Smaller 12x12x36 Live Comstock Beaver Cage Traps work Great for Beaver too.

Developing a clear cut preference for one size Comstock beaver cage trap over another is a tough call, something that is taken from many catches made over time, a slow learning curve.  Most often it comes down to situation in the width of the run, which will dictate what size will work best.  Simply, he trap should fit the run, no fencing, no crowding.

Having taken 50 and 60 pound beaver in our cage traps with a 12x15 inch opening, I have heard of  60 pounders being caught in 12x12 traps.  I am now setting the smaller traps with more confidence.  Beaver seem not to refuse the 12x12 as the opening is much larger than a a 10x10 body gripping trap that take large beaver with regularity.

Many, if not most runs, are wide, meaning the 12x18 cages are perfect more often than not.  I would  not substitute the wide 12x12 trap for a 12x18 in wide runs.   However, a wide run can be covered in another way with two 12x12 cages set side by side a couple of inches apart.  The 12x12 cage will not only take large beaver, but this side by side setting strategy will provide two chances for catches.

Just yesterday I checked two side by side 12x12 cages and had large beaver in both, a 36 and a 42 pound beaver.  

Muskrats caught in the new 5x5x24 squirrel traps.

Local trapper Mike W. set 5 of the newest 5x5x24 double door, panel triggered, squirrel traps in bottom edge and run sets for muskrats day before yesterday.  Today, on the first check, he caught 3 muskrats in the 5 sets, showing more promise and usage for the study, lightweight, versatile traps.

60+ Pound Beaver taken in a 12x15x36 Comstock Swim Through Double Powered Door Cage.  As you will notice, the beaver is almost as large as the cage.  This trap recently took a 50 pounder.  Fifty pound beaver measure about 32 inches from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail.  The body length of the 60 appears to be a bit longer than the 50 pound beaver, 33 1/2 inches from nose to base of his tail.  I'm always amazed at the effectiveness of these cage traps since the overall length of the beaver is about 44 inches, 8 inches longer than the trap!

More Large Beaver

Today netted 3 more big beaver and brought closure to two more ADC locations.  The smallest beaver was 41 pounds at the first location, while the next spot produced a 45 and 60 pounder.   Again, the smallest trap took the largest beaver.   A 12x15x36 double door Comstock trap constructed like the 12x12x36 got the 60 pounder.

Plans are to make a 12x12x32 for beaver, which will push the practical limit in a small but adequate trap.  With one 12x18x32 inch trap currently in use,  I hope to put some more 32 inch traps together this winter in 12x12, 12x15 and 12x18.

Testimonial: New line of double door, swing panel traps, 5x5x24 squirrel trap, 8x10x36 rabbit trap.

Homeowner Lou C. in New York took 8 squirrels and 96 chipmunks in the 5x5 traps last year and this year caught 16 squirrels and 56 chipmunks.  He also mentioned catching 4 mice in them!

Lou tried a second trap for rabbits as his garden was overrun with them.  With no traps springs, he used the 8x10x36 to take 10 rabbits, 1 opossum and 2 woodchucks, a small and a medium chuck.

The 8x10x36 double door trap was designed for rabbits, feral cats, skunks and opossum.  Though the 8x10 trap was not intended for woodchucks, it is possible that it may hold up to woodchucks too.  

More about Double Setting

Dam crossovers are very obvious and easy to spot.  Except where theft is an issue or someone might disrupt your traps, dam crossovers are hard to beat.  Where beaver have multiple dams forming several ponds, they will, of course, have a point or points where they cross their dams nightly.  The crossover usually corresponds with the stream channel.  Placing a Comstock Cage trap at the base of the dam works well.  The trap will be set upside down as usual on the angle of the dam with the upper end of the roof of the trap about even with the water level and lower end submerged.

If there are multiple dams it certainly won't hurt to set all of the crossovers.  Where there is but one crossover you can increase your odds and speed the trapping process by simply setting two cages side by side.  Recently I did just that and took a 45 pound and 30 pound beavers side by side.    

Tips on Beaver Cage Trapping with Comstock Cages, Top Setting

Beaver swim on top as much as they do on the bottom of runs, perhaps more.  When setting runs top sets are no less effective than bottom sets.  This can be accomplished with snares, body grippers and even cage traps.  The beauty in the Comstock Cages is that they can be set up on long T-bars or wired to vertical poles with the top of the trap running even with the surface of the water.  Because the traps are set upside down, poles can be slid horizontally through the cages to support the cages on top in narrow runs, poles running bank to bank or supported with forked sticks.  With the mechanism on the bottom of the traps, poles and or grass etc. can be stuffed into the wire framing to hide and support  without interfering with the operation of at the trap in any way.  Triggers are unimpeded and doors will close and lock as they should.