Beaver hunting?

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I'm not an expert by any means but I've killed 27 of them through trapping and shooting in the last 7 years or so.

Bought 80 acres with a 9 acre pond and one heck of a beaver problem came with it. IMHO the most efficient use of time is trapping by far. 2 other methods I've used successfully is a tactical shotgun with white light, 4 shot and a .223 bolt gun running 55 grain ballistic tips. A light varmint bullet at high velocity doesn't skip. Problem with shooting is they're adaptive buggers, pop a couple in the early morning and they'll change their pattern. Most successful times I've had are right at dusk when they emerge and go on "patrol" (they'll literally swim the pond perimeter checking things out) and it's easy to line up shots when they're swimming at you and you'll have more of a target.

I've yet to loose one with the .223, shotgun I'll find them floating the next day.

Chuck
If the object is to just take them out, any gun will do the job. If you are planning on using or selling the fur then use only head shots with a small caliber rifle and no shotguns. I agree that trapping is the most effective tool to remove problem beavers. (I will be heading out in just a few minutes to check my beaver line.) BTW, beaver meat makes excellent table fare. It is a very tender, sweet, red meat. We use it in place of beef. It makes great BBQ.
 
If the object is to just take them out, any gun will do the job. If you are planning on using or selling the fur then use only head shots with a small caliber rifle and no shotguns. I agree that trapping is the most effective tool to remove problem beavers. (I will be heading out in just a few minutes to check my beaver line.) BTW, beaver meat makes excellent table fare. It is a very tender, sweet, red meat. We use it in place of beef. It makes great BBQ.

Unfortunately in KS utilizing the animal for meat or fur entails a trapping license and within season, they can do a lot of damage waiting for the season to roll around. So for me it was trap or shoot, then coyote bait.

Chuck
 
Unfortunately in KS utilizing the animal for meat or fur entails a trapping license and within season, they can do a lot of damage waiting for the season to roll around. So for me it was trap or shoot, then coyote bait.

Chuck
Same here in Alabama. We can trap or hunt them year around but can only sell any part of them if we have a fur catcher's license (not needed for private use) and then only during the fur bearer season which runs from November through February. At this moment we are in the middle of our trapping season.
 
Same here in Alabama. We can trap or hunt them year around but can only sell any part of them if we have a fur catcher's license (not needed for private use) and then only during the fur bearer season which runs from November through February. At this moment we are in the middle of our trapping season.
ETA, beaver meat is awesome coyote, otter and bobcat bait.
 
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