My tractor got wet.

[N80]

Yesterday I tried to take my tractor into the creek to knock down a beaver dam. Knocked it down by hand last time and it about killed me. The water was relatively shallow (less than hub high) with a firm sandy bottom. Started in very slowly at a slight incline into the water and the "firm sandy" bottom was soft and muddy at this point and the front sank down. Rears were still in the bank. Decided to back out. Fronts dug down, rears spun even with diff locked. The front tires were almost completely submerged. Exhaust was under water too. Could not push back with the bucket much because it couldn't grip much. Couldn't get my truck into the location because it was too tight and muddy and in the woods.

Soooo I had about 20' of chain, a 20' snatch strap and a come-along hand winch. Slowly drug it up. Took about 20 minutes. Front axle and hubs probably under water for 30-40 minutes max.

Got it back up the hill and pushed the little pin under the clutch housing and water ran out. Took the whole plug out and put the tractor on several inclines and got a little more water out. Then mowed for about two hours in 2 and 4wd. No problems.

Anything else I need to do since the front got submerged?

Any advice on the beavers? Trapping has not worked. Rarely get a daylight shot at them.

 

[rmorey]

Tractor is probably ok, but you need a trip to the hardware store for a 2 mil. candle power spotlight and a box of 22LR.

 

[N80]

Done that. Takes two people....I don't have any sort of 'tactical' flashlight rifle deals. I'm a decent shot and have accurate rifles but I have a hard time hitting one in the water.....only the head is visible. I've heard they sink when you hit them....so maybe I have hit a few.....but I certainly don't have any evidence to prove it. But you are right, I think shooting them is the only effective way. We caught a few in traps but then nothing, no matter how we rigged them we never caught anymore. Caught a few snapping turtles. Was concerned about catching an otter.

 

[kneedeep]

View attachment Clemson Beaver Pond Leveler.pdf


Might try this-

 

[Ted Summey]

I use a VRL-1 Varmit light on coyotes. Not hard to find them online. It comes with a clamp to attach to a 3/4" or 1" diameter scope. It uses either red or green LED bulb modules.

It is an outstanding night hunting device. It allows a one person operation.

 

[N80]

View attachment 316427


Might try this-

Interesting. Wil definitely consider doing that.

 

[Terrydt100]

Might try wildlife dept. In oklahoma they will send out gov.trapper to trap unwanted beaver.

 

[N80]

Would like to use dynamite on the dam....dams actually.....but you pretty much sign your rights away to legally get your hands on dynamite.

 

[Dennisfly]

You might want to consider changing the oil in your front axle and lubing any grease zerks/lub points that were submerged.

 

[cletus99]

They burned a few of them down on Duck Dynasty :laughing: . Maybe you can smoke one out and then shoot it.

 

[N80]

You might want to consider changing the oil in your front axle and lubing any grease zerks/lub points that were submerged.

Good idea and probably time for that anyway. If I recall from the last time I did it a good while back, it is hard to get all the oil out of the axle (Kubota L4400). You have to raise the tractor up with the loader and tilt the axle to one side. Can't remember if there are drain plugs on both sides. (I left the owner's manual and factory service manual down at the cabin.)

In fact, it is probably time to change everything except the tranny/hydraulic fluid. Might as well do it all at once. I've got an extra fuel filter already too.

 

[N80]

They burned a few of them down on Duck Dynasty :laughing: . Maybe you can smoke one out and then shoot it.

They had a lodge a few years back but do not have one now. Not sure where they sleep now.

 

[MHarryE]

They do a lot of damage at my place. I had a local trapper who kept them pretty much under control but he committed suicide a couple years ago and the beaver have gone crazy. We spot them now and then but they really do their damage at night so trapping works better than shooting. Back in the old days dynamite did the trick. The game wardens actually did the blasting.

 

[stub]

Set some wire snares on the runways on the bank where they are coming out of the water to cut wood. Snares work better than traps in my experience.

 

[RxRatedZ71]

Could you build some sort of grapple hook to toss onto the dam and pull it apart bit by bit.

 

[rd_macgregor]

The beavers at my place left on their own... after they cut down all the trees and got hungry, that is.
I spent a whole summer manually lowering their dam every afternoon (to keep the water from flowing onto the road), only to have them restore it over night! The conservation folks put a big plastic pipe through the dam, but the beavers just plugged it up. Ya gotta admire their work ethic. Imagine how productive the world could be if everybody approached their work that way.
BOB

 

[Ted Summey]

Tear out a section manually on an afternoon. Get to your blind and wait for them to start the repair work. A 22LR or 17 HMR with a scope mounted light will solve your problem. You might have to spend a couple of nights on the problem but this method is nearly a sure thing.

The same goes for traps - set your traps then tear out a section of dam near your traps. Snares or jaw traps will do the job.

+1 on the lube change and re greasing the front end on your tractor

 

[caps]

I live near a large lake. There is a local trapper that takes care of removing beavers.. He sets his traps and then he has a couple grapples that he made from rebar that he attaches to a static rope that he throws over the dams and then ties the ropes to his jeep and pulls the dams apart. He says that ripping the dams apart stirs the beavers into greater activity and then the traps are more likely to catch them