What type of lock do you use for snaring beaver?
Also would you a different one for live catching them for relocation. Thanks

Cam or slim locks both work well on beaver for killing. You need a fully relaxing lock for live catch.

I use cam locks. They are just fine for capturing beaver alive, as most of my snared beaver are quite alive when I get to them. However, I do not target a neck catch on beaver, and I avoid entanglement.

What is a "fully relaxing" lock???

-- Hal

I use cam-locks.From time to time I experiment with other types to see if I'm missing anything,so far I'm not

"For relocation"? We cannot release them in my state w/o a stocking permit, and you ain't-a-gonna-git-one for beaver from our DNR. Also, we have to have written permission to release them on public or private (landowners' permission) land. No one is going to give you permission, because no one wants them on their land.

I'll be the first to say that the law is not the same from state, or in all states. However, the above is reasonably common to a number of states. What is the law in New Hampshire?

From time to time we get asked to do some ADC beaver work, and the landowner(s) don't want the beaver killed. They want us to take them (the beaver that is, but sometimes I think it ought to be the landowner) out in the woods and turn them loose. We cannot do that, and the fact that we are legally prohibited from doing it, is a simple explanation to the landowners.

We have lost some work because we won't take the beavers down to the nearest water, and release them. But we loose very little, as most folks understand that we would be in violation if we did.

Adios,
45/70,
RKBA !!!

LOL, when I said relocate them, it was just to get an idea on the least damaging lock to the hide on a live beaver. I am not planning on relocating them. My mistake, sorry. I have an idea to run by you guys. If I only have 2' of water to work with, drowning will not work (w/o brake rotors). I plan on using a slide cable to move them out to where there is no entanglement so they can swim around and not damage themselves. I will add a extension to the slide where it hooks on to the bag of rocks to stop them short of the bag itself, that way they cannot get leverage on the bag to move it as well. Maybe I am over thinking the whole thing? Do you think I need to put the extension cable on the slide wire? what do you think of the idea?

I use riechart locks myself,they are easier on fur than others I have tried.

I have found the cam lock to be the least damaging on fur.

-- Hal

Being the devils advocate here........do you care to aproximate the numbers used for your comparison ?

Nope. I tried both. Found the cam lock did less damage. And quit using the Riechart.

But... I will be honest with you here. The snares I was using were snares Byron Riechart himself was making and selling. He used a coiled wire ferrule. That style ferrule makes the end of the cable flare, out and it becomes a steel burr. That had a lot to do with things getting tangled up in the fur.

And you know what the truth is... the best way to reduce fur damage is don't snare them in the first place.


-- Hal