no castor mounds

[h2ofwl4]

Accomplished beaver trapper using conibears and legholds now getting into cage in trapping.  Scouting and finding plenty of beaver sign but no castor mounds.  Small creeks plenty of work on the trees.  Any ideas?  Also plenty of bottom edge trails that are 3-5 feet below the water surface.  Thanks

[Magnum_Willys]

Haven't used cages, assumed you would set them just like a coniber ?  Make your own castor mound, create or use a channel with stakes on the sides. ?  Pic of your first set ?

[UrbanTrapper]

I'd use Koro/Hancock traps with a peeled stick with castor on it for bait on the bank near the cut trees and in the bottom edge trails use double door swim through cages that BearTrap, Humptulips, and others make or Comstock traps.  You can also use big cage traps (14 x 14 x 42 or larger) baited with castor on the banks but most cage traps on the market are too weak to hold a good-sized beaver for 24 hours and need serious reinforcing.

[Humptulips]

 

The one thing I would differ with is using the Hancock/Koro traps. They do work but the cost of them is out of a lot of peoples budget plus I have seen a tremendous amount of fur damage from beaver caught in Hancock/Koro traps. Never used them myself so maybe someone could chime in on the damage aspect, if it is avoidable.

[h2ofwl4]

6 nights of trapping with castor based lures and nothing.  Sign everywhere.  I usually don't start trapping beaver til end of January when castor lures work very well.  Switching to food based poplar/birch lure.