In the right places, even the large Comstock beaver cage traps can be completely hidden. The key is, “in the right places.” If you are setting a sandy or rocky open bottom hiding a trap would be tough, not worth the effort. Bringing in unnatural brush, logs, grass etc. to hide a trap brings as much attention to the site as leaving the trap exposed. Introduction of junk just doesn’t fit and the beaver know it. Finding a “natural,” a location that has thick vegetation makes hiding a cage doable. When grass, lily pads, weeds are thick, dropping a cage into to makes sense. Adding some more of the indigenous greenery to the door and frame while covering or pushing some into the mesh wire will take care of the top. When completed, you can make the trap part of the surroundings, all but invisible. Not only will beaver or people not see it, even if you pointed it out, you wouldn’t see it.
I just had a beaver that didn’t want to go through a cage after I caught the mate. Not a large beaver, perhaps 30 pounds, the male would have no part of a cage. Since it was local and I am stubborn, I tried twice normally. In the end I dropped the water until it was the same depth as the trap, while the open part of the channel was the same width as the trap. Third try was a winner. He never saw it coming.