Beaver Management - Jim Gibb

[RiverRat]

So if you have an area that is all private or little competition how are you if at all managing the population ?
I know for a fact that you can over harvest beaver. It may take 2- 3 years to show but it does have an effect. In the past I have set hard and cleaned out the bigger colony while leaving alone the smaller ones. Its seemed there was less work to set up hard at one colony rather than hit every one hard. I try to take no more than 30 % of what is there. I spoke with Jim Comstock about this topic at the WCT in Lexington a few yrs ago and was wondering how the rest of you managed your lines.

[braveheart]

All my beaver work is catch them all on all the private ground.With low prices there is plenty of beaver to move back in from the big water drainages.I keep all the big colony's cleaned up so I have to work with only 1-2 if they move back in.The drainages 1 mile off the big water they come back almost every year a single or breeding pair.

[Gibb]

On my northern lines a 4 year rotation gives me the best results, on average 7.5 beaver per colony leaving the new pairs alone, wiping out every beaver in a full colony. I go by the feed beds. Least amount of effort for most beaver per house in my area. Anything less than 4 years I catch to many small sizes.
Jim

[RdFx]

I agree with Jims' method but that ONLY works as he can manage HIS trapline. Here in the states that is impossible even on private lands where unscrupulous trappers sneak in and trap. The way it happens here in states is you go in and trap colony out which i don't agree with but if you leave anything another trapper comes along and traps out. UNLESS bvr prices are very low and then colony's are left alone

[musher]

We are on a three year rotation. Partner sets two traps using a castor based lure. Once the two big 'uns are caught he moves on.

If the beaver are blocking culverts them the colony gets wiped out.

[RiverRat]

Mar 2, 2015 18:31:40 GMT -6 RdFx said:

I agree with Jims' method but that ONLY works as he can manage HIS trapline. Here in the states that is impossible even on private lands where unscrupulous trappers sneak in and trap. The way it happens here in states is you go in and trap colony out which i don't agree with but if you leave anything another trapper comes along and traps out. UNLESS bvr prices are very low and then colony's are left alone

Well you could say the same is true with my tomato plants I can try to hold them there but the rabbits might get them anyway. I m still going to try LOL

Ever hear of catch and release fishing ? Sometimes it works sometimes it dont. 

What I m trying to say is its worth trying to ME .

[bblwi]

Here in WI we have many miles of streams managed for trout and even if the land is private there will be attempts to eliminate beaver from those areas to improve trout habitat. This is a really controversial issue here in WI at this time.

Bryce

[trappnman]

I think your question was answered Adam- if you have sole access, then a 3-4 year rotation, & leaving a few allows the colony to rebuild.

I'm in the same boat as braveheart- the landowners want them gone- and while I do get some drift back in, almost 30 years of water trapping has eliminated any big colonies (boy, those were fun) those places with 2-3 main dams, and multiple check dams, where you only set as many as you want to carry out-

the last 2 years have bene very hard on stream beaver here- I only found 2 locations this year- 1 wherel andowner needed thme out- I took those 2- another where it was public land, and I left the pair alone

[RiverRat]

Sound about what I have been told from those way up north and other private areas. Thanks