you may now proceed with the good remarks on how to catch a beaver

all bs aside, i have a coulee behind my house that some beavers have decided to dam up. as always ive tried breaking the dam, but them are some persistent little phukers and always build it back. if yall can give me any tips or if anyone that has a trappers license close to opelousas, la wants to come get them yall can.

You might check your state laws or call the local gw. I'm pretty sure it is legal to kill/trap them without a license if they are causing destruction to your property. You may have to get some nuisance permit or something, but you may not.

I know up here in Wisconsin I jsut have to get a damage permit from the DNR or Game and fish department. Then you can go in and trap them anytime. The easiest way to get them out is with a 330 connibear. You simply find the runs they are using get a couple 2 by 2 stakes to go through the spring of the trap. place the set trap in the run about 4-6 inches oof the bottom of the run. During the night they will swim right into it. If that doesnt work due to them being older smarter beaver you are going to have to use foothold traps and set them were they are coming up on the bank. This one take alittle more to perfect you have to set the trap in certain depths depending on trying to catch a front or hind foot then you need to figure out a way to drowned them. If you got questions on what to do give shoot me a pm Ill get you my number. I trap up here every year. Let me know what you have going on maybe I can help

Ruffies work well from what I hear

I hear the biguns can soak up quite a few .22s so something a little larger would be best.

Not alot of trapping in LA like the old days. With the sustained high water this year they cut alot of big trees this past year.

tear the dams out on a Thursday night - and make sure you do a good enough job to get a good flow of water.

That Friday afternoon, be in position early enough before sunset so that everything can settle down after you get there. Get still & be quiet. They should come out at dusk to start their repair work. That's when you let the 17 HMR sing (or other rifle of your choice).

another option - ask around at some local sporting goods stores and/or taxidermists to find someone trapping in the area. I'm sure that they would welcome the invitation to come on your land and add to their income.

Be sure to find a trapper and not an exterminator -- and exterminator is going to charge you for their services as well as probably selling the hides. A trapper should just be gracious for the opportunity to work more land, especially if it is an easy set-up for them.

Attach you trap to a wire that is tied to a tree or stake at one end and a wieght such as a concrete block underwater at the other end. Rig the trap chain so that it will slide towards the underwater weight so that when caught, the beaver will dround. After you have caught the first beaver use it's castor (musk) as a scent on future traps or around the traps.

If you catch a small beaver, have the pelt tanned with the hair on and clip or pluck the guard hairs and use the pelt for a toilet seat cover.

Knock a hole in the dam to get water flow. Place a #5 double long spring trap in the hole covered by water. Have said trap afixed to a long steel drowning rod or drowning cable and placed into the deepest water. Go in and have supper and go to bed. The fur torpedo will be waiting for you in the morning.
or has Fowl Habit stated knock a hole in the dam and place a 330 conibear in the trail/path leading to the hole.
I use a large amount of 330 on den holes and cross overs however I have found a number 5 on a steel drowning rod will take its toll. I would mention snares but if your asking about taking beavers at a dam you would need a little more beaver training to work the snares.
Highly suggest going to trapperman.com and look up some pics of the sets that have been mentioned to get the jest of beaver trapping. Luckily beavers are fairly easy to catch.
Randy