Greetings trappers, off to a late start this season. Went outside to visit family and friends instead of trapping the first part of the season. Got across the river and set a bit of line out. Not much marten sign across the flats so didn't set but a dozen poles with no results. Saw a little cat sign at the start but that's what I normally have is a little cat sign. Put out some of my usual wolverine cubbies and pole sets.




Didn't have much snow to begin with but got about 4" when I left which was a welcome sight for the trail. Troopers stopped me on the trail with a Helicopter looking for a couple overdue moose hunters. Wrong area fellas.
Lots of trees down along the trail.





Saw lots of moose and caribou and even some bulls with their antlers still on. Didn't find any wolf kills but seen good wolf sign. Cut 3 different wolverine tracks. That makes me hopeful. Ended up picking up a beautiful 35# male wolverine in a cat cubby right behind the cabin during the daytime. Went by the set in the morn and came back by it at 5pm and had this guy. Didn't mess around just took the first shot he gave me and put him down. Good thing, I had him by his pinky toe in a #3 DLS. Glad I came back down that trail or he'd a been gone in the morn. Better lucky than good.
Left the truck it was +20 and when I got back 6 days later, it was -50. Never even got cold til I looked at the thermometer. Picked three bait stealing marten for my efforts and that big ol wolverine. Happy with the start even without any canines on the the boards. Spent Christmas day skinning marten even if it was only a couple.


When I got home, my Moyle's shipment came in. They did a great job as usual.
Well good luck to all, Happy holidays and may we all have a safe and successful season.

Beautiful pics AKHowler. Love that pile of fur......

Saw your truck sitting there Christmas eve coming back from town and kept wondering when you were gonna post! Always enjoy your pics! Hope you have a good, safe season!

Been wondering where you been Howler. Good to see all is well.I really enjoy the pics and the stories that go along with you season.

As always cool pic thanks for sharing

Good stuff howler! looks like fun...i am jealous...you actually have winter....in southeast we have freeze thaw and dumps of snow..then 35 and rain the next day.

Keep at it.

Sweet critters! Good to see you back on the board and look forward to reading about your adventures this year!

Wow that a pig of a wolverine! As usual, nice pic!

Love your posts. Glad you are back.

Love reading your journal and I see your off to a good start. Where is all the snow, it must be a pain and hard on the sleds with out much snow? Congrats on the gulo always nice to get a pig for the first one.

Great stuff. I love those canyon shots.

Great pics and looks like you are off to a good start!

What hitch setup are you using on your sleds to haul doubles?

BF: A.H. can answer your question, as he is handy welder.

For those who are not , a pintle hitch would be in order and a close up can be seen at northernsledworks.com - under customization.

I have looked at Northernsledworks site and the setup they use but it looked like AKhowler had something slightly different on his cargo sleds.

That is what I thought when I saw it. But then again what do I know, don't see to many of them in Central Ohio!
Would that be considered a big one?

Great pics and thanks for the post!

Great pics!

I'll get some pics of my hitch setup for ya. Don't know if it's the best hitch but it's what I learned with and along with some of my running mates have used for 20+ years.
Darwin.. They get bigger, I caught a 38 pounder with a full belly and seen a giant wolverine while I was guiding in Unit 17 one fall but wouldn't let the hunter shoot it because the hair wasn't prime. It would have been a waste of a awesome animal.

I noticed you have a snow deflector on the front of your siglin, how well does it work for keeping snow out of your sled? My only complaint about my siglin is that it fills up with snow pretty quickly if it's soft powdery snow which it always is till spring.........

beautiful scenics , thanks for sharing. Looks like a nice mature male in it's prime,

It's about time Howler. Hope everything goes well with you this season. White, what's your opinion on the Robinson rotor?