Retrieving Beavers

Here are some thoughts I have about retrieving these water varmints (where I live the rural municipality pays a bounty).  Spring is a great time to be hunting them.

If you’re in a boat, head over there quickly. I’ve tried a number of things but nothing seems to work as well as grabbing a hind foot and bringing it up-and-over the gunnel of the boat. The beaver can’t get a chomp on your hand when it’s inside the boat hanging onto the beaver’s foot while the rest of the beaver dangles in the water on outside of the boat. I’ve tried large nets, bungee-powered snares on poles, and spring-loaded fish grapplers. The equipment mostly just gets in the way.

Bavrs that you’ve shot and that you ar trying to grab ar usually ying or ad; they arn’t consious so the procur is quit saf on you larn how. (Sorry about the missing lttrs–’d', ‘e’, and ‘c’–thos ar th ons that I typ with th mil fingr of my lft han, an thr’s just a stump thr now….<G>)

For ponds, chest waders are almost a must have. Either the wind will blow the beaver to some place you can’t easily get at or it’ll be calm and the beaver will get stranded before reaching shore. Be sure to wear a PFD (personal flotation device), though because you sometimes step into a beaver run and drop a foot or so unexpectedly. Waders work in small streams as well.

The most difficult retrieves occur in streams where you don’t have a boat but that are too big to wade into (expecially during the spring run-off).  My suggestion (I haven’t tried it) is to use a long pole with a line and a large three-pronged fishing hook on the end. Or maybe a fishing rod. Even if you shoot them on shore they’ll often kick themselves into the water so you’ve got to move fast; if you’re not keeping them for the fur it might (not necessarily) help to put another bullet or two (from your .22LR) into them.

Even beavers that sink will pop to the surface again in a day or two. So if it sinks from sight it might still come back to the surface (and blow to shore) by the next evening.

Fun whatever you do, though!

Ken

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.17 HMR for Beaver?

Although I have never owned a .17HMR I think it is probably a very good cartridge for beaver.  I say that for a few reasons:

• On my first DVD, KenC shoots a few as I film.  He is able to make good kills at what I thought were respectable ranges (about 80 to 125 yards).  For that you need accuracy and the .17 has it.
• I once owned an HK semi-auto .22 Mag (parent cartridge of the ,17) and thought it was a pretty good cartridge for beaver.  At that time (and now, actually) I was mostly using a .22LR.  The .22 Mag was superior (unfortunately it was stolen).  And, I think the .17 has some significant advantages over the .22 Mag.
• The .22LR is a decent cartridge for beaver but has limitations–mainly being that it doesn’t, in my opinion, have enough ‘extra’ for all the opportunities that beavers present.  That becomes apparent when other, quick, follow-up shots are required at rates that are higher than with other varmint hunting situations.  The .17 eliminates some of these problems.

On the other hand, I do have concerns related to bullet construction and bullet weight.  Not having enough experience with these, however, they may turn out to be non-issues.  Here’s why I wonder:

• The beaver is a very large animal and commonly out-weighs the coyote.  It is also a very compact animal with a lot of ability to absorb bullets (although not really that hard to kill).
• Will the bullet penetrate enough on a body shot to cause near-instant incapacitation?  Will it cause significant head trauma when stiking the skull?

I have frequently shot beaver on my river trips as they sat on shore.  The river I most like to hunt carries a considerable amount of sediment and beavers will be impossible to see once they’ve sunk a few inches.  As well, there is a fairly strong current.  (Sinking can occur at sloughs / ponds but the water is usually clear and retrieval is possible.  There is, of course, no current.)  On beaver hunting expeditions it can often happen that beaver will immediately collapse on shore with a head shot but 5 or 10 or 20 seconds later will begin to kick with its hind legs (this type of reaction can be seen with head shots on any animal–think of all the time you’ve seen it when gopher shooting); this too often results in the beaver kicking itself back into the river and disappearing.  (I haven’t had this type of loss occur very often with cartridges larger than a rimfire; most centrefires seem to anchor them quickly.)  Sometimes, even when in a boat and with all proper haste, you just can’t get there in time.  It seems to be less of a problem in the early spring because beaver tend to float better then; but a few weeks later they sink.  Fortunately, some of the very best hunting happens during the spring flood when beavers will still remain floating.

