Beaver doing damage

Rubberhead* · 06-15-2022, 08:38 AM

So, at the deer club, we've got a beaver or two that have finally gone too far and the alligator has been no help thus far.

There's a big, deep ditch that cuts through the property and some man-made clay pits in the middle of the property. The beavers seem to come and go often using the ditch but will spend a couple of days around the clay pits then disappear for a while (about a 50 yard walk across land to get from the ditch to the clay pits). From the clay pits they climb out and cut trees in all directions. There doesn't seem to be one major beaver slide that they're using so I don't know where to start.

I do notice that once they start on a tree they will usually return within a day or two to finish it. I'm thinking a leg-hold trap near a half-finished tree. Thoughts?

Can beavers be baited or is it best to just put a trap in a high use area? Is scent control a big deal?

**Bownut** · 06-15-2022, 08:41 AM

Shotgun, buckshot, flashlight. Get there 45 minutes before dark and wait.

There are more than you think.

**barrineau** · 06-15-2022, 08:53 AM

Go to there dam just before dark and tear it up enough to get a little water flowing and when they come to fix it give them a dose of 00 buckshot

**Catdaddy** · 06-15-2022, 08:56 AM

Probably 7 beavers

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**CUduckreeper** · 06-15-2022, 09:17 AM

Beavers can be baited or at least there are different lures you can use to attract them. The most common being castor lure used in a castor mound set. However this is done to trigger a territorial response from the beaver and I don't know if it works in the summer time or not. The best bet is always to set in where the animals are already going and not try to bring them to you. I don't believe scent control is an issue when trapping beavers. You need a really big leg hold trap to have good odds of a back foot catch on a beaver, most people use either a mb-750 or ts-85 size trap. A well placed foothold on a drowner is hard to beat for beaver. I also like to use snares a lot. A "loaded" snare is what I prefer. Most of the time if you miss him with a snare he never knew you were there. All that being said, Bownut's idea is probably the easiest.

**cajunwannabe** · 06-15-2022, 10:03 AM

Break dam, sit and shoot. Full moon will make it even easier to spot them without a light.

Folks have left a tape recorder of water running sounds and beavers have buried the recorder. Worlds best civil engineers.

**JABIII** · 06-15-2022, 10:10 AM

You had to suffer all the crazy Benny. Might as well take advantage of the killer Benny, too...

https://www.amazon.com/First-Press-B.../dp/B009AKFD6W

**SaltMuck** · 06-15-2022, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by Bownut

Shotgun, buckshot, flashlight. Get there 45 minutes before dark and wait.

There are more than you think.

Yep. Bright lights and .22 bullets work way faster than traps.

**Whackumstackum** · 06-15-2022, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by SaltMuck

Yep. Bright lights and .22 bullets work way faster than traps.

For about 2 days……

**Whackumstackum** · 06-15-2022, 12:27 PM

And you have to have a permit to trap them this time of year.

**BigBrother** · 06-15-2022, 12:32 PM

I'd suggest conibear instead of a leg hold.

**scquackaddict** · 06-15-2022, 02:20 PM

There are more than you think. Good luck. My trapper caught 14 out of one ditch year before last. Also it generally only fixes the problem for 9 months to a year. That being said conibear trap is probably the best option or shooting if you have time.

**everlast** · 06-15-2022, 04:29 PM

**Frank1** · 06-18-2022, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by SaltMuck

Yep. Bright lights and .22 bullets work way faster than traps.

#2 buckshot and a full moon after you break the dam late in the evening

**willk** · 06-18-2022, 09:47 PM

Snares are a good option as well if there is a well defined travel line or slides.

**Sportin' Woodies** · 06-18-2022, 10:58 PM

Conibears could be a problem if you've got a friendly midget swimming around in your pond

**Tigerbdog** · 06-18-2022, 11:48 PM

Is there such a thing as a friendly midget who trespasses?

I vote conibears, as I’ve had great success with them. If you don’t find a good slide or two, find a drainage pipe or something similar. I’ve hammered them in the last 18 months without looking for slides and concentrating on funnels of water.