Spring hunting Beaver
Another thread got me to remembering spring hunts I've been on.
The first one I went on was back around 1966. The thing I remember most about that hunt was the waiting for the Beaver to swim close enough to the bank for us to have a chance of retrieving it with a stick.
Most of the time that meant that the Beaver had to be no more then ten feet from the bank, or from shallow enough water for a person to wade out to retrieve it.
Out of necessity we learned how to call Beaver in close. The call was simply an imitation of the sound of a Beaver chewing on a stick and it was somewhat successful, but not guaranteed.
I loved those hunts. We usually went as a group, three, four or more local tappers, usually family members or close neighbors.
Years later I hunted a lot by myself and I thought a lot about how to get those Beaver that stayed out reach.
One day I was out fishing and I had one of those light bulb moments.
Why couldn't I retrieve them with fishing gear.
Obviously using a normal fishing lure was out of the question. It would sink below the surface and get caught on a submerged log for sure.
But being an inventive type the solution was obvious.
I made a Beaver retrieval lure.
I took a half inch diameter dry piece of wood about three inches long.
I drilled a 1/8 inch hole down the center of the piece, length ways.
Then I threaded a piece of heavy fishing line through that hole, tied on the largest treble hook I could find and tied a swivel to the other end and I had my Beaver retriever.
Next I took a collapsible fishing rod I owned. One of those with the sections that push inside of each other and so collapse down to about two feet long.
Then I made a hook cover out of a pill bottle and and off I went hunting for a Beaver to test my idea on.
Remember, up till then the Beaver had to be within ten feet of the bank or I wouldn't shoot it. And even then I would loose some that would thrash their way out of reach.
The first Beaver that evening was one cautious Beaver. It stayed well out of reach but eventually came within twenty feet. One shot and it lay still.
Perfect, now to see if my idea works. Out comes the fishing pole, off with the hook protector, extend the sections and cast.
Dang! That plug flew nearly 100 feet! I missed my aim so I had to cast again, but at least I didn't get snagged. That part works.
Second cast was closer to thirty feet and right on the money. My line lay across the middle of the floating Beaver.
I reeled in till the plug touched the beaver then gave a quick pull.
Success !
I was amazed at how well it worked. I used that system right up till I quit trapping. It never failed me, and it retrieved a few beaver I never thought it could. Like one I only stunned. Darn thing came back to life and made for the bottom but with my hook firmly tangled up in it's fur I was able to worry it back to the surface and finish the job and retrieve it.
So if you guys are spring hunting Beaver like I used to and having trouble retrieving them, maybe this would work for you. At least it's worth a try, right?
And by the way, I found that giving the hook a yank was not necessary and sometimes it would pop the plug right over top the beaver.
Just pulling the hook through the fur was enough, so long as one didn't pull too hard.
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Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few.
George Bernard Shaw
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