems to some times it takes a day or two for the animal to get acustom and come investigate a set that really stands out unless it looks a little more natural. A least what I have found.
Post by: pnwmtnmn on February 27, 2013, 04:33:01 PM
Post by: kirkdekalb on February 27, 2013, 04:35:31 PM
I hope I can measure up, and fit in.
Post by: pnwmtnmn on February 27, 2013, 04:38:06 PM
Post by: kirkdekalb on February 27, 2013, 04:40:39 PM
Post by: 3nails on February 27, 2013, 06:13:30 PM
Post by: CementFinisher on February 27, 2013, 10:45:35 PM
Post by: kirkdekalb on February 28, 2013, 05:38:33 PM
Pulled the camera cards from two cameras. Nothing not even a coon. Wind will be from the lake to the land for at least the next 4 days. Our beaver are not as aggressive and active as cold weather states or even the middle of our state.
Got access to the beaver house today and the two over flow pipes in the pond. The house looks like it is a pair with the four they had last year. Only one hole is accessable, about 4' under water. Would be easy with a 4' extention and conibear,but I will try a cage trap. Just might set the over flows first.
There is not a lot of beaver activity at the two over flow pipes. There is some indication of a "fort". Looks like I might need to find out who's kids before I set a cage.
It looks like I will be able to set a double guillotine doored trap perpindictular to the pipe and a wide mouthed trap with scent in the back on the other pipe.Here is a picture of an older trap that would work with a pan trigger if set in shallow water. This trap is 15" wide, 4' long with gravity doors with wire trigger. The key is a door at least 15" wide , a door height of at least 14", frame height of at least 16". You can use a shorter trap if the doors are faster with a narrower width. At least that is what I have found. I would think a double doored trap like one of shroeders would work in this situation in shallow water even though it has no wire trigger. At least this is based on what I have found.
Post by: kirkdekalb on February 28, 2013, 05:48:43 PM
Beaver has to enter cage to patch the dam. I use sticks wired to the cage to stablize the trap.
Post by: kirkdekalb on March 01, 2013, 03:52:56 AM
My son had his traps up and just put out sets for beaver. I ask him what he caught. Nothing. He had a little over 15 sets at several locations using foot holds and body grips.
It got me thinking this morning.
I have forgotten what the date is.
Here, the beaver hang close to the den and are not very active just before they have the new years bunch and just after. Some years they are early - some they are later, but they usually have their young in a time frame which is the week before march 7 or the week after.
There are very few or almost no small knawed sticks. Saw about 6-7 Knawed trees and they were large, yesterday.
Possible it is a pair and they are just not too active due to the time of the year.
If I don,t catch at the over flow and depending what I catch at the house- it will tell me.
If this is the case It will explain the lack of activity.
Post by: CementFinisher on March 01, 2013, 06:01:05 AM
Post by: kirkdekalb on March 02, 2013, 03:36:28 AM
The other trap has same tuf of grass in it with lure. May have put too much angle on large trap. It is old and best set more level.
Now have access to the areas of the pond I need. Met the children and their parents. They are expecting a beaver this morning. Should happen, but could miss. Turned out they were aware I had been asked to come and were wanting to see.
Set three cameras. So if I miss we can see what happened.
Beaver patched pipes the night before. Every time i have had a situation like this i have caught beaver.
May have to remove cameras today to prevent theft. Got there last night just before dark.
Post by: kirkdekalb on March 02, 2013, 07:30:09 AM
Took one camera out.
I have no other sets out. Will make other sets after I see what this does.
Post by: onetrapper on March 02, 2013, 08:46:36 AM
Like the way you set the traps partially in the water. Looking forward to next year already but may set a few today close to home. Really like these new swim thrus you made for me. Darryl
Post by: kirkdekalb on March 03, 2013, 10:47:25 AM
Set a 12 x12 swim through on main hole out of house. Water was 5' deep and mirky. There was not good access to hole and I set with potato rake. May set taller trap on hole tommorrow. Hole is tall , guillotine door would help to get beaver to stay on bottom coming out of or going into den hole in this situation.
Personally the taller trap shouldn,t make a difference if I could just see the set with clear water, or if the water were more shallow to where i could feel the area with my hands and place blocking. Any of the currently made swim throughs I have seen should work well.
This is the only location I have traps presently. My son only caught 0ne beaver yesterday, so again it may be the time of year, here.
He doesn,t have many sets out and the locations have already had some beaver removed. He is using drown sets with slide wires and under water conibear sets. He said the beaver are not coming to dam breaks every day for him, either.
Post by: kirkdekalb on March 05, 2013, 05:28:11 PM
Raised the larger trap up to make it more open looking to the beaver. Pushed sticks in on side and tied with wire to raise trap. Now there is 6 " or more of clearence on the door. This also allowed a better shot for the beaver at the running water going through the back of the trap. Should intice him more.
