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#492742 06/26/18 05:09 PM
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Any thoughts on the ideal pond gun?

Dispatching cotton mouth, snappers and the occasional rabid pointy beak feathered fish rustler are the primary uses that come to mind.
I'm thinking either a 22mag or a 12ga would be about right. A combo gun (drilling?) Might fit the bill.

Thoughts?

Last edited by Clay N' Pray; 06/26/18 05:09 PM.

Half acre 30 year old farm pond, Mebane NC. Aeration & feeder.
LMB, CC, SC, BG, HBC, two no account welfare carp and nine seasonal Tilapia that all the other fish are terrified of.

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I carry a 22 long rifle pistol when I have a snake or gator that needs tending to. If it's a snake or rustler, I use rat shot. If it's a gator....hollow point!! Luckily I haven't had any poisoness snakes so far, but ain't nothing eating my fish that ain't gonna feed me! Turtles don't eat enough fish to really matter, but I ain't beyond giving them an invite for dinner if they get big enough to mess with.

Gator on the other hand...yum. And if he's inside my fense, he's just become a threat to my 4 legged kids.


.10 surface acre pond, 10.5 foot deep. SW LA. The epitome of a mutt pond. BG, LMB, GSF, RES, BH, Warmouth, Longear Sunfish, Gambusia,Mud Minnows, Crappie, and now shiners!!...I subscribe!!
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I'm not a gun guy although I do own a few, but my favorite rifle to shoot is a Henry lever action 22.

I like the way it feels and I bought it with the idea my grandsons would be shooting it. For them I like the lever action over an automatic because you have to physically put a live round in the chamber and once you shoot there is no live round in the chamber till you physically move the lever again. I just felt the lever action was safer for them than a semi-auto.

But I really like shooting the rifle also.

If you want a 22 pistol my wife and I both have different models of the Buckmarks. They are a nice small caliber gun to plink with.

Last edited by snrub; 06/26/18 05:34 PM.

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Taurus Judge with .410 shells. I have one and love it


It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

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I am not very knowledgeable about this either, and also use a .22 LR, but this is not supposed to be a good gun for water critters due to poor water penetration and ricochets off the water. Know what's behind what you are shooting at.

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Yes the 22 LR will skip.

If it was me looking for a utility gun it would be the 22 mag with the 10-22 clip bolt action open sites. You can slip the clip in and out with ease. The open site keep dirt of any scope lenses. It is big enough to take out a coyote and I expect any gator too.

If I was going to get a varmint gun to get the job done over and over that will last for many good years.

This would be the one.

Cheers Don.

Last edited by DonoBBD; 06/26/18 07:04 PM.

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Don, I have to agree with your choice. My go to pond gun is the 22 mag. It will bust a snake into two pieces and will make a Cormorant take to flight from 400 yds away. I like to adjust my windage as it sets on cover at the pond. I do like the variable scope I have on mine and prefer it over an open sight. Not very often but sometimes I will take my lever action 4/10 just for a change.


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Originally Posted By: Dave Davidson1
Taurus Judge with .410 shells. I have one and love it


X 2

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What range do you get (useable pattern) with the judge and #7 shot?
I'm not normally a fan of Taurus firearms but I'm intrigued by the concept of a revolving shotgun.
I always thought of it as gimmicky, due to the rifled barrel throwing the shot pattern all over the map.
I'm thinking it's a 10 foot away type tool, or am I mistaken?


Half acre 30 year old farm pond, Mebane NC. Aeration & feeder.
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Savage Model 24, 22 lr over 20 gauge.


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Originally Posted By: TGW1
Don, I have to agree with your choice. My go to pond gun is the 22 mag. It will bust a snake into two pieces and will make a Cormorant take to flight from 400 yds away. I like to adjust my windage as it sets on cover at the pond. I do like the variable scope I have on mine and prefer it over an open sight. Not very often but sometimes I will take my lever action 4/10 just for a change.


The scope can make this into a tack driver for sure. When hunting coyotes the scope becomes more of a problem in the snow. By the time you get the cover off and the yote is in a run it can be hard to get the good shot off.

This model has an easy remove scope rail. Do you have a 3X9 on yours?


