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how to find the hole

Kyle

By Kyle
in Varmints-Furbearers-Trapping

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Kyle Mentor

Kyle

Posted
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no pun intended...

Unfortunately the ice did not freeze clear this year, and now I'm having a problem finding beaver entrance holes in the new houses I find. I'm also not able to find thin spots of ice as it is pretty much all the same thickness. I know for a fact the houses I have in mind are being used...

Anyone have any tricks?

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aanderud Grand Master

aanderud

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I usually feel around with my fingers a little until I find the a wet spot. That usually indicates that the hole is nearby.

Even if the ice seems to be the same thickness at first glance, there might be a thinner spot that you're not seeing, and the finger test just might reveal it.

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trapperdirk Proficient

trapperdirk

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rotflmao Todd . As has been mentioned the channels will be where the ice is thinnest and if you put a hole in the ice and cup your hands and look down thru you can most times see the channel or hole going in . Also a poke with a stick will let you know .

TD

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aanderud Grand Master

aanderud

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One more tip -- this comes from years of experience.

The 'hole' might not be a hole at all -- sometimes it's more of a 'slot'. It really depends on the age of the beaver and how active the beaver has been. Another telltale sign you might look for is that behind the slot there's sometimes a back door hole. Those beavers can be quite tricky sometimes.

You'll really have to experiment around. If you're worried about falling through the thin ice, do what the previous poster suggested and just prod it with a long stick.

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Random guy Grand Master

Random guy

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...wow, it has come to this. A bunch of guys in rubber pants and shoulder deep rubber gloves poking around in the cold looking for a hole. crazy

I carry a homade hammer/sod buster combo to drive in stakes. I tap on the ice until I hear a more hollow sound, once you do it you will notice the difference when you strike thinner ice with air bubbles vesres thicker ice with no bubbles. Once I hear that majic sound I flip my hammer around to the sod buster side and see if it goes through. Just hang on to the hammer as they sink pretty fast and no matter how much you beg the beaver will not bring it back for you.

Then take a longer stick as you should be able to feel and find the deeper run to get your sets centered.

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trapperdirk Proficient

trapperdirk

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Dang . I thought my post was spot on after hanging steel around beavers necks for over 40 years . Yeah I've been called insane before because I trap under some of the worst conditions and seem to take a dip every winter poking around feedbeds and channels . LOL . It's not intentional mind you and I'm not really insane for doing what I do . Just ask me .LOL

50 to 75 beaver a year would argue the fact if they could . LOL

TD

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Random guy Grand Master

Random guy

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seem to take a dip every winter poking around feedbeds and channels .TD

Nice part about that is now you are already in the water and wet, might as well feel around while you are there. wink

I am spoiled as the beaver in my area have had the same lodges for decades. Very seldom do we see a new lodge, just new tennants. I drive around in the fall and make sure to mark the runs before freeze up then come late winter when all is prime and fetching top dollar life is a little easier.

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jigginjim Mentor

jigginjim

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Just ask how much are the beaver going for? The two I had 2yrs ago was only $5.00 Not worth the time at that rate. mad I was wondering the same for rats. this year the runs seem hard to find then for before. It has been a long time since I was trapping but along as I can't work may as well try trapping again. Gets me out of the house, the wife and the soaps are driving me nuts. crazy

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Kyle Mentor

Kyle

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Price depends on size, color, and fur quality. Small ones with great color and quality still may only bring $5. I have trapped half dozen so far and I'm averaging $15, but the beaver I'm getting in my area are about as good as they get in MN. My biggest one this year was almost 70lbs and had great color and better than average quality fur but wasnt fully prime and that one brought $25. I trapped that one almost 3 weeks ago, had I trapped it now it would have probably brought more. Muskrats are really down in my area, but beaver seems to be plentiful so that's why I am trapping them.

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Random guy Grand Master

Random guy

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I had a 30 pounder last year get toe hooked on the rear foot of a slider set. Then of course fouled out the slider. I showed up to find him on the oppisite bank of a deep ditch. I think I am going to pull this beaver close enough to do what needs to be done...no way in... It was like a bad episode of swamp poeple with me trying to get that beaver to shore on the end of a wire. The beaver just about won that battle, just think what a 70 pound plus would be like.

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