 

I think there was a reason the old-timers used a cartridge like the Hornet; it had that extra edge of power and bullet strength over the twenty-two rimfires.  Every lost beaver was $XX.00 out-of-pocket so it was worth the extra expense of a center-fire cartridge.

 

So, having said all that, I’d use the .17HMR in an instant.  I think my .222 is more versatile because it allows anchoring shots from across wide rivers or when you have to position yourself further away because of the way the pond is laid out, but those shots are infrequent (unless you plan it that way; if you do, you’d be wiser to use your coyote cartridge).  For all-round beaver hunting, the .17HMR should do it successfully with a high enough percentage that the disadvantages would be minimal.  I say that with the understanding that 100 yards is a long shot for a beaver; most should be under 50 yards.

 

I do have a suggestion for shooting swimming beavers that might help; wait until they are swimming away and shoot them in the back of the skull.  There seems to be less likelihood of glancing shots (with rimfires) with this placement.  When beavers are on land, head shots or chest shots seem to work best.

 

Well, that’s my opinion.

 

Ken

Three Drives

First Drive

This is the hunt described in “Lots of Predators in View”.

Second Drive

This past Friday (yesterday), Rhoda and I went for a drive looking for foxes and coyotes.

We saw three coyotes and I got a shot at one but had to guess the range and Rhoda said I hit just over its back.

Later we stopped at a place where I’d gotten a long shot at a fox last week.  I took my laser rangefinder with me and Rhoda parked the truck at the position from which I’d been shooting.  I snow-shoed in (I probably shouldn’t have because I have a chest cold and I had to stop and do a bit of coughing every 50-100 yards.  But I managed to get the range–991 yards.  Couldn’t find any sign of the fox, though–too much time had passed and too much melting had taken place.

Third Drive

Went for another drive this morning.  Spotted two singles, one triple, and three doubles; total of eleven coyotes.  Also saw one fox curled up, snoozing.  I did a u-turn after driving well past the first single and then drove most of the way back before stopping the vehicle and heading across a farm field and to the top of a shallow rolling hill.  The coyote had moved off but was still mousing around.  Unfortunately, there was another shallow hill between the two of us and when I lay prone I couldn’t see it.  I was able to see it from a sitting position but it was just a bit too far.

A few minutes later we (I was driving with my deer-hunting partner, Gary) spotted the triple.  They weren’t much afraid but had walked into a small bush before I was ready to shoot.  When they moseyed out the other side, I cross-haired one that stood broadside.  At the shot I saw it landing from a jump as my rifle came back from recoil and Gary told me that it did a complete forward summersault before lighting the afterburners.  Later today I’ll put on my snowshoes and go out for a look-see.

About an hour later we caught one of a pair at a decent shooting distance from a road but by the time we got legal it had doubled the distance heading west.  Gary’s first shot kicked up snow a bit low but right under the coyote’s east end.  His second did much the same but was even lower.  It was exciting to watch through the binoculars. 

Our other best opportunity was a fox curled up, snoozing, in a field.  Unfortunately it was across the road from some cattle and too close to a farm house.  Dang!  Murphy at work again.

With the right equipment we might have had shots most all the animals we saw.  I really need a longer-range rifle…Say, I’ve got a birthday coming up in nine months…

Rhooooddaaaaa…<G>

Ken

Lots of Predators in View

Gents:

 

Last Friday, partly as a scouting trip for the weekend, I took a drive near home during the last hour of daylight.  I saw at least a half-dozen animals with matching numbers of coyotes and foxes.  I was able to get one very long shot (for me) at a fox; about 600 yards.  I think I hit it twice but it eventually walked into a cattail slough so I wasn’t able to confirm as my snowshoes were out-of-order (I’ll be out in the next few days to check–my new snowshoes arrived today and I can also take my rangefinder along).

