Guy wants me to pop a couple nuisance beavers

[wahoowad]

I was working my contacts to find new groundhog hunting lands and someone asked me to help remove a couple nuisance beaver. I checked my game and fish website and I can do this year round as the landowner's agent. I'm hoping doing a good job for him will help him distribute my name to others (he's a real estate agent for large country estates/farms). I usually see beaver swimming with just a an inch or two of head above the water...sounds like a challenging shot and might not hit his skull broadside and fully penetrate. I'm guessing I should stake out his beaver hut or a freshly chewed tree and wait for him to come out of the water? Anybody know the best times of day for beaver activity?

[Progun]

Early and late in the day. But you might see one at any time of day. Very active after dark,

[Gene_SC]

In SC the beavers ard protected. Had several of them in a steam near my house and the fish and game people came and relocated them.

[wahoowad]

Is a head shot with a .20 R9 suitable to bring it down? Chairgun says my energy is 8.3 ft. lbs. at 35 yards. I don't know how thick a skull they have. I'd put that on a possum, thinking a beaver is bigger but not necessarily a thicker skull. I don't know. My new .22 Trail XL isn't broken in yet and the Marauder hasn't shipped.

[shadow]

Beavers have some thick skull's so I would go for a side profile shot in the sweetspot. The front of their skull is like armor considering that it has to hold those big tree choppers in. Ed

[airiscool]

What Ed said, they have very strong skulls, and like armor on a tank, the sides also slope. They are very strong and tough for their body size, which can become quite large.

Ex-brother-in-law had problems with them at his sheep farm in east Conn. He gave up trying to hunt them with his 22 rimfire and called in a trapper. Only place he could see them during the day was out in the water and with other houses in the area, he was afraid on a rickochet.

The girl friend and I watched a large one from the window table of a riverside resturant that used to be a mill. We were told the DEC estimated that one was in the 50 - 60 lb range.  When it slapped it's tail and dove under in the mill pond, the splash was like a gun shot, and about the size you'd see if you threw a cement block in.  

Since they spend so much time in the water, you'll be lucky if you get to see more than just the top half of their head. Plus, you have to beware of what's beyond them if shooting over water. They have good eye sight and hearing, it's very tough to get close to one. They are not easy to "hunt" - that's one of the main reasons they use traps to hunt them.

Have you tied Predator pellets in your XL yet? Good energy and much better penitration than a domed  pellet.

Paul.

[crowpopper]

slap an oar on the water at night a time or 2 and scan with spotlight
they will show sometimes thinkin another is nearby

[djmyers]

Beaver hunts are a blast! Wait in the parking lot about 3 am with a crown bottle full of tea. They'll never know the difference.

Seroiusly though we would have them come up and check out our lantern at night in the creeks back home. Had some really big ones come up so don't know if a pellet rifle would work unless it one of those full blown pcp's. Will atract lots of snakes too.

[only1harry]

You need to be very careful and find out if it's legal or not.  It is also illegal to shoot an animal while it is in water in most states.

Other than that, I 'd wait until your Marauder arrives or you have the Trail XL sighted in  I would not use an R9 on a beaver, especially from 35yds away.. and only 8fpe remaining.  

Study the skull from Ed's picture and practice a lot at 35yd targets or whatever the distance will be, before taking the "shot".

[Magnum]

I would definitely check the regulations in your area first:) I recall being told that trapping and using a beaver lure is the best bet and if you are shooting near water then a .17 hmr is a good choice and less chance of a ricochet. BTW the guy that told me this eats the tails! All the beavers I have observed are very alert and always beyond 50yds.. IMO  the R9 and not a good chioce.

[wahoowad]

something went horribly wrong in this post! See below!

[wahoowad]

I've checked regs. See original post. Landowner or agent can pop em at their discretion if they are being a nuisance. This is one I saw while fishing elsewhere...probably 40 pounds and the size of fat medium dog.

[Bogey]

Using an air gun on a beaver may not be the thing to do.  Just not enough energy.   A center fire rifle would be the way to go.   Also you need to verify with the DNR that it would be legal.   Also you need to consider the surrounding area.  Are there any land owners close enough to have the crap scared out of them by gunshots.   Also is there a safe direction for shots/bullets to go.   Don't assume there won't be any ricochetes.    Now I am not saying don't shoot a beaver....just be careful.  Cross the Ts and dot the I s.

[atchman2]

I wouldn't use an air gun on one.  Heck a beaver is larger than most coyotes!  I've seen some MONSTRO beavers in Tennessee and Kansas (yes I know, but they are everywhere out there along the creeks).  With that said, I'd use the same stuff I used for killing coyotes.  Might even consider a shotgun with buckshot to take them out.  Less chance of it carrying a long way.  I'd hate to have my .223 skip off a pond!  

They are a nuisance animal in TN.  You can hunt them any time of year with no limit just like groundhogs.

[wahoowad]

There is no shortage of weaponry that I can employ. You are right, R9 isn't going to cut it. I'll either wait for my .25 Marauder or break out the Terminator class black guns.