human scent and beavers

[travfeasby]

do beavers get very cautious or spooked around sets that have alot of human scent?

[Bogmaster]

 I do not worry about human odor when trapping beavers. I have a bad habit--I smoke, and I smoke while trapping beaver. This has not seemed to affect my catch--as many beaver would tell you--if they could.
 Tom

[RdFx]

I agree with Tom with majority of bvr in taking the surplus of the population......BUT..... there are bvr  that can be as smart and cunning as a coyote that has been trapped and gotten away.... the bvr might have been snapped by a 330 or whatever.....but there are some with PHds and that can open up your eyes...  so dont go nuts  trying to  not leave your scent at  your trap site , just set the trap and go on to next set.

[travfeasby]

smokeing , was the topic of our discussion with anon beaver trapping friend. he is a canine trapper. he said that he knows that beaver shy away from cigarette smoke. thanks again  for the info. really apper. the knowledge on this web site.

[trappnman]

most beaver had little fear of man- although on small streams, banging and clunking around too much can put them down for a few days.

but nip one- and you will find that they are as hard to catch as any spooked coyote- and that coyote might be long out of the county, but that beaver is still there, so you have daily or close to it opportunities.

I've had a pinched beaver take me weeks to catch- he would come out in the snow every 3-4 days and cut willows, but if I placed a trap there- and footprints are a no noso these were water approaches- and he never would return- I had traps set all over that little creek- and one day, a set sitting untouched for 7-8 weeks had him, missing toes and all.

had another, took out a big colony for down here- 8 beaver, but of course, pinched one early, and didn't pick him up while I was there. It had several dams, so the landowner and I pulled them.  Creek wasn't over 15" deep, with the exception of 1 deep hole. I had footholds, 330s all over- once a week or so he would come out and feed. ice would come and go- this was ADC beaver, so spent from dec until a big thunderstorm in april (he was within blocks of home, thus the extra effort) flooded and muddied the creek, and got him in 330


but those were special efforts- most beaver are no harder than rats, and any wise ones on a trapline, are just seed.....trappnman