Stake one stake in deep water and run wire up to the top stake. Place the drowner on the wire. Make sure it only goes down and not up. Set the trap and wiggle it in the mud so that it is solid. Place a small poke stick out from the trap, about 2 to 3 inches sticking out.
Beavers have a wide body.
The beaver will smell the lure and swim over to see what is going on. They will hit the poke sticks and place their foot out into the trap to climb up. The trap will fire and the beaver will be caught by the front leg. The beaver will dive for deep water and the drowner will hold him on the bottom. In 6 to 12 minutes the beaver will drown.