I need to trap a polecat because it killed 4 of my goslings

If you’re trapping beavers and not eating them, you’re missing out.

I'm pretty happy with my first year trapping beaver. I was always curious about it, and this year just stumbled into it when an acquaintance said he had beaver problems in a drainage creek nearby. A couple hundred bucks later, and I ended the season with five beaver averaging over 45# each (a 30#, 45#, 47#, 50#, and 57#). Must be beginners luck because that just seems like a high percentage of of big ones.

The traps were set probably a total of 30 days in that location and one overnight in another (where I caught the big one). Not sure how good that success rate is, but I'm totally satisfied and eager for next season. Now I have about 60# of beaver meat in the freezer and five decent pelts to get tanned.

A few lessons learned for me:

• I need to get better with 330s. I found a few den entrances but never connected. The traps were triggered a few times, but empty (one time just a tuft of fur). I think I needed to use more fencing poles.

• Hagz clips are kinda useless unless you really need to set 330s at a specific height above the bottom. Otherwise, just stick a branch through the spring holes...

• drowning rods with Hagz locks are so much better than cables. I caught two on cables and both didn't drown, but the rods were perfect.

• even though I was trying for front foot catches, all were rear leg. Maybe my pan tension was too high? 4 pounds?

• Making snares is fun!

I set a live trap out a few days ago and checked it last night before I went to bed, woke up to check it again and the whole trap is gone. What could've possibly happened to it?

The title pretty much explains what this post is about. Is there anyone here willing to sell/gift me unused animal parts? I'm willing to pay, but just to clarify, I'm only interested if you have no use for the animal parts at all and normally just throw them out. Just pm me or leave a comment if any of you are willing to do this. Thanks

I have a family farm in south AL that’s right off of a pretty big river. We are having some serious issues with beavers right now, and I’ve been selected to trap them. 😆 I have 6 conibear 330s that I have put on slides around our main pond, but they’ve been there a week and I haven’t gotten anything… Any tips or pointers would be much appreciated! I was thinking about putting 3 of the traps and doing a dam break set after I found 5 more dams above their pond dam. Tips?

49lbs 22lb respectively

The one on the right has pretty rough looking neck. I think she got roughed up by another coon or maybe another predator. Has a pretty wicked scrape going almost all the way around her neck

Trapped 110 coons, 5 skunks, and 8 opossums (got blanked on yotes) in ‘23. Sorry no pictures. Where does this put me in line with you guys? I truly have no idea. Is this a lot or just run of the mill? How many in a season to be legendary?

How do y’all decide where to place these sets and what do you bait them with? Any YouTube or article links on this are welcome! TIA

DEEP catch on a nice PA kitty

I want to trap this, but I'd hate to be surprised with a skunk, its about 1 ft wide, and there's an exit hole, any ideas on what it might be?

Novice trapper, just ran my first line and caught two raccoon on dog proof traps, problem is they took the traps and stakes with them

What are the unwritten rules/gentlemens agreements of trapping on public land? I spent the day scouting 3/4's of a lake today trying to get the lay of the land; and found main lodge late in the day. Then within 40 yards I found a run going into a bank den that had another person's trap in it; so I put my trap 1/2 way around the lake from that in a less than promising spot. Being new/self taught and not knowing that unwritten rules, I didn't want to do something against trapping etiquette.