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It's hard to pick just one gun to do everything. Here in Ohio I find a .22LR with a scope and 12ga will do just about everything for my needs around the pond.

I have shot a Taurus Judge and it's a decent gun. I would consider having on hand when walking my property. There have been times when I've walked up and spooked Coyotes at very close range and wished I would have had something on me..

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Originally Posted By: Theo Gallus
Savage Model 24, 22 lr over 20 gauge.


I'll second that! My savage 24 22lr/410 is the brush gun I take out on the place. My second choice would be the Taurus Judge if I needed my hands free.

Both guns take shot or slug, you cant' go wrong.

Now, some of you folks with bears and the like...you're on your own. Get a big gun or stay home. You can find the Savages in larger rifle bore and shot gun sizes. Get your wallet out. Even the smaller caliber 24's in good shape go for $300 to $500.


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I use a marlin model 60 - cheap and reliable. Other than having a heavy trigger pull it is a very accurate out of the box 22lr


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Originally Posted By: Clay N' Pray
What range do you get (useable pattern) with the judge and #7 shot?
I'm not normally a fan of Taurus firearms but I'm intrigued by the concept of a revolving shotgun.
I always thought of it as gimmicky, due to the rifled barrel throwing the shot pattern all over the map.
I'm thinking it's a 10 foot away type tool, or am I mistaken?


Like I said, I'm not a gun guy so this is just from a search to see what you all were talking about.

Tarus Judge
Tarus Circuit Judge

Looks cool!

Last edited by snrub; 06/27/18 09:08 AM.

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+1 The Marlin Model 60 is what I have.. probably about 6 years old now.. dirt cheap, accurate and reliable as ever.. I hate to admit but I don't think I've cleaned the poor gun once yet the entire time i've owned it.

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I have a Model 60 and like it.

Another fun thing. I have an old Marlin bolt action 22 single shot. A couple of years ago I developed a flinch. I actually live in a suburb of Fort Worth so getting to the range is pretty inconvenient and costly. I built a 100 yard range on my land but that's 70 miles away. I don't shoot there after September due to the approach of deer season.

I found a 22 short round made by Aguila called a Colibri. It has no powder, isn't accurate beyond 30 to 35 feet but is whisper quiet. My back yard is wood fenced so neighbors can't see what I'm doing. I probably shoot 200 or so rounds per week with these things. I have a small, steel, swinging target that I back with a couple of folded flat rate boxes and a steel piece behind that.

As deer season approaches, I'll have to change over to my bigger guns and do some range time.


It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

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Anyone else use a suppressor?
I own several and find them very handy to protect my hearing. I don't always have time to grab muffs.
I'd not drive a car without muffler, so a gun muffler is just good sense.
Here is my Ruger MKII with silencerco sparrow. It's pellet gun (movie) quiet with standard velocity ammo.


Last edited by Clay N' Pray; 06/28/18 07:14 AM.

Half acre 30 year old farm pond, Mebane NC. Aeration & feeder.
LMB, CC, SC, BG, HBC, two no account welfare carp and nine seasonal Tilapia that all the other fish are terrified of.

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yes, a 3x9. I use both high and low range around the pond. Never use a scope cover, it's to big of a hassle. I will use an untucked shirt bottom and wipe the sights when I pick it up to hunt. We don't see much snow around here but I could see where I would need a scope cover if I was hunting in the snow. Believe this or not but I can kill a snake easier with this riffle over a 4/10 with #6 shot. The riffle ranges out farther. I like that it will make two snakes out of one, no matter where I hit the snake.

Last edited by TGW1; 06/28/18 07:36 AM.

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Originally Posted By: Clay N' Pray
Anyone else use a suppressor?
I own several and find them very handy to protect my hearing. I don't always have time to grab muffs.
I'd not drive a car without muffler, so a gun muffler is just good sense.
Here is my Ruger MKII with silencerco sparrow. It's pellet gun (movie) quiet with standard velocity ammo.



In Canada you need your restricted firearms license to own a hand gun. Suppressors are 100% against the law to own.

All rim fires you are only allowed 10 rounds.
All center fire you are only allowed 5 round.
More than that you are breaking the law.

