2023/2024 Trapping Thread

[mn taxidermist]

I'm getting anxious to set some beaver traps. We had 10 inches of snow a couple of days ago so hoping we get some water from that. Our rivers and creeks are very low. I trap mainly 2 year old beaver that are traveling to find a new home in the spring, and it's better with higher water.

 

[Nameless Range]

Couple more today with my sons. Pretty fun - for them and for me.

 

[Sask hunter]

Two fishers at once on a dead cow. Of course they showed up once season ended lol

 

[Sask hunter]

Like most I’m anxious to get traps out in the spring. Most of the spots are too ice covered still but managed 6 traps set. In a bout a week we should be ice free and prime time

 

[MITCHMO]

Like most I’m anxious to get traps out in the spring. Most of the spots are too ice covered still but managed 6 traps set. In a bout a week we should be ice free and prime time

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I really struggle to catch them at the top of the dam. Always a kit beaver seems like. Curious why you didn’t put it at the bottom in the fast water. Looks narrow. Too deep?

 

[Sask hunter]

I really struggle to catch them at the top of the dam. Always a kit beaver seems like. Curious why you didn’t put it at the bottom in the fast water. Looks narrow. Too deep?

I have never had that issue before. The water was really booming. Sometimes on a real busy pond I’ll set the top and bottom of the crossover. Normally I don’t set dam crossovers till the water settles down. For now I’ll set the crossover but as soon as it becomes ice free I’ll switch all my 330’s to castor mounds and throw 220’s on the crossover for otters. The really good crossover was on the far side of the dam but I can’t get there without drowning

 

[Sask hunter]

In a 330 crossing a dam. Pretty slow start. Educated one also by forgetting one safety on

 

[Sask hunter]

24 coyotes and 1 beaver headed to FHA tomorrow. Debated holding the beaver to sell to GFW on the 19th but the ice is taking forever to leave so I might not get enough beavers to even warrant them drive to see him the 19th.

 

[Sask hunter]

Yesterdays catch. Set a 220 on a dam crossover where I figured most likely wouldn’t be any beavers. The smaller beaver is the one I think I educated by forgetting a safety on my 330 as he was in the same spot but none of the traps were disturbed. He may have been wise to traps but he wasn’t to a 17. Going to try and get my last 8 traps out tomorrow and move a few to new locations. Then it looks like it supposed to snow and freeze up for a couple days starting Monday.

 

[Sask hunter]

Todays catch. Set another 8 traps and pulled four. Tomorrow I should have all 21 traps out. The two year olds are slowly starting to run on the creek.

 

[Sask hunter]

Slow day today

 

[Sask hunter]

5 beavers and a rat today. Also included is the two beavers i shot last night

 

[Sask hunter]

No pictures as I had to move my drying beavers inside as it started to rain so all of a sudden I have 13 beavers laying on my garage floor. Shot three last night and trapped four this morning. Brings me up to 25. Which is half way to my goal and the two year olds haven’t even started running very good yet. Unfortunately we have a snow storm and freezing temps moving in so they will really slow the catch till it starts to warm up Saturday

 

[Pahoundsman]

Do you harvest the castor as well?

 

[Sask hunter]

Do you harvest the castor as well?

Yes I do and sell some carcasses to bear baiters. I keep about the first 20 for myself

 

[Sask hunter]

The days catch. The otter was a surprise in the middle of nowhere beaver pond. Surprise I caught this many with the cold snow and ice over the past three days. Starts to warm up a bit today and better tomorrow so hopefully things pick up

 

[Infraredice]

I think it’s time for the annual trapping thread!

I got a call from a farmer a couple weeks ago that needed help with some beavers. I finally found time to set some traps last week on Friday and on Saturday my son and my nephew came along to help me do the first check.

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Sunday I did another check with my two kiddos. No photos because the only thing that found it’s way into a trap were the 4 fingers of my right hand into a 330.

Today I did another check. My dam breaks from Sunday went un-repaired and no beavers trapped. My bet is that I got them all that first night. The farmer was happy and I left with a box of burger and steaks. I did pick up a nice bonus otter as I was pulling traps. Overall a pleasant way to start the trapping season.

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My neighbor has a couple beaver that need trapping so I may get those in the next few weeks as I find time. He also just restocked a pond with fish that the otters cleaned out last year, so the kids and I will try our best to protect it. In December I’ll head up north with the family for, what has become, our annual marten trip.

Let’s see those trapping photos and hear some stories!

Not a trapper, but those kids had fun for sure

 

[Infraredice]

The days catch. The otter was a surprise in the middle of nowhere beaver pond. Surprise I caught this many with the cold snow and ice over the past three days. Starts to warm up a bit today and better tomorrow so hopefully things pick up
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I didnt know beavers were this much of a problem, dont see many of em down here

 

[Sask hunter]

I didnt know beavers were this much of a problem, dont see many of em down here

I’ll probably catch 50 this spring. Quite a few around here. With the freeze thaw we have had crappy weather for spring trapping

 

[Infraredice]

Thats

I’ll probably catch 50 this spring. Quite a few around here. With the freeze thaw we have had crappy weather for spring trapping

Thats crazy, ive never even see one here, are they a nuisance or are you trappin em for sport?