How to Use a Conabear to Trap Beavers

The conibear trap was invented by a Canadian trapper, Frank Conibear, as a replacement for traditional leg hold traps. It is designed to kill an animal instantly: when it passes through the standing square trap the trigger is tripped, forcefully snapping the jaws closed on its body. The trap consists of a steel rod with a compressible spring attached to each side. Other companies have manufactured similar traps that are classified as "body grip" traps; however trappers commonly refer to all such traps as conibears. The 330 conibear is the proper size for beaver.

Things You'll Need

  • Conibear traps
  • Rebar wire
  • Hatchet
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Instructions

  1. Setting a Conibear

    • 1

      Squeeze one of the springs together. Flip the safety hook that is attached to one half of the spring over the opposite half of the spring. Let the hook slide down toward the outside coil of the spring, as this will hold the compressed spring in place.

    • 2

      Repeat this procedure on the other side of the trap. Both springs should now be compressed and the two halves of each spring held together with the safety hooks.

    • 3

      Grab the square jaws and bring them together: attach the wire trigger to the trigger catch. They are located near the top of each jaw.

    • 4

      Stand the trap up with the springs out to the sides and the trigger on top. Adjust the V trigger so the wires fall straight down and the trigger catch is on the outside of the closed jaws. Flip the catch over the top of the two jaws and push one of the catch's three notches down onto the open space in the metal band that holds the wire trigger. Push the catch down until it fits snugly over the trap jaw.

    • 5

      Slide the safety hooks that are holding the springs together up toward the trap jaws. Flip them off of the springs at the springs' narrowest part. The trap is now ready to catch a beaver.

    Trap Placement

    • 6

      Locate a narrow water channel where beavers swim between feeding grounds or ponds. Adjust the trap springs upward and suspend the trap in the water with the top of the trap just under the water's surface. Make sure the trap faces in the direction the beaver will be coming. Push sticks through the spring end coils and into each opposite bank to hold the trap in place. Lay a large branch across the channel at the water's surface and over the trap so the beaver is forced to dive under it and into the trap.

    • 7

      Another place to set a trap is on a trail going over a beaver dam. The trap can be on top of the dam or in the water on either side of the dam where the beaver swims up to the trail. Push the trap's springs down to the ground and push sticks through the spring's end coils to hold the trap in place.

    • 8

      Another option is to find a trail where a beaver has been going up the stream's bank in order to cut trees. Walk along the stream until you find a muddy, slick trail made by beavers. Place the trap in a narrow part of the trail, or in the water where the beaver is likely to pass through the trap when using the trail. Keep the trap in place by adjusting the springs down to the ground and pushing sticks through the ends of the springs.

    • 9

      Search just under the water's surface for the entrance hole to a beaver den. Place the trap across the entrance of the den and hold it in position by adjusting the springs straight out to each side and pushing sticks through the end coils of the springs into either side of the den.

    • 10

      Bait the trap with small branches from trees. Wire a clump of fresh twigs or willow buds to the trap trigger wires. Place the trap on the bank where beavers are feeding. They will find the bait and be caught when they try to take it. Wire the bait on before the trap is set.