Time between water trap checks

[philintheblank]

So I have been looking for some places to trap beaver and rats, more for the beaver. My buddies and I need some bear bait so I figured I would use this as a way to try my hand at water trapping. But I haven't been able to find any information about hair slippage from being in water.

How often do you guys check your sets? If an animal is in the water for a couple days will the hair slip?

[sourdough doug]

No problem, especially in these water temps...

[KegRiver]

I've known of beaver being left for a week underwater, in winter, without slippage. I would think that they could probably be left much longer, but it's not a good idea.

There are other issues besides hair slippage.

For one, left long enough, the carcass will gas up and float to the surface where it will freeze into the ice. Not a fun thing to deal with.

Another possible problem, other critters may chew on it, if left too long. I've seen Muskrat and even Beaver chew up animals left underwater too long.

My advice, try to make 48 hours your maximum between checks.
Two full days is plenty of time to make a catch and it maximizes your chances over time while minimizing possible issues.

[philintheblank]

Thanks for the info!

[gibb]

4 Days is what I like for underice trapping with snare poles.
Jim

[sourdough doug]

4 days is generally what it is b4 I get back to them. At the same time one doesn't know if they went in only hours after you set or if it was hours b4 you checked. I feel that there is a time period after one finishes with the ice removal and the noise associated with it that they get active again and at that time maybe it is a young one, who is impatient and gets cabin fever, who ventures out first...

Nice to hear from you again, Jim.. Hope all is well with you..

[philintheblank]

I'm hoping to wait until the iced breaks up a bit. Just trapping a couple small ponds that have a dozen or so beavers in them. Land owner is loosing a lot of trees and wants them all gone. Thought about trapping under the ice, but I think I would need someone to help me out and show me the ropes with that. Finding a run onto land or making some castor mound sets looks a bit easier for starting out