To get a gun license you must do a 2 day course and pass a test at the end with 80% or more. You then need to send in your back ground check to the RCMP for approval with two people that will vouch for your character.

Restricted is another course and another back ground check.

Cheers Don.


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DonoBBD #492891 06/28/18 11:14 AM
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Originally Posted By: DonoBBD
Originally Posted By: Clay N' Pray
Anyone else use a suppressor?
I own several and find them very handy to protect my hearing. I don't always have time to grab muffs.
I'd not drive a car without muffler, so a gun muffler is just good sense.
Here is my Ruger MKII with silencerco sparrow. It's pellet gun (movie) quiet with standard velocity ammo.



In Canada you need your restricted firearms license to own a hand gun. Suppressors are 100% against the law to own.

All rim fires you are only allowed 10 rounds.
All center fire you are only allowed 5 round.
More than that you are breaking the law.

To get a gun license you must do a 2 day course and pass a test at the end with 80% or more. You then need to send in your back ground check to the RCMP for approval with two people that will vouch for your character.

Restricted is another course and another back ground check.

Cheers Don.
I'm


That sounds alot like Europe.
Peasants can't be armed.

Last edited by Clay N' Pray; 06/28/18 11:16 AM.

Half acre 30 year old farm pond, Mebane NC. Aeration & feeder.
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CnP, I have a Savage Mark II 22lr that's suppressed. Very nice little rifle, but it won't stop anything much bigger than a raccoon.

I know the Benelli brother's are probably rolling over in their graves, but I keep my SBE 12 gauge in the utv at all times. Flat land here, and we're surrounded by cows, horses, neighbors, and more cows, so a rifle won't work for me. I keep dove loads, and steel 3 1/2" goose loads with me too. The dove loads are for noise, and the 12 gauge goose loads will reach out there when needed, and they will take down a critter the size of a beaver.


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Originally Posted By: Clay N' Pray
Anyone else use a suppressor?
I own several and find them very handy to protect my hearing. I don't always have time to grab muffs.
I'd not drive a car without muffler, so a gun muffler is just good sense.
Here is my Ruger MKII with silencerco sparrow. It's pellet gun (movie) quiet with standard velocity ammo.



Mostly shoot suppressed, except for the Savage A17 that is my go-to thinning out the vermin pond gun. If walking the pond at night a shotgun would be a better choice for snakes. I have a SilercerCo on my 17 WSM.

Last edited by BrianL; 06/29/18 09:23 AM.

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Speaking of Beaver, I removed two from the pond the day before yesterday. I was looking (hunting) with the 22mag for an otter at the time. I popped one yoy beaver and one large beaver. Had to wait till they floated to the top yesterday to remove them from the pond. I was not aware there were any beaver in the pond. I am always looking for otters and beavers. In the past three and a half years I have taken 3 beaver, 6 otters. It's a never ending battle. I will keep traps out most of the year but since we have been training Golden Retrievers I only keep out one trap at the far end of the pond and watch over the dogs carefully. I don't like it and will probably remove the trap soon, it's only been out for a week. Anyone know of a live trap for otters? I have looked at live beaver traps but not sure they would work on otters.


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Tracy, I have a double guillotine trap from Advanced Traps, and it's been well worth the money. I really like mine in underwater entrances, because all you need to do is drive by and see if the gates are down. If they are, you more than likely caught something.

AT is redoing their website, but you can look at all the traps at trappintales.com. They have 7-8 traps that are designated for otters.


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Probably a small gauge shotgun would be safest for shooting at water. However I now use a scoped Savage bolt action in .17 HMR . This caliber will flat knock out an armadillo,skunk, etc. I use a lot of caution on the rare occasion i shoot at water.

Speaking of beavers, I was shocked to see beaver damage at my new pond. There are now three 330’s underwater. Those things are pretty hairy to handle as my fingers have felt the wrath of a small body grip trap and I know they hurt.