Used a fruity lure given tome to try in both traps.. Traps had no indication that the beaver went in. Camera had one take. Put another camera on set. Raining right now. Maybe tommorrow will be the day.
Talked to a homeowner on lake and he said they had never seen more than one beaver.
Misplaced camera or I would have taken picture of activity.
Been asked to go to a place I caught out the beaver 3 years ago. Home owner said they just came back recently. Was a good place for cage sets. Will try and see tommorrow, if I get a chance. Will post pictures. Some type of swim through should work, set on a run to patch dam. Will try and set to where we can see the catch on camera.
Post by: kirkdekalb on March 06, 2013, 06:13:56 AM
Was a two year old beaver.
He was caught in the larger trap.
Will try and download one video.
Was able to upload video I have. Notice the stick on the front of trap. I did this to raise trap to make it more level and inviting for the beaver.
Here is link: Catch- Half a second after the door comes down (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSizLKP_iPY#)
Post by: kirkdekalb on March 06, 2013, 10:58:59 AM
Here is a picture of overflow without traps and if I know how to post- picture after traps are set. The trap on the left has a 16" door height and is setting on a shelf and is 12" wide. The trap in the middle is 14 inches wide with a 14" door height. The trap on right is 12x12. I set traps side by side to see if I could catch two and to see which they would enter first. I set them out of the water thinking if I catch one live, should help catch more. I believe I have the best chance of catching one in the trap on the far left.I put lure so that I might have a better chance of them swimming through the traps.
Water was deep enough for an under water set with a 12" swim through in the main channel, if I had chose to. Set two cameras.
I put a mound of debri on wall with scent from the beaver I caught today. Wind is swirling enough, the scent should make it to the pond.Hopefully they will investigate the scent and not put debri in traps or go around.
Post by: brianmtsinc on March 06, 2013, 06:14:27 PM
Post by: kirkdekalb on March 15, 2013, 12:56:24 PM
Then went to a place where I had trapped three years before (land owner just called)and caught beaver in cages. Set a round swim through in pipe and blocked off other side. Set trap in side that had most water depth. put a stick through bottom of trap to keep from sliding out if beaver gets in it.Trap is 35" long.I believe any 12" swim through would catch the beaver.
Used no lure at sets. We only have a couple of days before the turtles start moving. They are a problem on the pipe set on warm days.
Post by: kirkdekalb on March 17, 2013, 08:20:55 AM
Post by: dbfalls on March 17, 2013, 03:17:34 PM
Post by: kirkdekalb on March 18, 2013, 11:51:39 AM
Post by: kirkdekalb on March 20, 2013, 05:18:09 PM
Cost too much to fool with until beaver get active again. Asked landowner to call when they start to repair dam again.
Don,t Have time to trap now and fur is no good.
Post by: hardkorrhunter on March 20, 2013, 10:33:12 PM
Post by: kirkdekalb on March 21, 2013, 03:02:22 AM
From March until November human scent and human activity is very much noticed by the beaver. Water temp gets to be so warm the beaver will avoid the shallow, stagnant, sun baked water and stay in bank dens and deep water where it is cool. Even with a 24 hr check the smell of a dead beaver in summer is quite rank and I have a terrible ability to smell.
We have little or no winter kill so they are not moving very far, thus less active than other areas of the country.
Beaver here don,t bite each other as much as other states or further north in this state.You see blood on a beaver here or bite marks, there is a better chance a bobcat or coyote got to it, than another beaver. That in itself is an example of very lessened activity.
Because they respond that way, having a 24 hr check means you have a less percentage of catch per set.With 4 dollar gas it may cost you much more to check your traps during the warm months, that you can get paid to catch them(most of the time).
My son trapped to pay his way through school. He was just further north in the same state. Many times he stated how much easier it was to catch the beaver in the counties he was trapping.
Temperature, especially water temperture, is a big factor.
People think when they watch my videos there is a beaver behind very tree. If there was, there would be another making a "Catching the Numbers " video in Georgia and have it for sale at Cabela's.
Post by: kirkdekalb on March 21, 2013, 11:48:00 AM
Something you may not know. Snappers don,t have to be bred every year. Once the turtle is bred and is fertile, she can be fertile for many years without ever seeing another male. That fact was not allowed in setting turtle regulations in our state. I suggested no limit on males except maybe size. They said no, was too risky. One grower I was told by another grower, with a pond full of females, you can go over 8 years.
One of the largest killers of smaller snapping turtles are large males. You want more snappers, including the much smaller females, you harvest the large males.
Post by: Austrian Hunter on March 21, 2013, 12:13:56 PM
Here is a picture of one of the small female snappers I caught. Once you start catching female snappers the smell will linger and draw additional turtles to the set.
