beaver dogs

[musher]

I was chatting up an old timer today. I know this fellow very well and he's got many a tale to tell.

When he was a "yoot" he'd go spring beavering with his uncle. They only hunted beaver on small streams. The dog would find the beaver hut or den and the youth would make lots of noise there. The uncle stayed by the dam. The beaver would swim to the only open water which was in the current by the dam. There uncle would be waiting - club in hand.

Afterwards they dug out the hut and the dog grabbed what it could.

[northof50]

Heard same type of stories here.
Usually when first spring snow is gone but ice still on the lakes. They would sled up and plug the chew out holes by the lodges. Unhook the dogs and the dogs would bay the beaver that were out behind the lodges looking for fresh chewings. Beaver could not go to the auctions in the old days with bullet holes ...... so someone stood by the plug hole and did the Mafia baseball bat swing on them. Some one always stood at the back door exit just in case. There was a months wages earned sometimes at one lodge in the old days.......when a 100# flour and 5# lard was the standard fare.

[musher]

He said that they already got 11 in one day. Lots of work for 11 beaver!!

[northof50]

You have to remember that in the 1950's there was still not a lot of beaver around. Maybe less than 10 % of what we have today.

[braveheart]

I got into a couple beaver with my patterdales.All I can say is it took some fancy needle work after the hunt.

[northof50]

The dogs never went in after to bite they just barked--bay-- or cornered. flushed.
The fancy sewing was on the dogs I presume.
Another good reason to have a hunting partner or two; as a vet when you have dogs involved is what I have learned over the years.