Good deal! Thanks for sharing, and have a safe and happy Xmas!

Merry Christmas to yourself and family.

Trapping luck is still holding out for lynx. Got some new wolf packs peeing on everything they can. Seems like two packs are competing for territory with my home river as a boundary. Set out 5 boiled traps on pee posts and moved some frozen pee to a area where a loner has been hanging around. Got a broken cross member on the rear suspension to fix tonight. Still loving trapping and not feeling one bit lazy out on the line. I dropped 19 pounds since trapping started with all the climbing steep banks and walking. Broke through thin ice in a creek the other day but luckily I had some speed going and stayed on top, loaded sled and all. My friend Patrick picked up two wolves on his last check. One in a 750 and the other in a 1.5 coil spring. Don't know how he does it but last year he held one in a1.5 long spring better known in the delta as a rat trap! His 5 year old son goes everywhere with him now and he was there to see wolves caught in one spot too. Checking traps in -51 was fun the other day. I was told to stay home but trap checking is a responsibility that comes with trapping. I'm not one of those guys that can sit and wait for weather to improve. Animals are caught, I'm going to go no matter the weather.

Patricks catch that lucky day. One of the fluffiest delta wolves I've ever seen.

My order came in a box of #5 Budgets some #3 Onieda and a bunch of snares. Along with some 330s and 280s.

Good job Ryan, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Have fun and be safe.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all!

I've never seen my son so interested in something. He would rather play with a small ratchet and an old idler wheel than all his new toys. Proud dad to see that today.

Light bulb burnt out right before we finished if you were wondering about the headlight in the dark porch mechanics.

Same to you buddy. I asked Santa for a couple #9s but I guess Im not on the list. I'll get a hold of you once I start work in the new year.

Howdy. Trap checking day has finally come. Soon as Fiona's home from work I'll be on my way. I've got a new line set that caught 3 lynx out of six traps last trip. Now that line has about 20 traps to look at. 2016 has been great so far and I've managed to pick up 13 lynx so far. Hopefully get some good pictures today and post them in the next couple days.

Good luck!

Ryan when do the wolves in your area begin mating and do you see an increase in catches when that starts ?

I think wolves start mating soon. Usually get some big males in traps around end of February. It does seem to pick up during mating I guess because the wolves are scent marking their intentions and getting caught more often. I missed one wolf yesterday. It snapped a pee post trap. Picked up one lynx in the first 3/4 of my line. Wasn't looking too good but the last four traps on a row made my trip each holding a fluffy cat. Got a mink too. The old 700 Polaris ran fine after a rebuild and sitting for three years.

Busy skinning lately. Last trip to traps was eventful. Seen a wolverine and two wolves but it's hard to get them in the delta unless you catch them in the middle of a big lake or river. No chance for a shot so I say at least I got to see them.

Brought this batch in before to keep me busy this weekend. The wolves I seen last trip freshened their scent posts without stepping on the traps so hopefully they are more comfortable and one or a couple make a mistake and step in the right spot.

Took my son on his first trap checking trip during some recent warm weather. Didn't catch anything but he was smiling the whole time.

Morgan led the way on our walk with her 4 years of trapping experience. It's going to be fun watching these two kids as they get older and have some friendly competition snaring lynx on snowshoes. That's what I look forward to.

The kids will be on snowshoes, not the lynx.

Ryan awesome. So cool to see you getting those kids out.
It was a priority as a father to always take my kids if possible.
Here is a few tips.
You can not find a little kids pair of boots that will keep them warm in really cold temps. Start putting those furs to work for you.
Make some kids mukluks. Good first project. A lot easier than a hat. I came up with a very simple pattern for the most part. Nothing fancy but very very functionals.

What are you using for bottoms? I sent my beaver out today now I will have to trap a few kits. You mentioned a pattern? Looks like those could keep the grandsons feet warm. You have beaver liners inside as well?

Wow! Those are cool, F.T.!

Ryan: Edward checked my traps in John Martin today on his way back from Head of Willow. One wolverine ripped the back off my plywood box and took my bait. I think I'm going to pull out of there. More fur in 1st Creek. Plus I'm trying to run a line along that Husky cut line. I'm as far as Black Mountain Creek. Hopefully eventually make it as far as Lobstick Creek and run into son tutu or vidziaa for that side I suppose.

Almost forgot Edward said he saw tracks of a wolf pack otherwise of JM canyon. He said there tracks spelled out kneck shot. Just kidding about that last part.

There was a product called Sole Saver. Used to be at Black Elk in Anch. An old guy on the east coast made it. Fantastic stuff. Went on like cake frosting. But he died and you can't get it anymore that I know of.
I have a gallon that I saved. Some day I will make my own custom otter mukluks. I have everything I need except the time. All my own tanned otter etc.
My first pair I put otter fur on the bottoms. I then put some rivets in them with the numbs out for traction. They worked okay but slippery still on snow.

The second one was better. I made the sole out of otter and turned fur inside. Then coated the leather with sole saver. I made a 1 inch strip vertical around the outside perimeter of mukluk. Coated this too. My mistake was I ended the sole saver at the joint. And that is where they failed after a few years of hard use. I would now shave the leather up past the joint now and coat that too. They take a lot of abuse. I used chrome tanned leather and it held up well. But the seam is too important not to keep guarded.
I used a full felt insole as the pattern out of material. Then inserted the full felt insole inside to give additional insulation and some stiffness. They don't have to be exact as kids are growing. Make them bigger.
I just left an opening in the back big enough to accommodate getting the foot in and then closed up with ties. I think this one thing was responsible for taking my kids out in the cold more than anything. Just hard little insulate feet with new plastic boots. I put a flat felt insole on the bottom. Then a full felt insole in side.

My son and I are talking about making two pair as a project together when life slow down a little bit. I have some nearly knee high felt insoles waiting.

Ayakulik turned me on to another cool option for soles he found that I want to try. Using 3M 5200 chalking for the bottom. Anyone that has been around the marine boats knows this stuff.
Really pursuing mukluks is something that is really hampered due to "What to do with for soles?" problem.
This could be the new answer. Who is going to be the first to try it?
https://lostcreekadventures.wordpress.com/2012/11/23/repairing-steger-and-other-mukluk-soles/