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Thanks Al, I was aware of some live beaver traps but was not sure they would work with Otters. I usually set up near slides but have caught a couple that were in or near a beaver entrance located just under the water surface. After eliminating the two beavers I removed the connibar 330 trap from the pond. I did not like the risk with the two Golden Pups, even though the trap was some 200 yds away. I found a small otter turd (scat) a couple of days ago and believe it came from a small otter. The otters I have trapped have been in the 20 to 25lb range so I am thinking this one is smaller. But, I have not found an otter or it's arse would be mine. I feel better having traps out if I would did worry about the 6 month old pups chasing something into the water. Looks like I will be getting some live traps, Thanks again


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Put together my version of the perfect pond rifle today. Ruger 96/22WMR, 16" BBL, 1X4 compact scope.
I still need a sling.
Snappers and beavers beware!!

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Last edited by Clay N' Pray; 08/07/18 05:53 PM.
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Here's mine. An integrally suppressed Ruger MK II. I also have a integrally suppressed Ruger 77/44, but it's a little much for pond work. lol

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Originally Posted By: JKS3613
Here's mine. An integrally suppressed Ruger MK II. I also have a integrally suppressed Ruger 77/44, but it's a little much for pond work. lol


Ha! Great minds...

I've got a 77/357 that I SBR'd and threaded. It's movie quiet with 38spl.

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Beautiful! These are so much fun too!


Originally Posted By: Clay N' Pray
Originally Posted By: JKS3613
Here's mine. An integrally suppressed Ruger MK II. I also have a integrally suppressed Ruger 77/44, but it's a little much for pond work. lol


Ha! Great minds...

I've got a 77/357 that I SBR'd and threaded. It's movie quiet with 38spl.

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Verdict is in, Its a keeper.
Shoots where I point it.
Plenty of horsepower for normal pond business and quiet enough to keep things private.

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Nice setup for sure! How is the suppression with the WMR round?

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Originally Posted By: JKS3613
Nice setup for sure! How is the suppression with the WMR round?


Hearing safe at the shooters ear.
The sonic crack occurs well down range.
The locked breech also helps keep things quieter at the shoooter.

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Yeah, that's why I like the Ruger rifles as a suppression platform. So much noise comes from that damn bolt opening and closing. IMO, bolt or lever action is the only way to go.

Originally Posted By: Clay N' Pray
Originally Posted By: JKS3613
Nice setup for sure! How is the suppression with the WMR round?


Hearing safe at the shooters ear.
The sonic crack occurs well down range.
The locked breech also helps keep things quieter at the shoooter.

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Hi all, new member here. I've lurked for a while and joined today.

Anyway regarding handguns and shotshells... at anything at more than point blank range (barrel nearly touching vermin) they are generally a waste of ammo.

I've shot "at" numerous snakes with a S&W 629 44 with shotshells and within 3-4 feet the shot pattern was so wide it failed to be effective. Even my Thompson Center Contender with a choke tube was nearly as bad. It did kill some snakes but I think that the plastic shotshell casing was more lethal than the shot :-)

A real shotgun with a decent shot size and choke has no issues with dispatching varmints and water skipping long distance is really not a big issue where a most center and rimfire are a problem there.



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I just moved into my new house at the pond.

My first go-to was my Ruger 10-22 with a basic rimfire scope. It is a great gun. The challenge is 22LR is reasonably loud.

So I went to my local Walmart and picked up a Savage MK II bolt action. ($130) I shoot it with iron sights. Now I am shooting CB rounds. These are very quiet rounds.

I started with CCI CB 22 Shorts. These feed fine in the bolt action Savage. My daughter and lady friend can shoot cans with them without ear protection.

I just received a bunch of Remington CBee 22 Long Rifle from Academy. These are also CB but in a Long Rifle form factor. I expect this to be my primary round from here on.


Although I am one of those few people who don't mind snakes, I don't want water moccasins and copperheads. Bouncing a few dozen .22 off the water trying to hit a water moccasin is poor edicate so I went back to Walmart and picked up a single shot .410 It is a Hatfield, made in Turkey. $99 at Walmart. It is a basic single shot break barrel. I haven't fired it yet but I have #6 shot rounds.

We have a wide variety of normal critters. Rabbits, squirrels, fox, bobcat, coyote, whitetail, coons, possum, armadillos, Osprey, green heron, little blue heron, great blue heron, etc.

These guys are basically all welcome and safe at my place. Beavers, river otters etc may be less welcome.