 

Late that evening a friend (also named Ken) arrived for a weekend hunt.  THe next morning we got an early start and within the hour had seen at least another half-dozen animals.  I managed to bag a fox with my heavy-barrelled .308 although I at first thought I’d missed as I’d seen the snow blow up on the other side as the fox ran off.  It stopped another hundred or so yards out and just as I was settling the crosshairs again, it rolled over, dead.  During the rest of the day we saw many more animals but all too far.  And, they had no interest in responding to a call.  Towards evening we returned to the area close to home where we spotted a fox in a field.  When we turned down a farm road, it disappeared into a den in the ground.  Ken decided to get out an see if he could outwait the fox while I drove most of a kilometre away where I could watch from slightly higher ground.  The fox never showed itself but as I watched with the binoculars I spotted two other, separate, foxes that were on the other side of Ken.  Unfortunately, he was lower than they were and could not see them.  I was wishing we’d taken our FRS radios because they may have been in range if he’d known they were there and had been able to sneak to another rise in the ground.

 

On Sunday Bill joined us.  Again we saw numerous animals including two pairs and a loner out in one field.  But they could see us from much too far away and were safe from our predations.  Ken had to leave about noon to pick up his wife and drive home but Bill and I continued to hunt.  Within ten minutes we caught a coyote that had just crossed a farm road and I managed to make the shot.  During the rest of the day we called a number of times but never had good responses.  We did see two foxes that laid up about 600 yards away from one callling location and another fox that ran towards us (and into a bush) at another location but nothing, for all those days, responded to within range of our rifles.

 

We quit the day about two hours before darkness because the fog rolled in and we both had 50 minute drives to get home.

 

We probably saw at least 30 animals during those hunts but only managed a fox and a coyote.  Still, better than working or getting skunked, eh!

 

Ken

This Was a Surprise…

Gents:

 

I’m working about 50 minutes from home and most of the drive is either highway or back roads.  So I take the latter whenever I can.  Tuesday I spotted two foxes and two coyotes.  Wednesday I spotted three coyotes.  Generally, although I’m starting to see predators, this has been a poor year of hunting for me.

 

Today I car pooled with a co-worker.  About five minutes after leaving work I spotted a coyote in a field, which I pointed out to her.  Once we hit the highway I still kept looking on both sides of the highway but she had her eyes firmly on the road ahead.  Then, surprisingly, she said, “There’s something up there!”– a surprise because she doesn’t see blue jays flying across the road in front of the vehicle or sharptail grouse standing on the snow beside the road.  Last week she didn’t see a fox trotting less than a hundred yards out in a bare field.  I don’t think she sees potholes either, because she drives right into most of them.

 

When I looked ahead, about 300 yards in front, I spotted two dogs on the left side of a crossroad; one looking like a German shepard and the other like a black lab.  I also immediately noticed a vehicle stopped on the crossroad on the right side of the highway.  I thought it was someone out “walking” their dogs.

 

A second or so later, the black lab seemed to step into some deep snow because it was suddenly down on the ground.  Then I noticed it was laying on its side on the crossroad.  On the right side of the highway, standing by his truck was a man aiming a rifle; he’d just shot the black lab.

 

He still had his rifle at his shoulder and we were quickly approaching the crossroad.

 

With a considerable amount of emphasis I yelled at my coworker to stop the vehicle.  I could imagine that the shooter was concentrating on shooting and did not know we were coming and that I might end up in the same condition as the lab; I was on the side nearest the shooter.

 

She braked hard and that coincided with the man lowering his rifle.  We never did stop and were able to make it through the crossroad without incident.

