under ice beaver snaring

[dblcoil]

If possible could someone post some pics of an under ice beaver snaring setup using bait. Ive seen snares set up on a long pole with the bait secured to the pole. Id like to see a picture of this to use as a guide. Also, how big is the loop on the snare and how close to the pole do you make the loop? Thanks.

[Edge]

I dont have a pic,but I like about an 8" loop or less,with one edge of th loop touching the pole.

Make sure one set of snares is just under the ice(but not touching;dont want them freezing into the ice)the next pair should be just under the bait;or in front of it.

Not everybody does it,but I like to use a 3rd set right on the bottom;no bait;I often make the catch in the bottom loops.This is pertinent only to water over say,8 feet.....less than that,only two pairs are required.

Dont get manic about snare cable or locks used;I have yet to find a combo that *doesnt*kill beaver in a drowning situation under the ice.Put their head in the loop,they are dead.

Edge

[Ranger]

Pretty much the set up Edge described but with bait running the full length top to bottom. Don't forget to put a safety wire on the dry poles.

Ranger

[John Porter]

if you go to Maine Trapping site you will find a detailed instruction how I set up my snares. It would be under the water trapping catagory.
martentrapper.proboards28.com

[Darcy Alkerton]

I posted this last week.

Hope Steve does not mind. If you have any questions, ask me about it on here and I will try and help.

Later, Darcy

www.trapperman.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=033794

[dblcoil]

Thanks gents, this all helps a bunch!!

[blakcoyote]

This is the baited snare pole set I use and is my favorite.When the beaver swims around working the bait,they get caught.I usually set them around the food cache.3-4 snares a pole,from the top it will look kinda like spokes on a wheel.There set below the ice just enough as not to freeze the snares in the ice,All snares are wired to the pole with heavy gauge wire and the end of the wire is run up along the pole and out of the ice and anchored to a heavy cross piece of wood that cannot be pulled through or break.

[Edge]

Mine is a single pole set up like Blaks;not like the other one.

I run my top of loop about even with the top of the bait;seems they often want to clamp down on the tip of the bait and work down.

Nice pic,Blak!

Edge

[Edge]

Dan Tanner;

I axed the link to T4K.Not sure if it just my machine or not,but every time I visit there I come back with a new virus.

If no one else is having this problem,contact one of the other moderators and feel free to put the link back up.

Edge

[Stef]

Little tip here.
When there's deep water...

Just hang 2 snares at the bottom and 4 at the top near the ice.

99% of the time, beavers will get caught at ice level.

Stef

[Edge]

**Little tip here.
When there's deep water...**


6 feet?12?30?

Edge

[Stef]

never seen 30' but 12' is usually a lot of water Edge around a feed pile

Stef

[Edge]

I would agree that 12 feet is deep.

Now for the follow-up;

how do you stabilize the pole without bottom contact?I am starting a lake in the spring;but I *will*have *some*ice..........

Edge

[Stef]

Very simple... just check the mud mark first but do not forget your security wire in case another hungry beaver come to the set ;D

I think that this set is the best one for unde ice beaver snaring.

Hole in ice can be smaller than with the other systems.
1 piece of green wood and 1 piece of dry wood, wire + snares and you're done.

Stef

EXAMPLE:

[blakcoyote]

Edge said:

I would agree that 12 feet is deep.

Now for the follow-up;

how do you stabilize the pole without bottom contact?I am starting a lake in the spring;but I *will*have *some*ice..........

Edge

When I run into the situation where the water is deep and the wood is short.I'll make my baited pole as usual,but I'll use 2 cross pieces on top of the ice in the shape of an X,and wire the bait pole too it and by taking my linesman pliers and twisting the heavy gauge wire tight with it where it's secured.It helps keep your pole from swing too much until the ice freezes it in.But make the X cross pieces first before you attach them to the main pole.That way you can drop your main pole down the hole straight and slide the X piece up to it and it will lay naturally before you wire it to the pole,with less chance of the pole being cocked.

[Edge]

Yeah,thats what I do to,and then usually bank it a bit with slush to speed things up.

Blak,I usually make my poles ahead of time,generally about 2 feet shorter than they need to be,LMAO,thanks for the info guys!

Edge

[Darcy Alkerton]

Stef,

Tell your daughter to not give up on the art work. It will get better with age!He, He!

Good Job Stef.

Later, Darcy

[thorsmightyhammer]

Edge, Darcy, blak, Stef I was wondering what kind of catch percentages are you getting with snares when the beaver actually visits the baited snare sets. By that I mean that you know he has visited the sets ie a catch or a cut off bait.

My self I am thinking about a little less than 50 percent of the time. If and when I figure out how to get it to say 65 percent or higher I will never set another conibear in Jan. again.

[Stef]

I don't do much under ice beaver trapping or snaring anymore but I can tell you one thing.... With the simple set I posted.... if the beaver house is large enough don't be shy to use at least 6 set up like that per house around the feed pile.

To answer you question... the later you snare the better it is.
Early Bait under ice bait set doesn't work well... yes a beaver there and another at another pond but here in the North east the best time is february and March.

I can say that in late February here, you'll get beaver visits on all your poles the first night.
Don't check the next day, wait couple days if you can like a week and you'll be surprised how many beavers you will get, quadruples and more are not uncommon with hard worker beaver trappers.

I know some trappers in NW Québec and Northern Ontario who catch 300+ beavers under the ice with snares!

Stef

[Darcy Alkerton]

Steve,

In December and January I only set snares on dry poles in entrances, channels and in front of dams. I never use conis unless the water is to shallow and they may break the snare.

Bait poles start at the end of Jan or even the first week in Feb. I only check them once or twice in a week and usually the family is gone. As far as percentage goes, I could not give a very accurate count. If you read my post you will see that I set lots of snares and do believe this brings up my catch ratio. The ice is thick and the feed bed is smaller so the beaver do not get tangled as much then.

As I stated in the post I caught 6 beaver on one pole with 8 snares. That was the best pole I ever had. I did beat that at a dam set that I showed in New Brunswick last week. I caught 7 in one night. I check my dry pole sets daily. I do not know of anyone that has ever snared beaver at a dam the way I have. Maybe just never met him yet.

Later, Darcy