Open Water Beaver Snaring: Spring

[Snareman]

Hey Guys!

Who is going to be doing some beaver snaring this spring? Or is perhaps some of you already snaring in open water? I'm froze in here and won't be able to open water snare until later March.

What kind of sets to you mostly utilize?

What kind of lure and snare set up do you use?

Any other misc. info. like loop size and height, etc, would be helpful.

If perhaps you could share one set in detail start to finish, that would be cool.

Snareman

[redclaytrapper]

I set trails and runs exclusively in the sprimg. I find lure not as attractive but fresh growth, trees budding and beaver trails leading to them are my surefire sets. I also set snares on drowners and hang several in one trail. Caught 2 in a 5 foot slide over the weekend snares were set at each end of the slide. when one goes down the wire the trail is ready for the next beav. ;D

[Snareman]

redclaytrapper says Caught 2 in a 5 foot slide over the weekend snares were set at each end of the slide. when one goes down the wire the trail is ready for the next beav.

Hey! I'm having a hard time envisioning your setup here, but sounds interesting. Could you maybe explain a little more so I get get a better picture of this setup? I use drowner rigs, so I understand that part, but not the 2 thing.

Snareman

[yottey]

I caught a 40 pounder at a culvert today!Drowned in 2 1/2 feet of water.Drive 2 poles in where they cross to form a 'X'wire in the center and atatch snares at center of X add suport wires facing in at top of X and snares 1/3 out of water with 8-10 inch loop and you'll catch every beaver that swims thru, when caught they keep wrapping around x untill they drown when they wrap around lower legs of X! yottey

[levesque]

Yottey , is your snare above or below your "X" ?

[Snareman]

Hey Yottey!

You know, as I started reading your post, I started to grin because I thought to myself "That's the same thing I do", but then saw it is not.

That's a slick idea, never quite thought of it that way. I have a method where I set a 5' to 7' snare, then have 2 rebars/rerods forming an "X", but in deeper water. The 2 bars will form an "X", but the center of the "X" will be near the bottom... so that when beaver gets caught, they arc the area and wrap up under water at that "X". Beaver can drown in some shallow water like that. If poles are not long enough or shoved in right, beaver can pull them up easily in loon poop like there are in some spots around here.

Your idea is slick, thanks!

Snareman

[yottey]

The snares are to the inside of the X near the top!Never had poles pulled yet and I drown lots of beaver in 2 feet of water that way if any curent at all when beaver start wrapping it actually tightens up at x where snare crosses !Here is one thing don't forget your cable cutters as it is almost imposable to pull X up to remove beaver without cutting cable! I used crosed rebar years ago but got tierd carying the extra weight and we are only limited to 5 foot snares in water.Don

[blackkettle]

Ilike a variation of aset i saw in f.f.g. i get a pole from a lodge/dam and find a stump/tree and drive the pole,wrist size or bigger 10"or so away from the stump,and like to have 2'above the water line,then i attach my support wire to stump or pole and hang snare with 1/3 above water and use a castor lure with other ingre.(dont know if its proper to say the brand but it has horse in its name)and put lure 12"-18" above water on the lodgepole,i try not to disturb a occupied lodge.this set has never let me down for spring beaver,and have caught beaver that were to big/sly to enter a body grip.best to all Blackkettle

[levesque]

I will be heading out for spring beaver soon if the snow ever stops ! LOL I used to be a front foot beaver trapper exclusively but since I started snaring - no reason to use anything else for beaver . Will be trying a new drowning system this spring and I think it will be awsome.

[T2B]

I like to use snares anywhere I used to use 330's. Less weight and the outcome is the same. Dead beaver. I drown all my beaver either on sliders or drowning stakes. I am just learning the drowners real well and like them alot more than the sliders myself. I always have at least two swivels in the snare to keep damage down, and have had a few times I could re-use the snare.

[MChewk]

I use a 5-7 foot well swiveled snare in front of castor mounds. I anchor in deep water with t-bar. Simple,,,also won't hesitate to set up slides where beav are feeding

[T2B]

Just another set I use on the rivers here.

I get a large log and tie it or stake it parralell to the river bank about 18 inches out. (make sure it can rise and fall with the water level) hang a snare off both ends of the log between log and bank, and make a large castor mound toward the middle of the log, but up on the bank. I have taken many many dbls. with this set. I have had fair to middlin success on creeks with it to. For some reason it aint much good on lakes or ponds.

[steven49er]

What amount of damage do you guys get snaring spring beavers with sliders and drowning entanglement? More with one than the other?

I have always been a conibear and foothold beaver trapper in the spring. I am getting tired of damage from conibears. Am thinking snares are the way to go if they work like they do through the ice. Almost never any damage.

MY biggest problem would be alot the lakes and ponds around here have gently slopping banks and it can be hard to find more than 2 to 3 feet of water within fifteen feet of the bank. I want to drown them as I dont always get to check every day.

[levesque]

check out the stingers post and read about the beaver killed with 1/16th cable .

[cedarrivertrapper]

I really want to find some beavers in my area to snare. My cousin that lives about 12 miles away has more beavers than he can handle. And he has 2 330's and a foothold. I'm trying to convince him that he HAS to use snares. He doesn't want to try 'em because he's never used any before. But this spring he is going to be Spring Beaver Trapping, so I'm gonna go along with him for a day and I'm going to take a few snares and set some for him and let him see the results that they have on the flattails. And after that I'm hoping he will be hooked on the snares, instead of lugging around the heavy and expensive 330's in his kayak. And because he is short on his trappin money he will like that they are cheaper too!
Kyle M.