I use all Michigan legal beaver traps- 330's, MB1216's, #5 footholds, under ice snares, and occasionally open water snares. Just like the various calibers and action types of rifles- different tools for different sets/conditions. ;-)
The beavers you shot were adults. Each beaver colony usually consists of the two adults, their young from the previous year and their young from the current year. The adults chase the 2 year-olds out of the colony. Assuming the beavers down there grow at a similar rate to Michigan beavers, I'd say those were 2 1/2 years old, 3 1/2 at most. If they linked up early in their first breeding season they could have the surviving young of up to 2 litters in the colony (one litter born May/June of 2015 and one from May/June of 2015). Probably unlikely if you're not seeing signs of activity. 1 1/2 year-olds would be very active in repairing the dam. Young of the current year (kits) would be less likely to be so active but can care for themselves by this time of year. If they were 2 1/2 years old and linked up late last spring, they may not have bred yet.
If your laws allow, I'd say open up the dam to drain down the pond and watch for any repair activity, freshly cut trees/saplings, or freshly peeled sticks (they eat the bark). If there's no sign of activity in 2-3 weeks then I'd say your work is done. Until the next colony moves in, that is!
FWIW Beavers grow throughout their lives so the older they are- the bigger they are. I catch a few in the 60's each year. My biggest ever was 74 lbs. with several over the years in the 70-73 lb range. I saw one once that weighed 81lbs on a certified scale. I've heard the record was 110lbs from 1921 in Wisconsin, Several years a go, a friend (also from Wisconsin) sent me a picture of one he said weighed 121lbs that was taken by a friend of his. I'd say he's a fairly reliable source. What sucks is the big ones are always the furthest from the roads! Carrying them out is a lot of work.
Good luck and be safe!
John
BTW Rickt300 is right on- beaver really does taste like roast beef! (Not Chicken!)
The beavers you shot were adults. Each beaver colony usually consists of the two adults, their young from the previous year and their young from the current year. The adults chase the 2 year-olds out of the colony. Assuming the beavers down there grow at a similar rate to Michigan beavers, I'd say those were 2 1/2 years old, 3 1/2 at most. If they linked up early in their first breeding season they could have the surviving young of up to 2 litters in the colony (one litter born May/June of 2015 and one from May/June of 2015). Probably unlikely if you're not seeing signs of activity. 1 1/2 year-olds would be very active in repairing the dam. Young of the current year (kits) would be less likely to be so active but can care for themselves by this time of year. If they were 2 1/2 years old and linked up late last spring, they may not have bred yet.
If your laws allow, I'd say open up the dam to drain down the pond and watch for any repair activity, freshly cut trees/saplings, or freshly peeled sticks (they eat the bark). If there's no sign of activity in 2-3 weeks then I'd say your work is done. Until the next colony moves in, that is!
FWIW Beavers grow throughout their lives so the older they are- the bigger they are. I catch a few in the 60's each year. My biggest ever was 74 lbs. with several over the years in the 70-73 lb range. I saw one once that weighed 81lbs on a certified scale. I've heard the record was 110lbs from 1921 in Wisconsin, Several years a go, a friend (also from Wisconsin) sent me a picture of one he said weighed 121lbs that was taken by a friend of his. I'd say he's a fairly reliable source. What sucks is the big ones are always the furthest from the roads! Carrying them out is a lot of work.
Good luck and be safe!
John
BTW Rickt300 is right on- beaver really does taste like roast beef! (Not Chicken!)
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