Beaver activity?

[ChalupaCabras]

Was out scouting today and found these on a small stream that drains into the Kankakee:




The water level is about 18" higher above the dam, and as a result the stream is several feet wider. Its hard to see in the pic, but the dam was built on an existing fallen tree which has been supplemented with debris, and is braced on the down stream side by several 1" - 3" saplings which have been jammed into the mud. Many of the larger limbs are visibly chewed from the bank.




The area is think with stumps of all sizes which have been chewed and felled - the above is the largest one that I found, and was somewhere between 6" and 8" at the base of the trunk; definitely a sizable tree for a rodent.

I didn't see any beaver, but the ground around many of the larger trees and stumps showed fresh chips, so the activity is very recent. Does anybody still hunt or trap beaver?

 

[Bfish]

I know a guy who traps them... I don't hunt them per say, but I sure do shoot a lot of them every year!

 

[Dead Duck]

 

[Michigan Slim]

They are taking 24" trees down by one of the wastewater plants I manage. They chew as far as they feel comfortable and let the wind do the rest. They are also stripping the small trees and brush. One of my guys called me in all freaked out telling me someone was in there taking a hatchet to our trees! Darn city kid!

 

[printcraft]

I know a guy who traps them... I don't hunt them per say, but I sure do shoot a lot of them every year!

 

[Gluemanz28]

I have hunted beaver for many years with various success rates. I had a dry spell where I was turned down so much that my nick name was bed spread.

 

[Hookeye]

Had some at bud's place. They ringed some big trees so he called the DNR. We popped a few and called per the requirement.
After a few days of calling kills in the DNR said just shoot 'em and quit calling, they knew they were a problem in that region.

 

[HKUSP]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that saw "beaver activity" and just had to come look... Good luck getting rid of your river rats.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Jokes....so many jokes....

 

[Bigtanker]

If you do get one, they are great to munch on. Man, I could eat one after another. Just like warm apple pie.

I'm sure some others could post some good recipes but I like mine fairly rare.......kinda like sushi.

 

[Bigtanker]

Beaver Bonanza Part III: Beaver Three Ways « Four Pounds Flour

Found this beaver three way recipe.

 

[sportsman223]

There used to be a old women that lived south of town that made a beaver and muskrat stew that was real good eating. Had several people try it and loved it until they found out what it was she called it Wabash stew

 

[cschwanz]

About every other year we get some beavers move into one of our ponds and try to dam up our outflow. One year it got really out of hand: They dammed up the outflow and raised the pond level a couple feet and the water started flowing off the side around the dike through the emergency outflow. So the bastards cut down a few trees and dammed that up too raising it another couple feet. I ws pretty impressed, lol. Then we tore it out and had them trapped out of there.

Didn't see any this year so come spring time I'm sure itll be time to go to war with them again.

 

[miguel]

Found this beaver three way recipe.

This made me laugh...

 

[spec4]

They can be dangerous and get you in trouble. That's all I'm sayin...

 

[pudly]

 

[Hkindiana]

If you do decide to eat a beaver, make sure it is cleaned properly, otherwise they can taste like bad fish

 

[Restroyer]

I saw a post about a Cougar sighting and then the one below it said something about Beaver activity and for a minute I thought I was on the wrong website.

 

[ChalupaCabras]

Thanks for the laughs guys!

 

[Bfish]

Man... I was not trying to be dirty at all and we've got printcraft fainting and all! While some of the responses were good, mine was in innocence!

When I say I don't hunt them but shoot a lot of them every year I meant just that... I shoot them when out duck hunting and they are close enough for the shotgun to get a good shot on their head. The most effective thing I've found is shooting them with a rifle (remember rounds will/can ricochet/bounce or fly in crazy directions when shot at the water). If I am fishing a pond or something that I know has a beaver on it I'll just take the rifle along and when I see it I'll lay it to rest.