|
Post by happersilderness on Mar 18, 2011 7:17:10 GMT -5
When your spring beaver trapping what sign do you look for? Im gonna be trying for them in ditches and creeks leading into lakes what sign would I look for there.
|
|
|
Post by minnesotascott on Mar 18, 2011 8:38:59 GMT -5
Happer, look for any new scent/castor mounds,fresh peeled sticks, muddy run that lead to the trees. By this time of year the feed beds have gotten sour. The beaver will be looking for fresh bark to eat.
|
|
|
Post by MNCedar on Mar 18, 2011 13:42:58 GMT -5
I'm not an expert....
But get used to the concept of "TRAVELING" beaver.
Many of the beaver I caught last spring were in sets that had very little if any beaver sign.
Rivers, streams and creeks close to rivers, and any water that has or has the high potential of having a beaver swim through it.
They are hungry....and roaming around in new territories.
Keep otter avoidance in mind. Otters will investigate castor in the spring, so use judgement.
|
|
|
Post by bill1958 on Mar 18, 2011 14:13:59 GMT -5
I'm not an expert.... But get used to the concept of "TRAVELING" beaver. Many of the beaver I caught last spring were in sets that had very little if any beaver sign. Rivers, streams and creeks close to rivers, and any water that has or has the high potential of having a beaver swim through it. They are hungry....and roaming around in new territories. Keep otter avoidance in mind. Otters will investigate castor in the spring, so use judgement. i agree with that statement 100% if you trap large rivers and creeks or even ditches that feed in to the water ways you will very seldom have to move a trap in the spring as this is when the beaver is on the move looking for new homes ,food and mates
|
|
|
Post by bigtwinhd on Mar 18, 2011 22:31:52 GMT -5
We are just getting to the point that the ice is breaking up. Beavers don't seem to be moving at all yet. I set up one house 3 days ago where they had broken up the thin ice in front and actually crawled up on the house. I figured easy pickens, right? Nope. I have to stay 10' from an active house by law and I'll be danged if they aren't going that far. In all fairness I am using a castor based lure. Tomorrow I'll switch it up with some poplar bud oil but still have atleast one or two castor sets close by.
In another spot there is probably 1/3 mile or so between 2 houses that I trapped this winter using snare poles. The ice is still mostly intact there and my footholds with drowners are at corners in the stream where the water opens up first. Still, no luck yet. They seem to be checking out the daylight but not roaming far.
My theory, and that's about all it is, is that with the ice still quite intact predators travel the flowages and the beavers don't quite feel safe going to far. Or maybe not seeing the sun for 5 months affected them. Not sure really. They'll be traveling soon.
|
|