I've got some beaver wreaking havoc on my property in East TX. I bought the property back in August, and I noticed a downed tree next to my pond then. I haven't noticed much activity until lately but I am only up there a few times per month.

This week I noticed he's going after a pretty big Ash tree, which is also right next to my shop building. I am thinking of trying to shoot it since trapping beaver seems difficult and I do not have experience trapping. Or hire someone to trap it/them.

Any advice?

This photo was from Friday:


Today:


The trail cam doesn't seem to get him very well, but this photo looks like a pretty small beaver:

Shoot it. Just go out at night and you can usually hear them. Spotlight and a quick shot and that will be the end of it.

That's my plan, I am going to hit him with a 62gr 5.56 round if I can get him. Problem is getting up there. I plan to go up there tomorrow spend the night into Friday trying to tag him. Hope he is out that night, he seems really sporadic when he is active.

Good news is I've seen a handful of deer on this camera location coming onto my property.

Find the dam, tear part down to lower water then sit by water at last light and shoot him.
You have more than one I'm betting. How big is the lodge?

Agreed there will likely be more than one. They are really active at night, just be patient.

I haven't seen any dam. I am also thinking probably more than one. I'll have to look around more this week.


Going to try!

They are starting a dam somewhere if you haven't found it. Breaking open the dam (as suggested) early in the day and then setting up on the pond from just before sundown until an hour or two after dark works fairly well. Otherwise set up and watch that tree and others in the area and take it when it is on the bank.

If you aren't finding a dam or even if you are, the den may be in the creek bank and not a stereotypical lodge.

Thermal
Cooler
Beer (Just a couple)
Chair
Suppressed bolt gun
Problem solved

Its not like there are some nights they do not come out. Should be a one night operation unless you have multiple.

Just put some foot hold traps on their runs and around that tree. They aren’t a trap wary animal like a coyote.

Find the den, shoot early evening. Some say grilled beaver is pretty tasty.

DNSpy is right about the under bank home. No dam to destroy. Find their “run” or trail where they come ashore and trap them.

I’ve had problems with them twice on my creek and once on a neighbors big stock tank. Once I tore up the dam and they went elsewhere. On the tanks/ponds I’ve used traps where they were coming ashore. They can also be “discouraged” by the use of explosives around/at the den entrance.

I'm in East Texas between Athens and Palestine. I have trapped or shot 6 off my 2 acre pond. I'd be happy to loan you some traps or sit out at your pond and shoot them.

Be very quiet, sit at a strategic location on the dam; just at sunset. He won’t come out till dark. Have a good rifle rest. Sometimes there will be a family of 9. On that tree and others like it, buy the cheap chicken wire at TSC, wrap the tree 3 feet up and wire shut. That works for me every time. Their teeth don’t like it.

Appreciate all the responses. I came up here for the last 2 nights as I needed to do a few things up here anyways.

Weds night I tagged one around 1am, I saw 2 others swimming at that time. They didn't pop up much after that.

Last night I got another one, and saw at least 1 more swimming around. I cant figure out where their lodge is. I see trails going in all directions on every side of the pond. There's downed or partially downed trees in a few areas. I had to take one down with my chainsaw yesterday before they dropped it on my shop. Going to set up some traps and keep shooting also when I can. They are making a heck of a mess. Maybe I am an idiot, but I can't find their home and also never dealt with beaver before so probably a little bit of both!


Hey thanks, my farm is up in Bowie county, but really appreciate it. Going to buy some traps, seems like they'll get some good use.

Skin it and eat it. Tan the fur

Beavers are cool animals

Be sure to deal with whatever beavers you have permanently and ASAP
They'll undercut your tank dam and ruin the whole thing.
You've already seen what damage they do to your trees.
They're not much more than aquatic feral hogs and need to
be gotten rid of

Good Luck

Both. Just get rid of the sons of itches