Those Dam Beavers!!

@TheIceman Thanks. The spotlight situation took some adjusting on the fly. When I had it with the ScanPro when I went to look through the scope the light wasn’t aligned with the animal. Then switched on my torch which I am not able to use with my pressure switch on and tried to steady myself to take the shot. It seems that the beavers first use grasses and weeds to begin their patch work.
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After this one was shot I think they called it quits on the dam for the night. The other two holes were still flowing this morning. After I recovered the body I cleared out the grass from the largest hole and the water rushed out once again.
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You also asked me to share somethings that I learned. One things for sure, when I go into the woods it’s common to come back itching from something. One the night of my first set I placed my backpack on the ground for a few hours in some ferns. While I was posted I had what I assumed to have been mosquitos flying all around me on my hands. Trying not to move much I took most of the bites. However, when I left I put my rifle in my pack, threw it over my shoulders and walked out. When I got in for the night I felt a tick crawling on me. The next day I had flea bite like bumps on my hands and arms. They’re still going away. I don’t know what caused them, but this time out I sprayed my clothes with insect repellent and out some on my face, neck, and hands. When I returned last night I didn’t have any bites on me. Oh yea I hunted with my backpack on my back the entire set. I didn’t take time to locate a sturdy enough branch to hang it from, so I just wore it until I left.
I turn the leg of my pants up and spray the inside about 6 inches , keeps unwanted pests out .
 
just added protection is all ,
Maybe next trip carry a plastic trash bag to put you back pack in before you set it down ?
@beerthief That’s not a bad idea. The only things is that I don’t like to make a lot of noise coming and going. I also thought about setting some tarpaulin on the ground to set the pack on top of. I’m getting used to hunting with my pack on. I would’ve liked to have sat down, but the banks are so soft a chair would sink into the mud. It almost pulled my boots off several times. Once it felt like what I imagine thick quicksand would feel like. I am in need of a good wetlands hunting chair with wide feet. It will also come in handy hog hunting in muddy bottoms.
 
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5 gallon bucket with the lid on for a seat...a duckhunters marsh gunning tip. Not much that bucket will sink into and you can use it to haul gear. Even better if it's one of those fancy screw top lids.

Trapping beaver is laborious hard work that I really enjoy during the fall/winter/spring. Trapping beaver during the summer is miserable hard work. This is a real public service that you are providing.

If you're taking selfish requests :) please put the PARD on. Very little I enjoy more than beaver shooting videos.
 
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@Hal4son I imagine that trapping it is hard work. From what I’ve seen, it looks manageable once you get the routine down. Busting up this dam and clearing trees and brush were also laborious. There was only so far that the tractors could go because of the mud. One got stuck yesterday. I cleared brush and trees with small power tools to create a path (to the opposite side of the dam) for hours before going out last night and I’m paying for it now.

Lol at the Pard comment. I didn’t give myself enough time to work out the issue with NV008s because I’ve been so busy. When I ran a gear check before going out my thermal scanner was dead so I used my NV007a as a back up with the external IR torch. Good to keep on-hand because I ended up needing it. The battery lasted a lot longer than I remember. It only used one bar and was on for 3-4 hours. Thanks to @Max115 I’ll be incorporating the external torch regularly. When I can ID a target animals, I can then turn on the integrated IR as well and get a really bright picture. I at least got practice using it again. There was just nothing to see or record last night. And I love the bucket tip! Thanks.
 
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I was contacted by a wildlife manager who consulted with his supervisor and I was okayed to trap this permission without a license. Yesterday evening I went back to check the dam and it hadn’t been repaired. The water has gotten so low that it isn’t draining much anymore. I have to go back and dig further down into the dam. I may have to speak with the property owner about blowing it up, but before that option is discussed I need to go downstream to look for new beaver activity. I don’t know where they went and I don’t want to be responsible for flooding any timber land. This has been some kinda learning experience. Thanks to all who replied with advice and encouragement. This is my first time removing nuisance beavers.
 
Do not dig further and DO NOT blow the dam. You need them to get comfortable and repair the dam. Then you'll want to control the water depth for your sets. Ripping out the dam is just going to spook them further.
Are you planning to use footholds, conibears or snares? In any case, you will need sufficient water depth.
Do you know where the lodge is?
 
