Beaver hunting who does it?

[sturmruger]

One of my favorite rodents to hunt is beaver. I used to hunt them all the time when I was a kid, but haven’t had much of a chance to do any more beaver hunting since then, except once a few years ago. My buddy’s parents are having some serious issues with beaver. They are concerned with their house and or driveway getting flooded this spring. We did some recon last fall, but only shot a few small beavers, we are planning on really going nuts this spring and trying eradicate what’s left of the family. From what his parents are telling us, and from what I have seen in the past I think there is at least a dozen beavers in this particular family.

In the past my favorite plan of attack was to get out in the woods about an hour before sunset, and just sit and wait. Usually you will start to see some activity a little before sunset. Another thing that worked really well was to take apart some of the dam so that there was some running water. This will guarantee you will see them out at sunset. I also did some hunting when there was a full moon. It is amazing how well you can see at night if you are in the woods for a couple of hours.

I used several different guns for shooting beavers my two favorite were either my Mini 14 or my SKS. While I have shot beavers with my 10/22 I always felt like it wasn’t enough gun on some of the larger beavers. Who else enjoys hunting these pests? I like it so much I am thinking about putting an ad in the paper offering my services to take care of problem beavers.

 

[charby]

I don't think its legal to shoot them here in Iowa. I have eaten beaver flesh a couple times and didn't find it bad at all. I imagine it would be fun to hunt them, I used to tear out damn as a kid to keep pastures from flooding, used to upset them pretty royal when their pool dropped in less than five minutes.

Charby

 

[sm]

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Both breaching dams and hunting beaver is illegal in Wisconsin, I believe. It's been awhile since I lived there, but it was illegal when I was young.

 

[sturmruger]

I just checked the DNR website before posting this so that I wasn't openly admitting to something that was illegal. There has recently been a change that categorizes beavers as an unprotected species. It allows property owner to shoot, or trap any beavers on their land. Since I will be hunting with the landowners permision I will be covered 100%.


Here is the link to the WI DNR

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/wildlife/regs/04TrappingRegs.pdf

 

[Smoke]

We are discussing furry rodents with large flat tails....right?

 

[sturmruger]

That is what the last few I saw looked like. You know they swim around and slap the water when they get scared.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

The regulation on page 30 states that "Landownwers, occupants, and family members" may hunt beaver on their land. I'm guessing that you either have to own the land, live there or be an immediate family member to hunt them legally. I'm not trying to be a lawyer here or anything, but from my run-ins with the DNR in WI, most of them are not very forgiving.

 

[sturmruger]

Since I am a law abiding member of the community I do my best to follow all aplicable laws pertaining to hunting and fishing. When it come to the law here in the state of WI I follow it to the letter.

I found another great document from the WI DNR that further clarrifies who can hunt beaver. NRAFORLIFE is correct about one thing you do not want to get in a pissing match with the DNR. They will confiscate the clothes off your back in Nov and make you walk out of the woods naked if you give them a good reason. Since my beaver hunting is done with the landowner the only thing I would ever need to cover myself any better would be to have a written request from him asking me to come over and shoot his beavers. Considering we are right in the middle of private property I am not too concerned about the DNR showing up.

More info for beaver hunters.

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/fhp/waterway/permits/beaverdamage.pdf

 

[pete f]

last time i said i was going out looking for beaver my wife hit me so hard my knees would not touch for a week







we use equal parts of bullseye and black ffg and mason jars. they float up real nice.

 

[sturmruger]

I knew it was only a matter of time before I started getting the beaver jokes.


My wife always tells me I am not going to find any in the woods.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Sturm,

That's funny. I know personally several individuals who were caught doing bad things and losing there hunting privileges for 5 years was the least of their worries. My dad owns a bunch of property over in Price county and it is all surrounded by private land. The beaver populations are catostophic sometimes. The local landowners for many a year have taken the overpopulation into their own hands. Me? Well, let's just say, I have been "told" that an 8mm Mauser is plenty enough gun for the beav. Regardless of size.

nra4life

 

[JohnBT]

Chief Dave used to have a nice hunting rig and posted this pic on RFC.

www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31942&highlight=chief+dave+boat

"Chief Says : I recently sold that boat to a government agancy.
(DEA). The boat , equipped with infared image tracking devices,
also heat seeking sensors.
The boat was designed to be operated in complete darkness.
The operator to use Night Vision goggles when in motion . At
the time one can power up the portable genset , to use the
24 hologen spotlights.
Ofcourse = With the 2 beltfed FAL's the boat had to go to a ffl
dealer.
BWAHahaaaa CD."

 

[jerryd]

How big are those Beavers your hunting? with a boat like that you could patrol the coast up here in Ct.

 

[sturmruger]

I shot an adult male beaver that was over 50 lbs, but all I needed was my SKS. A setup like the one listed above is probably a little much.

 

[JohnBT]

Chief Dave owns a demolition company. His wife shows horses and he has his hobbies. A very interesting gentleman indeed.

John

 

[stevelyn]

When I lived up along the Yukon River we would hunt beavers in the early spring before break-up. We head shoot them with .22s. Never had a problem with getting a quick, clean kill or losing them.

 

[Group9]

Where I grew up, (the Mississippi Delta), beavers were (and still are) pretty much out of control. When I was in high school, (back in the 70's) you could shoot a beaver and take the tail to the county and collect a $5 bounty. You could then take the receipt from the county and mail it into the state and get another $5.

Beavers financed a good part of my extra curricular activities in high schoool.

 

[Browns Fan]

Group9,
Sounds like a fun way for a teenager (or anyone, for that matter) to make acouple of bucks.