Alligators are expected. Our mayor recently made The Drudge Report when she got a 12 footer in her nearby pond. (She is a grandmother.) I'll deal with this when it happens. A small gator will probably be welcome. A large one might be taken away by Gator World. Neighbors tell me they are really good to eat, so waiting until hunting season and harvesting is not out of the question.


Plus I've found panther scat. In my experience you never actually see these cats, just their scat and prints.

No hogs at this time, but they are expected to come around. They will be aggressively introduced to the AR.

We also have exotic critters exclusive to the Big Thicket. My ranch is on some website for its Bigfoot sightings. People regularly stop by looking for the Squash. I have not seen one on my game camera, but I have heard a strange noise out here on a few nights. The local electricity coop just encircled a neighbor's house with large lights for a woman who was being harassed by bigfoot.

About a 1/4 mile of my drive is the historic old Tram Road. It is known to be haunted by the "Saratoga Lights". This is an accepted fact around here, but I haven't seen them.

I'm not planning to engage Bigfoot or the headless conductor who carries the lights.

Last edited by Vortex 4; 01/13/19 09:51 AM.

4 acre pond 32 ft deep within East Texas (Livingston) timber ranch. Filled (to the top of an almost finished dam) by Hurricane Harvey 9/17. Stocked with FHM, CNBG, RES 10/17. Added 35lbs RSC 3/18. 400 N LMB fingerlings 6/18
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What the heck is a pond gun?

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Wanna.

Part of managing a pond is controlling unwelcome guests. River otters, muskrats, beaver, etc can wreak havoc on the physical pond and its inhabitants. A gun, and traps, may be options for management.

Plus a lot of folks hunt at their ponds.

Plus plinking around the pond can be a blast.


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I do have a suppressed .22 that won't wake the neighbors....

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Wanna,

I was hoping congress would make suppressors easier to own, but the recent changes killed that.

What do you use? Rifle, suppressor ammo?


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Originally Posted By: Vortex 4
Wanna,

I was hoping congress would make suppressors easier to own, but the recent changes killed that.

What do you use? Rifle, suppressor ammo?

Did the hearing protection bill get shot down?
It's a 1911 with subsonics. Probably need a rifle. My AR might be overkill...

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Originally Posted By: wannapond0001
I do have a suppressed .22 that won't wake the neighbors....


I don't give the noise of my .22 a second thought. These swamp rats around here are shooting all hours of the day and night, and usually more at night!!


.10 surface acre pond, 10.5 foot deep. SW LA. The epitome of a mutt pond. BG, LMB, GSF, RES, BH, Warmouth, Longear Sunfish, Gambusia,Mud Minnows, Crappie, and now shiners!!...I subscribe!!
TGW1 #500623 01/13/19 08:26 PM
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TGW1,
I've watched this forum for a while as not only did my folks build a pond in the late 70s when they built their house, but I bought a place 2 years ago with a small pond. That being said, I've had a little experience with beavers. My parents had one 25 years ago when they were unheard of in northern IL. My little brother and I spent countless hours 1 summer and hundreds of rounds in various guns trying to murder said beaver or beavers. we ultimately succeeded as well as the neighbor got 1 too. 1 appeared at my place last winter. My wife didn't want any type of trap used other than a live trap. Spent 2 weeks trying to catch that sob. Tried all sorts of bait. Sliced apples, grape jelly and peanut butter ultimately worked. Here is the bad news, that beaver destroyed a 2 week old TSC live trap. It looked like I had a gorilla on meth in it. The guy at the desk at TSC couldn't believe that a beaver did that kind of damage. And the length of time it was in there was minimal, overnight. I ordered a pair of 330 body traps from Amazon along with the setting tool. 5 days later I had a 47 inch long, 40+ pound beaver. Just my 2 cents.


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Mike M, I have stayed with the 330 trap, It works and am no fan of Otters and beavers in my pond. In the last month I have trapped three otters and one big ole beaver.


Do not judge me by the politicians in my City, State or Federal Government.


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Do beavers go for small ponds?

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They go for anywhere water flows and a food source is near. Trees of the right size and preference are great attractors. Flowing water gives them something to dam up.

I have seen beavers move upstream to a new area they were never a problem in a very wet year where water flows presently where it had not in the past. They dam up a pool to live in and around.