How deep is the water behind your dam breaks? If it's deep enough for drowning, I'd put footholds in front of your dam breaks and slide them into 3'+ feet of water. Otherwise set conibears there.

Set conibears in the dam crossovers. Look for pinch points in the pond where they're traveling. Set conibears there.

Castor mounds and separately saplings with a small patch of bark scratched off will bring them to your sets. I prefer footholds in front castor mounds but others use conibears.

Lastly you'll set submerged conibears in the channels around the lodge. That would be the last step. You don't want to spook them too close to home...too early.

Join trapperman.com and post your photos and story over there. You'll get lots of feedback from guys with lots of experience. The depth of experience and knowledge over there is extraordinary.
 
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I took the Brocock out and chronographed some shots while verifying my DOPE. The way that it’s tuned, it’s averaging 791 fps and 47 fpe at the muzzle. This took down a beaver. This permission is still being worked and airguns are not the only tools being employed. For the sake of this thread, airguns will be the focal point.
 
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Also a sneak peak at the other permission. The property owner there informare me that he called in a county trapper, but I’m welcome to work it as well. This photo is from a recent survey of the property and damage. They dammed a culvert which has been cleared for the moment. I didn’t notice any traps close to the culvert, but I’m very new to trapping so I could’ve overlooked them. A lot of water has been drained since I last visited this property. The owner said he wanted to get a few of us to get on ATVs and ride through to see if we can locate a lodge and to get a closer look at the damage.



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@Ezana4CE - Nice job on the beavers. Question, pardon my ignorance. Why can't you buy a Texas State trapping license and then trap / shoot the pest beaver AND keep and use the pelt for personal use only? That seems fair if you put in the time for the hunt.
@maxtrouble Thanks. Because the location that’s the focus of the thread is not in Texas, so I have to abide by their laws. What makes it even tougher is that updated regs haven’t been published, so some information I’m getting directly from wildlife agents and officials.
 
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@maxtrouble Thanks. Because the location that’s the focus of the thread is not in Texas, so I have to abide by their laws. What makes it even tougher is that updated regs haven’t been published, so some information I’m getting directly from wildlife agents and officials.
Now teeeeeechnically...(I don't suggest to do the following, just saying)
If the knowledge/law is not known/published publicly; it therefore cannot be enforced.🥴
But yea, you are on the noble and righteous path, carry on🤪🫡🎩🤙
 
@iAMzehTOASTY1 You never know who is watching or how they can see you. I realize that my behavior can affect other people and hunters. I’m also conscious of public perception. I’d like to see airgun hunting laws expanded, not restricted. So I work to cover my bases and encourage other airgunners to do so. I’ve spoken to folks about convictions and fines. I’ve conversed with game officials, administrators, law enforcement officers, and realize they have different attitudes about different regs and enforcing them. I don’t want to leave myself open to arbitrary enforcement even though I’m in the sticks. Thankfully places where I am licensed still allow hunters to hunt. I have enough access to private properties and public lands to hunt and I’m content. I’d like keep it that way.
 
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@iAMzehTOASTY1 You never know who is watching or how they can see you. I realize that my behavior can affect other people and hunters. I’m also conscious of public perception. I’d like to see airgun hunting laws expanded, not restricted. So I work to cover my bases and encourage other airgunners to do so. I’ve spoken to folks about convictions and fines. I’ve conversed with game officials, administrators, law enforcement officers, and realize they have different attitudes about different regs and enforcing them. I don’t want to leave myself open to arbitrary enforcement even though I’m in the sticks. Thankfully places where I am licensed still allow hunters to hunt. I have enough access to private properties and public lands to hunt and I’m content. I’d like keep it that way.
Exactly my point. My mentors pretty much pounded information into my head about legality when hunting; it's no game. (I was knee high to a grasshopper😅) I quickly followed suit and became quite knowledgeable about hunting and doing it right AND legally.
Every time/yearly the new free magazines at Walmart about the hunting and fishing laws came out; one was placed in my hands to study.
I still grab some(one per trip, end up with a few each year) every year. One goes in the truck, one goes in my supply bag for hunting, one stays at the house🤗🎩🤙