When walking to a beaver site, it's nice to have hands free.  I mentioned carrying straps to Randy Volk in Massachusetts.  Randy took more than 600 beaver in the 12x18x39  Comstock Beaver Cage Traps in two years, so he knows about carrying traps and beaver.  He came right back, "I already put straps on my cages."  

I had some bungee cords on hand, 36 inches long and thought I would give them a try to make a quick and simple cage carrying strap set up.  I went to the hardware store and picked up some All Purpose snaps, then removed the stock factory S-Hooks that came on the bungees.  The All Purpose snaps go on easily and stay in place when clipped, won't unhook like a plain S-Hook.  The cage can be carried like a pack basket comfortably, out of the way with hands free.  Since the cages weight but 22 pounds, the weight is hardly noticeable.  

And, for those who want to haul in more than one cage, you can still carry one in each hand besides the one on your back at only 66 pounds, the weight of a big beaver.  You could also pull 2 cages in a 2 foot wide sled along with a cage on your back.     

Above is beaver number 400 I took yesterday in our cage traps, this one taken in a 12x12x36 swim through, wire trigger cage trap under the ice.  The video is on face book and YouTube.  This was a pair of beaver at a lake location caught in the "front door."

For those who might consider an unpowered type beaver trap, though they can work, they are not  without drawbacks.  An unpowered trap can more easily get jammed with sticks etc. and allow an escape.  Do to the nature of these traps with doors that close in the opposite direction, that type of traps must be made longer, much longer, usually 48 inch long compared to the above trap at only 36 inches long.  If you have ever carried a 48 inch trap, you will recognize the difference between them and a 36.  Recently we have made traps as short as 32 and 33 inches that show a lot of promise.   These traps are but two thirds as long as the 48, much easier to carry and easier to place.

Shipping

Just a heads up on shipping costs.  For multiple packages there are big breaks in shipping costs.  As an example, a shipping quote for one beaver trap was $20.02.  For a second beaver trap with a 24 inch double door trap and nose nested inside the additional price was only $18.69!  It was a dollar and change less for the same trap with the additional trap and nose cone nested inside.

Also, when ordering a single large beaver trap for instance, for just a few dollars more, a smaller 18 inch 9x11 or 24 inch 9x11 trap can be nested inside, shipped in the same box.

Facebook Photos

For those looking for additional trapping stories and photos please check out Facebook.  Carl Wilkie of Illinois, Matt Chitwood of Tennessee, Luke Pennington of Maine and Stan Thain of Georgia all have great pictures of all kinds of catches, fox, raccoon, 'possum, armadillo, skunk, squirrels etc.  These guys really put the traps to the test and came up on top.

Fur Fish Game Magazine, Feb., 2014 Comstock Cage Article

Fur Fish Game Magazine published an outstanding article about the revolutionary line of Comstock Cage Traps in the February, 2014 issue.  The article generated a lot of talk and interest, while enlightening many about the wonders of a wire trigger/powered door live cage trap.

Last week Jim and Judy attended the Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators Convention in New Orleans.  They demonstrated how the new humane traps work to a good crowd.

Panel Trigger Squirrel Trap Line

For those who have never seen or tried the new live squirrel traps with the swing panel trigger system and were comfortable with pan traps, here is the best way to think of these traps with the new trigger is a trap with a vertical pan.  The swing panel trigger is basically a pan trap with a pan that hangs from the roof of the trap that covers the entire opening inside the trap compartment, making it impossible for animals to pass through a trap without capture.. 

When comparing the two trigger systems,  a pan lies flat on the bottom of a trap, will perform only on flat or near flat surfaces and can be avoided.  Pans are often made from cage wire material.

On the other hand, the new swing panel trigger system available on squirrel, skunk, rabbit and feral cat traps, is also made from cage wire like pan traps, but in this case the "vertical pan" covers the entire opening and can not be avoided, while the traps will perform in any position, right side up, sideways and vertically.

Already, in a very short time, these traps have been described by many as "the best squirrel traps on the market" and "my go to squirrel trap."  In time we believe this trigger simple, practical, functional trigger system will in fact all but replace pan type traps for these animals and others.

Without question these are the most advanced traps you can find to live trap squirrels, chipmunks etc.   

For humane capture of all types of animals, beavers,  raccoons, skunks, armadillos and many more,  there is a Comstock trap that will work in any situation.
     

Ron from Washington State-Double on Otter

Ron sent some pics of this rare double otter catch in one swim through 12x18x39 Comstock Beaver/Otter Cage trap.  This is the second reported double otter catch in the Comstock Beaver Trap.

BEAVER CAGE TRAP TESTIMONIAL Today

This is a testimonial from a Washington State trapper who only purchased one of the Comstock 12x18x39 beaver cage traps a couple of weeks ago.  It appears to be working.

"larger beaver trap is working awesome, it has been set for the past 14 days and has caught 1 muskrat, 9 beaver, 2 otter, the 2 otter were caught together in one trap."

Ron from Washington

A Pair of Flying Squirrels taken in a 5x5x24 Comstock Live Squirrel Cage Trap

The squirrel trap pictured with two captured flying squirrels was taken is a humane double door live trap.  Powered doors, with a panless, push through, panel trigger will sometimes capture more than one animal at a time.  This trap actually made multiple catches several nights in a row.  Even small flying squirrels and mice will fire these cage traps as there is little room for them to avoid the trigger.  It is almost impossible for small rodents to pass through these traps without capture.  

The trigger is light enough to take small birds like chickadees.