 

Ahh…the things one witnesses if one only lives long enough.

 

Ken

Just A Few Thoughts

Strange as it may seem, I’ve never, ever seen a wild cat (lynx, bobcat, mountain lion).  Only feral house cats.  Did see a wolverine once, though.  Also have seen a few wolves but I mostly hunt where they ain’t.

 

I’ve just started a new job teaching adult upgrading to aboriginal students.  It pays well and so I’ll finally have a few extra bucks for a toy.  I’d been hoping to get a snow machine because I just can’t snowshoe far enough to get into some of the areas I’d like to hunt but that’s looking like it might not happen–too expensive for now.

 

So…I’m thinking of another rifle.  While I was at the Shot Show, I saw the Volquartsen semi-auto .223.  And fell in love.  I’ve felt for years that a semi-auto, well used, would be a superb calling rifle.  But I don’t know much about them and need some input.  What do you think about the rifle?  Your opinions about semi-autos aren’t part of this question–just your thoughts about the Volquartsen.  We can’t have semi-auto military-type firearms here, so some of my other options are not possibilities.

 

On another topic, I think that the .17 HMR is probably an ideal rifle for some types of hunting (ptarmigan and squirrels).  Unfortunately, neither are found nearby.  As well, upland bird season closes in December and the only squirrels (and very few anyway) are red squirrels.  I haven’t eaten them since I was a teenager hunting with a slingshot.  Not much meat and pretty stringy when cooked on a stick over an open fire.

 

So far, I’m not too impressed with the .204 for coyotes.  Ahh, I can hear it now…what’s he saying!!!  But my limited experience with center-fire calibers less than .224 has not given me any confidence.  But I will say that I think it’s great for prairie dogs…  Maybe I’ll sell it.

 

Last year I sold my .338 Win mag.  Mainly because I’d purchased it for hunting in Alberta where the occasional grizzly roams.  Here in Saskatchewan there aren’t any bears (or other dangerous game) that requires that large a cartridge.  Still, I’m of the opinion it’s a great cartridge and I’ve already had some regrets.  It shot very well (Rick filmed me shooting a coyote at three-hundred yards once–the impact in the dirt on the other side was impressive) and it knocked down whitetail and mule deer with authority.

 

Ken

Single on Sunday

Gents:

 

I went out hunting this past Sunday.  It seems like it’s been ages–first prep for the Shot Show, then down to Las Vegas, then back home and down with the flu.  It seems like it’s been at least a month.  Not acceptable for an AWOLer.

 

Bill and I spent most of the day hoping to get a decent shot at a fox or coyote in Flatlandia.  But no luck.  The coyotes were just too far away and the foxes would jump up and be gone if you slowed down or tried a sneak-back.  What we really needed was a benchrest quality shooter with a .338 Lapua and a brother for a spotter.   Maybe Santa’s sending one…

 

So in the early afternoon we headed back north to the rolling farmland.  We found a couple of great spots to call but I guess the coyotes hadn’t found them yet because they weren’t there.  Just as dusk was approaching, however, we spotted a trail that a farmer had pushed through the snow across his field so we took it to the end and parked behind a small copse of trees.  There was a snowmobile trail cutting across the field from where we’d parked and the snow was hard-packed to within 30-40 yards of a ridge.

 

I’d tried calling earlier in the day but each attempt brought on a fit of coughing so it was up to Bill to do his magic.  I’d brought along a stadium chair to sit in (a pad to sit on, a back rest, but no legs, and foldable) but decided instead to stretch it out and lay down with my bipod resting on the crusted snow atop the ridge.  Unfortunately, I started to get cold right away (when I get ill, I have trouble getting warm again once I get chilled) and I thought about putting myself into a sitting position.  As well, I found that it was a bit difficult to make any type of adjustment if the coyote came in from anywhere but straight ahead–the snow was not as hard as I’d hoped and the bipod broke through.  Being cold, I was reluctant to take off my mits to use beneath the feet of the bipod.