Last edited by snrub; 01/14/19 09:26 AM.

John

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John, I now have a new pool because of a beaver. Just as you described. I just trapped him last week. His pool looks interesting. It might be a good place for a bg pool. Not sure it will hold water if I dig it deeper. But right now looks interesting.


Do not judge me by the politicians in my City, State or Federal Government.


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Not the best for the Beav but I bought a Hatfield single-shot 410 today for 89 bucks at wallyworld.. Keen little gun for 89$!!
Should be great for GBH, and...did I say GBH, I meant GSH.. laugh

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You guys are cruel with the wildlife. They're just trying to survive like the rest of us.

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Wildlife control is sometimes needed. I have a beaver in my pond that is wrecking havoc on trees and relentlessly damming my drain pipe. Have had a neighbor trying to trap him out for weeks, but he's a smart one (the beaver...). I follow the rules and only take animals allowed by state and federal laws during the permitted times, and I do enjoy deer hunting. However, when some activist groups tie up the wildlife biologists in lengthy and costly court cases like is happening in some wolf-reintroduction areas, I feel the laws need to be changed to let the wildlife biologists do the jobs they are trained to do without interference from ignorant do-gooders. Bad conservation legislation can turn some conservationists against government environmental control which can be very bad. Without hunting regulations, I would not have deer to hunt and could not enjoy seeing eagles and bobcats on my property.

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Originally Posted By: wannapond0001
You guys are cruel with the wildlife. They're just trying to survive like the rest of us.


This guy will eat your cat or small dog.
Would you feel the same way if your puppy was eaten alive? Forgive and forget?



Otters kill my prize fish. I will protect them if I can. The otter eats his fill then kills just for fun.

I understand the viewpoint of allowing wild animals to make a living. I also understand that there is a middle ground.

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Agree with you RAH. I have part time beaver that doesn’t seem to do anything that is bad enough to warrant doing anything about. On the other hand cormorants are a different story. Man they can eat some fish in a short time

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I wish that I had an urge to take out some of our yotes. They are really thick. My GS dogs are now all big enough to take care of themselves.

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I’m mixed on the yotes issue due to the fact that they apparently are hitting the hog population....... we had a banner year on fawn production

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I saw them up to 3 at a time during deer season. With all the disease problems in deer, I guess they help keep the herd thinner which should help. No problems in my area yet, but its getting closer. Some have blamed the deer farms since they move deer long distances and have concentrated populations. My 5 GS dogs howl up a storm when they hear the coyotes howling. And when released, head for them like a pack of wolves.

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Caught this on one of my game cameras the other day. The black and white object in his mouth is a neighborhood dog. (pet) mad

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And predator control above the water is no different than what we control below the water. We are voluntarily removing sizes and species to get to a goal that we as selfish fishermen/pond owners see as best. Same idea, different perspective.
I'm ok with that.

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Originally Posted By: Snipe
And predator control above the water is no different than what we control below the water. We are voluntarily removing sizes and species to get to a goal that we as selfish fishermen/pond owners see as best. Same idea, different perspective.
I'm ok with that.


Exactly. We use pesticides to protect our crops from the insects that naturally eat it, too.


7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS NLMB, -160




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When you are out deer hunting and you spot a coyote then you are coyote hunting!

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I caught a pack of 13 coyotes on my game camera. That large of a pack can get dangerous

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When deer hunting, I have only rarely shot coyotes so that I don't scare the deer. I have friends, that shoot every one they see when deer hunting. However, I have a lot more sets of large antlers on my wall than they do. May just be that I am more persistent than them though.

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Originally Posted By: wannapond0001
You guys are cruel with the wildlife. They're just trying to survive like the rest of us.


I used to think that way. I taught my family to never kill anything they did not plan on eating. But I have learned as a land and pond owner you have to attempt some control of the critters or they will turn it all into what they want. And I can't have that. Loss of fish, loss of deer herd or damage to the land by something or someone other than me will not be permitted if I can help it. Never planned on declaring war on beavers, otters, hogs along with some birds was not in my plans. But like some of our wars, it looks to be never ending.


Do not judge me by the politicians in my City, State or Federal Government.


Tracy
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