Ok! So I'm Still A Whinner :-)

[Macthediver]

Went and checked the beaver sets this morning after their 48 hour soak. With the weather colder then when I set traps, the over flow was frozen and the ice was definatly thicker. So maybe I should quit whinning because I guess I do know more about the site than I thought. I only set 4 beaver traps because there was no rat sign I could find. Three of the sets are baited 330s the other is a blind set on a run I found. The beavers have used this same area everytime I've set this location over the last 8 years. I go about ever other year catch what I can till the cutting stops. Then it seems good for a year before another pair moves in.
Anyway I set up the bait sets and the one run I could find. Results of the first check was about what I figured. No action on the bait but a hit on the run.






The run reset and ready for another beaver.



My son had the day off so rode along, he took the first two pics.
I took this picture of him drying the beaver in the snow.



For those of you who always seem to want to know what these things weigh. This guy is just short of 49lbs at 48lbs 12 oz.
Wife says I'm still a whinner, just not as grumpy once I been outside to air out. LOL!

Mac

[wormbobskey]

At least you get to set some beaver traps. We have to wait until the day after christmas before we get to try to catch any. I think your whining is contagious. Thats a nice looking sled, care to tell me where I could get one?

[RdFx]

Way to go Mac.  Did that beaver have a chunk out of its tail?   Looks like it might have been a male according to body confirmation.  Did you skin and check out yet?  Nice when the overflow is froze and you can  make time on the ice.   Keep us informed on future catches.  Recvd yr PM.

[Macthediver]

wormbobskey 
My sled is called and Otter Sled and I wanted one for years but could never get over the sticker shock. Rare to ever see them on sale, I think some of the trap suppliers might sell them.  I happened to be in Gander Mountain couple years back and found this as the last one at a marked down price. Be honest I can't recall what did pay for it, like I said few years back. It's actually got pins in the front I have the straps tied to. I made up a little tow bar with some rod stock so it can be pulled behind the quad runner. Never used that set up for trapping but I've pulled the small kids around in it on the lake.

Lee
The beaver does have a pretty good chunk knocked out of his tail can see it by my foot in secound pic. I would recon at some piont he did some fighting cause his tail is riped too. I got the bugger in the basement with the fan on him to dry. Figure I'll pull his hide off in the morning. I'm not real good at telling the sex but should figure it out once the hide is off.
I got out this afternoon after beating the snowblower apart with a maul.  Set half dozen #1s on a different creek south of me before it got dark. Was actually pleased to see where the rats were pulling out of the creek in the snow. Made it easy to decide where to set my traps. Only goof up was not taking my flood bags. Bottom of the creek is all rock and no way to drive a stake so had to wire to rocks. Slow way to make drowners.

Mac

[Bogmaster]

 Mark, I will be joining in on the beaver fun next week.Mike and I have a beaver job to take care of.While the water is supposed to be open right now(Fisheries head said it was 52 degrees) I doubt these and the upcoming sub zero weather will be of any help.
 Hoping to find some rats at the same time.
 Tom

[fishdaddy]

nice beaver the meat makes good fox bait

[MDCAT]

Mac - I know how you feel, buddy, I"m having one of your days myself!  The creeks and ponds are all froze over, went to check traps at 6 degrees, EVERYTHING froze up.  Pulled all my traps except the cage traps in the barn.  Haven't caught a thing in a month.  All I've caught so far is 3 grinners and 1 skunk, worst year since I was 15. 

Got on the four wheeler and the front two tires were flat.  I guess the cold sucked the air out of them.  When I went to the barn, my moustache had ice balls hanging off it.  Then got a knock on the door at 2:30, the meter man was telling us our water line was broke between the house and the meter.  We need to get it fixed, our water is shut off. 

If I can ever find out what I did wrong, I ain't never gonna do it again!!!

[wormbobskey]

I've been using a wood hauling sled that worked really well the last couple of years. I could really load it up and it would float too. This year however I realized that I had worn 3 holes in the bottom last year and didn't even realize it until the end of the season. Going to try to patch the bottom with fiberglass cloth and resin, but it will most likely come off the first time I load it up. Beaver season opens the day after christmas so I have to come up with something that will save my back. The best beaver spots are way off the beaten path and I'm getting lazier the older I get. Think I'll google ottersled and see what happens. Thanks for the info. Worm

[Macthediver]

wormbobskey
There is a fella I know who works for the DNR here in WI. He says they actually put a genterator in one of their otter sleds and float it in the trout stream when shocking fish to count. I've never tried pulling my sled any where but in the snow or on the ice. It does have high enough sides and I could see where it might work like a small boat in the right water conditions.
I can't speak for your sled , but I don't thik a person could patch this one of mine with fiber glass. Seems to me it would pop off once the sled starts flexing under load unless you did a complete cover over.

Mac

[RdFx]

Otter sleds come in  all sizes from small to size for hauling human first aid extraction.   I know of some trappers that pull them behind them when setting rat traps in marshes loaded with thier traps and of course rats.  They arent that expensive and last a long time.

[wormbobskey]

I found a place where the small otter sled is around 35.00. I think I wore the holes in the bottom pulling it across rough ground trying to get back to the good beaver locations. Wasn't much snow on the ground and its pretty rocky around here. I can still use it, it just won't float anymore.