Beaver defense thread

I have beaver problems at my cottage too and you are well within your rights to dispatch them provided you are on your property.

.22RF does the job with a very well placed shot, but it is a little light in my opinion. There is no problem firing .22RF around water either, 22 center fire is out of the question for safety reasons. I have tried steel BB and it does the job at short range but not quick enough for my liking. I would reccomend patterning if you want to use a shotgun on them and know your limitations.

I just picked up a box of 12 gauge number 4 buck, 3.5". 54 pellets that are .24" diameter should do the trick. It's like shooting a box of 22RF all at once! Going to test that one on the weekend.

If that fails I am going to follow boomer's advice, then nuke from orbit!
 
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nntw said:
I figure I'll most likely deal with it with a .22 RF if it comes to that. It's funny, after much deliberation with myself am selling my mini-14 because it's an unfired safe queen... and this is an example of where it would probably be an excellent tool for the job.
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If they are swimming they present a very small target which is a challenge, use the best rest available. The good thing about them is that if they are working in the area they are not easily deterred and will likely come back fairly soon if you miss.

They also float when dead. I think this statement may get controversial on here, but that is what I have found.
 
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I will third the vote for the 22mag. I have shot many, and all in the head with a 22mag. It's all you get to shoot at if there swimming is a side head shot. They will still roll and dive and you may not get the meat or hide but there are no survivors to munch on your trees another day.

Early morning or dusk is the best time to catch the wee folks out swimming about.
 
They are persistent little buggers and will keep re-building their dams even after blasting the dams or digging them out with a backhoe. Shooting them is the ultimate solution but others will move in as long as a creek has running water.

They rely on all of sight, smell and hearing. I found that the best way to get them was to get the wind in your face and watch the pond/dam at first and last light. A scoped .223 works great, but have taken the heavily armoured ones with A .270.
 
wayde said:
check the legality,in some provinces even red squirrels are protected
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w ww.lrconline.com/Extension_Notes_English/pdf/bvr.pdf


"People are allowed to shoot beaver on their own
property. The Game and Fish Act allows private
landowners to destroy a nuisance animal if the animal is
damaging their property. Check with your municipal
office first to determine if the discharge of firearms is
prohibited by local by-laws in your area.
As with trapping, shooting is a temporary measure. As long
as there is suitable habitat, other beaver will quickly move in."

ht tp://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/FW/2ColumnSubPage/290005.html

"A landowner may humanely kill or trap beavers that are damaging or about to damage their property. Firearm regulations and bylaws must be followed.
You may also hire an agent, including a trapper, to act on your behalf."
 
Wham-O and MrGoat have it. Get in a comfortable chair where they are active, poised with your .22 and facing away from water, sit quietly and wait at dawn or dusk. I know from personal experience and many cut/damaged trees along the water's edge. Unless, of course, you can locate a trapper willing to do the job, but the pelts are not prime at this time of year. Good luck.
 
Last couple times I've run into them, all I've had with me is my .308.

It was, um... Effective.

And, no. They were not in the water at the time, FYI.
 
Screw the legalities and the fur bearing animal crap, when the little beggars are flooding acres of your property as in my case I declared war, and all is fair in love war.

The 22 mag fit the bill for being very effective and quiet in doing it's job. The bambi lovers in the area didn't know a thing except all the nice beavers had moved away, "suddenly". I also cleaned out a few neighbouring ponds to get the main source of any future transients.

My Win M-9422 in 22 mag with an old steel Weaver 2.5 x7 is still one of my go to git -r-done around the property guns.

My wife can cook up a hide of beaver that is to die for. And having said that I don't need any smart ass commentary from you vultures. Although I certainly left myself open for it.:p
 
We have a similar beaver problem. .22 Stingers are used most of the time because of the neighbors are within a quarter mile and we want to keep the noise down. However, those beaver learn and start working at night and surface further away from our "sitting" spot. That's when the 22 mag comes out so that we can reach out and touch them. We've also used the 44 mag when we catch them in the culverts. It hits hard! But if you have neighbors, I would stick with the 22lr.
 
Where it is legal to blast:

1 heavy plastic bag of ANFO, sealed water tight
1 1/4 or 1/2 stick of powder (good old fashioned 75% Forcite works for me)
1 1 metre safety fuse

This with a little elbow grease will make the beaver house and its occupants just a distant memory.
 
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