 

Just about the time I was thinking I’d have to sit up, I spotted a coyote out in front and running along the snowmobile track in our direction.  It disappeared for a moment and I was concerned that it might get into our scent zone but it suddenly appeared on the top of a small crest about 125 yds out in front.  I was going to give a quick yell to stop it when I thought of Mike’s dying boot trick–so I bent my leg at the knee and wobbled my foot over my back.  Perfect–the coyote stopped!  A 69-grain Sierra HPBTM  put him into a long-duration sleep.  Good thing because it would have smelled us in another 20 yards.

 

That was it for the day.  Not as much as we’d like, but a great finish none-the-less.

 

Ken

2010 Shot Show

Rhoda and I went to the Shot Show for the very first time.  What an event!

Most exciting for us was meeting with some great people with items that we think will be very interesting to varmint hunters.  Now that we’re back home, we’re beginning to get back in touch with them and soon hope to have their products available.  It might take a bit of time, though as we’re having a terrific snowstorm here and our flight was diverted–which means that all our luggage ended up 500 miles away from home.

I hope all is well with all of you.  Ken

Hunting Wooded Areas

I got an email from Corey asking about hunting wooded areas.  I don’t hunt them too often (I now live on the Prairies) but I did  have a few thoughts to share.  If  you read this and are a predator hunter that concentrates on hunting the forests, please feel free to comment (and if you think I’m wrong, please mention that and tell us why).

My thoughts:

I think you’re going to have extra challenges when in wooded areas.  I’m a visual person and I really like the open areas.  I was asked once to make a video about hunting the forests but I don’t enjoy it enough because, for me, watching coyotes coming in is a great part of the fun.  I did get a black fox out of the forest once with a partner as well as two coyotes and that put a huge grin on my face, though.  So here are a few thoughts for you to consider:

• if by yourself, make sure you can see downwind; it’s probably better if there is a slight breeze so your scent doesn’t contaminate a large area right where you’re sitting; I believe you can fool the eyes and ears of a coyote but never, ever, their nose
• use a self-climbing tree seat (quietly) to get some elevation; even 6-8 feet should really improve your view; if using an electronic call, place it upwind, on the ground, but make sure you can see beyond it for those animals that won’t be coming from downwind; a tree seat may seem to be just more ‘junk’ to cart around but might be a good substitute for other things you can leave behind 
• if it’s fairly quiet (not a lot of wind) start by calling fairly softly (I call as loud as possible when on the prairies and have my electronic call cranked up when I use it in the wide open spaces–just be sure you can tone it down when you see something)
• if you hunt with a partner in the forest, set him straight downwind about 30-50 yards (depends on forest thickness); you don’t have to see him, just know where he is for safety reasons; keep in touch with 2-way radios if you can (the caller should be upwind); both of you need to be able to watch all around (360 degrees)–you never know from where they’ll come

Your very biggest problem is; are there coyotes there?  That is a must-know!  Do you hear howling?  See tracks and scat?  Is it coyote and not dog or jack rabbit?  Make sure you go in quietly.  Also remember that, with wind, your vehicle and the path you take, blows scent into the area.  Sometimes it’s best to park your vehicle straight downwind and set up about 500 (or more) yards away and straight upwind–that way the coyote likely won’t smell, or see, your vehicle as it approaches (I’m assuming that it will be much closer on its approach). 

Do the farmers have coyotes coming in to their farms?  Coyotes here come to ranches frequently and you can just about bet that there’ll be coyotes reasonably close to cattle ranches.  If there is a chicken farm close by it may be a cracker jack spot (one day we just waited and sniped–no calling–and got 10 coyotes–six in the morning and 4 at dusk).  Surprisingly, it can be very good if there is a large ’acreage’ population around a city because there are so many people and usually no hunting–but you have to work out the hows, wheres, whens, etc.) 

Well, I hope this helps.

Ken