Something you may not know. Snappers don,t have to be bred every year. Once the turtle is bred and is fertile, she can be fertile for many years without ever seeing another male. That fact was not allowed in setting turtle regulations in our state. I suggested no limit on males except maybe size. They said no, was too risky. One grower I was told by another grower, with a pond full of females, you can go over 8 years.
One of the largest killers of smaller snapping turtles are large males. You want more snappers, including the much smaller females, you harvest the large males.
Cool, what do you do with the snappers?? Soup??
Post by: kirkdekalb on March 21, 2013, 12:51:16 PM
The yearly harvest level of most species now is what I was catching in a week.
Post by: kirkdekalb on March 25, 2013, 12:45:32 PM
Post by: CementFinisher on March 25, 2013, 04:44:59 PM
Post by: kirkdekalb on March 25, 2013, 06:15:17 PM
Have come up with several new designs for coon traps recently. Made one yesterday. Unlike others in the size of the trap. They are very small and can catch the largest coon. They are less than half the size of a standard coon trap. Coon is not scrunged up when caught.
Can put quite a few in a truck. Got to test more and see if I can make better and less expensive.
I want to trap, but I keep coming up with these ideas. Maybe hair brained. I am afraid if I don,t make them, I will forget.
Personally, from what I have seen, there are many on this forum with the same problem. I think we all want to do something about it, but the money is just not there to follow the brain as fast as we would like. Paying the bills gets in the way.
Post by: Smossy on March 25, 2013, 06:33:10 PM
It has always been a good trap.Customer last year bought 9 and caught 162 coon and possum in 6 wks. He was catching doubles many nights in a row. He owns a plantation in Lee county Ga. He baited with peanuts and peanut butter he got as seconds from a processor. Teena that works for me has caught over 100 in hers in the last three years. Just setting more than one trap, when you know there are several coons coming to a location, makes a big difference also.Sounds like you know a thing or two about trapping, Ive been considering joining the trappers association and getting myself an additional hobby. What would be my best bet for approaching this?
Have come up with several new designs for coon traps recently. Made one yesterday. Unlike others in the size of the trap. They are very small and can catch the largest coon. They are less than half the size of a standard coon trap. Coon is not scrunged up when caught.
Can put quite a few in a truck. Got to test more and see if I can make better and less expensive.
I want to trap, but I keep coming up with these ideas. Maybe hair brained. I am afraid if I don,t make them, I will forget.
Personally, from what I have seen, there are many on this forum with the same problem. I think we all want to do something about it, but the money is just not there to follow the brain as fast as we would like. Paying the bills gets in the way.
Post by: kirkdekalb on March 26, 2013, 04:05:29 AM
If you can, go to a National Convention. NTA, FTA (take your wife, she will have a good time)
Each region is a little different, learn what works for you where your trapping.
Look for good and you will find it.
My children are all grown and each has a college degree and a professional title. Trapping played a large part in not only getting them to that point, but molding them to a better understanding of reality.
A good place to start would be the 3nails post, showing his catches. You can,t beat his example and some that answered, responded, or participated.
Post by: kirkdekalb on April 12, 2013, 04:23:58 PM
The second picture is the catch.
The third picture is of a guillotine doored trap set in 24" of water on the run to the right of picture.
Post by: 3nails on April 12, 2013, 04:42:03 PM
Post by: kirkdekalb on April 13, 2013, 11:16:42 AM
Don,t rule out opportunity's on land.
We have no closed season on beaver. They are very destructive.
Post by: 3nails on April 13, 2013, 11:43:27 AM
Post by: kirkdekalb on April 13, 2013, 03:45:48 PM
I have permission to trap there, I just didn't want to fight the snakes. I am not as young as you are.
My son caught quite a few beaver this winter about 1/2 mile further down. There is a series of irrigation ponds there.
This big pond irrigates quite a bit of land. The man that owns the pond has a land clearing business and dug the pond beside my house. He also was instrumental in my being the beaver trapper for the county south of there which was 16 years ago. He called me and ask me to come. I waited until I had more locations to trap in that area.The county pays me to catch them in the form of a bounty. The other county has a different arrangement with us cause they will only pay me to trap at select drainages where they affect the roads.
Post by: kirkdekalb on April 13, 2013, 04:10:59 PM
I posted this so I could show you something. Notice how far the scent mound is up on the bank. I did this so I wouldn't catch a none target smelling the lure. If I did it another way, which would have the mound closer to the water, I could catch a coon or another animal circling the mound smelling the lure. Also set the trap in 8" of water to get a back foot catch. Also what you don,t see is the wind has been toward the water. This set is right beside a road.
There are other ways to make safer sets using conventional methods. Too bad most states don,t teach or even know the methods.