Beaver Trapping Basics

Why beaver

Beaver trapping is part fur harvest and part problem solving. Landowners, municipalities and road crews often want beaver removed because of flooding, plugged culverts and cut trees. That makes beaver a good way to earn permission on new ground.

Reading the colony

• Fresh cuttings: bright, light-coloured wood on stumps and branches means active beaver. Grey, weathered cuts are old.
• Feed pile: in fall, beaver build a pile of branches near the lodge for winter. A fresh feed pile means the colony is active and staying.
• Lodge: a dome of sticks and mud, often with fresh mud on top in fall.
• Dams: fresh mud and sticks mean it's being maintained.
• Slides and runs: worn paths from the water up the bank, and trails along the bottom.
• Castor mounds: small piles of mud and debris on the bank that beaver scent-mark. Great set locations.

Choosing set locations

• Runs and channels: where beaver travel underwater between the lodge, the feed pile and the dam.
• Dam crossings: where they cross over or work on the dam. A small break in the dam brings beaver to repair it.
• Slides and trails: where they climb out onto the bank.
• Castor mounds: with a little castor-based lure.
• Under the ice: near the feed pile and along runs, after freeze-up.

Body-grip sets

The large body-grip (330 size is common) is the standard beaver trap in many areas, set squarely in a run, channel or dam crossing so the beaver swims through it. Stake it firmly so it can't twist or move. Use dive sticks above the trap to guide the beaver under and into it.

Foothold sets

Large footholds at castor mounds and slides work well with a drowning setup that takes the beaver to deep water quickly. Check your regulations, because drowning rules and trap sizes for beaver vary.

Safety with large body-grips

A 330 body-grip is powerful enough to break bones in your hand. Treat it with respect every time.

• Always use a setting tool and the safety catch while you place the trap.
• Never put your hands between the jaws.
• Carry a pair of setting tongs or a release tool in case you need to open one.
• Many areas restrict large body-grips on land or require them to be submerged. Follow the rules, and think about dogs and people even where it's legal.

Handling beaver

Beaver are heavy, and pulling one out of cold water at the end of a long morning is hard work. Have a plan for getting them to the truck. Beaver can be skinned and stretched round on a board or a hoop. Castor glands and the meat have value too, so ask your fur buyer.

Respect the colony

Trap pressure on a colony matters. Many trappers leave some beaver in a colony they're harvesting for fur rather than for nuisance control, so the pond stays productive. Your regulations or registered trapline rules may set limits or quotas.

Keep a record

Beaver sets are often spread around a pond and hard to relocate under snow or after the water rises. Mark every one in Sprung Trapline, and note the colony on the property so next season you know which ponds held beaver.

Check your regulations for beaver seasons, legal trap types and sizes, submersion rules and any registered trapline requirements in your area.