Spring Beaver Trapping!

[David G Duncan]

I thought I would wait until I had a few beaver before posting a picture of my spring beaver trapping adventure results.


http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/520/medium/Spring_2006_Beaver_003.jpg

About half of these beaver were taken on a canoe trapline and the rest were caught on walk in traplines.

The largest beaver weighed in at 50 pounds and the smallest at about 20 pounds.


http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/520/medium/Spring_2006_Beaver_004.jpg

Needless to say I have been having a lot of fun catching these critters and getting a plenty of exercise in the process.

[griffondog]

Nice catch Dave, how many days to get that many beaver. Wish I didn't have to drive so far to trap flattails. Maybe next year!

Griffondog

[Northcountry]

What a great picture, Dave! Eleven slaptails, trapline canoe and a tipi, set against a nice young stand of aspen on a sunny spring day.

Old Jump Trap...thats a pic to be proud of. I know its only a portion of what you caught this season, but to me, it captures the spirit of a Trappers Spring and demonstrates what only a few traps can do...when they're layed down with alot of experience. Its inspirational, to me.

At this point, most people might rib you about all the skinning and fleshing work you have to do now. But, I've seen you skin a beaver in nothing flat...with no fleshing required, afterward.

So, get back out there and catch your otter, now! ;)

[mhodnettjr]

you sure have a nack for taking some great photos to remember the very best of your experiences in the outdoors. That is a great picture and great reward for your efforts. Thanks for the great photos Dave!

Dont wear yourself out skinning and putting up all of them :lol:

[t_steinhauer444]

Hey Dave that would be a great pic with the tipi and the 11 beaver on the canoe in a black and white picture for the "old fur hunting and trapping pictures" thread. Again great pics you sure know a great way to take pictures. Looks like you had a great time in the canoe. Keep up the good spring beaver trappin.

[Alexsteelmon]

nice catch and even a nicer tipi. do you live in it some of the time?? my grandpa lives in one not as nice of a tipi tho cause he made his.. i helped a little i did the smoke flap:) boy i cant wait to do a trap line like that:coolgleam

[Howitzer]

If I can get the original I can do much better.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v612/medmech/beaverfinal.jpg

[ottertrapper]

Nice!! Glad someone is still enjoying the trapping season I have been fishing steelhead the last two weeks now!! Great catch!

[hunter5054]

awesome catch and pictures dave congrats and thanks for sharing!!!:D

[frostbite]

Nice haul Dave. Those are some nice dark beaver. I see you and mother nature are having an affair;)

[Bow Hunter Brandon]

Dave,
Very nice picture. Looks like you are really enjoying yourself out there.

How about some details what type of sets are you using?

How long of a time frame did you take these over?

Are you living out in nature untill you catch enough to pay for a vacation to disney world???:lol:

[steelhead1]

Congrats. Dave, great picture.

[Sprytle]

Very Nice Dave!!! Great looking pics and fur!!!:D:D:)

[FixedBlade]

Good job and great pics.

[daddyduck]

That's awsome.. The retired life at it's best...

[CaptainNorthwood]

Thats a great looking pile of beavers Dave, the pic is very very cool too......good work.

[David G Duncan]

Thanks Guys for all the positive feedback.

This was the results of about a week and half of trapping. Luckily I have a large "for furs only" chest freezer to keep the beaver in, which allowed me to compose this photo.

But as you can imagine the down side of this setup is doing the skinning all at once :sad: . Normally I do skin my beaver clean, but with this number to do I resorted to rough skinning. So the fleshing board is going to get a work out.

Now if I can only catch my otter ;) .

[muskrat]

Nice catch and sweet pictures. How long to skin them?:lol:
Matt

[David G Duncan]

Matt,

It me took about 3 hours to rough skin these beaver. But it would have taken my over 6 hours to skin them clean and ready for stretching.

Brandon,

I caught most of these beaver in foothold traps (# 14 Victor Jumps or # 44 Blake & Lamb longsprings) using a scent mound drown wire set. The rest were caught in 330 conibears set in runs or at baited scent mound sets.

[Yoopertrapper]

Great photo.
The lower must be loaded with beaver!!
Everyone seems to be doing real well this spring, under the bridge.
I've yet to find any really good beav sign in my area.:sad:
Keep up the good work and always HAVE FUN.:)
And be safe

[target-panic]

Great picture Dave......................Thanks!

[Liv4Trappin]

Haven't checked the forum in quite awhile and just wanted to say that this is a great photo Dave, good job!!:)

Mike

[David G Duncan]

Liv4Trappin,

Mike, I am glad you enjoyed these photos.

It was great fun being out there enjoying some beautiful spring weather, in pursuit of these beautiful crafty toothy engineers of the furbearing animal world.

Our trapping season is fast coming to an end for this season, so I imagine many of us will need to take some tranquilizers, just to keep our trapping fever under control until next fall :D .

[Liv4Trappin]

I know what you mean Dave, yesterday, I was out on the Muskegon river doing some steelhead fishing.Just before dark, and at the end of our float trip, I spotted a good sized beaver cruising along the bank.I thought I had all my gears slowed down for the year, but that got them going again!!Along with a few muskrats as well.No fish though, but great trip.:)

Mike

[The Nailer]

Dave-

Once again great pics. I love getting to enjoy trapping vicariously through you and the others on this site! Some day I may be able to join you.

I see you are still using your wintercamp tent. How do you transport that into your trapping area when there is no snow, or do you car camp with it nearby? It looks like you use permanent lodge poles so you must have to haul them in as well.

[David G Duncan]

Dave-

Once again great pics. I love getting to enjoy trapping vicariously through you and the others on this site! Some day I may be able to join you.

I see you are still using your wintercamp tent. How do you transport that into your trapping area when there is no snow, or do you car camp with it nearby? It looks like you use permanent lodge poles so you must have to haul them in as well.

Fred,

I took this photo in my backyard :D , in front of my tipi. It measures 20' from back to front and yes I can haul the 21 poles that measure about 30 feet long on top of my utility trailer in special rack that I built.

I plan on taking the tipi to the August Michigan Trappers Convention in Evart. Why don't come and load up your trapping supplies? ;) .

Since I live in the middle of my trapping area, I just keep my tipi set up year around in my backyard :D .