X2

For a month now, I've had 60 marten/fisher sets in the woods. Approx. 30 of them are the 120 style devices with a 4x4" opening, and a straight shot from entrance hole to the bait. The other 30 are 160/220 devices, with the larger hole, but a 90 degree turn at the entrance of the box.

It's been a slow year, and so far I've caught 7 marten and 3 fishers. Every single one of those 10 animals have been caught in the 120 style boxes. All I've caught in the 160/220 boxes are small weasels.

I had a refusal in a 160 box the other day, so experimented by putting a 120 box six feet away. Just visited the set today, and there was a marten in the 120 box. See video below:
https://youtu.be/a8BBXPCIZ-E

I'm not sure what's going on, but it's possible that not being able to see inside the box, see the bait, or see the back of the box, or difficulty navigating the 90 degree turn, is preventing them from entering the larger boxes. Whatever it is specifically, it's been a huge learning experience for me.

I'd be interested in hearing how many folks have caught marten/fisher in the larger boxes this year. I have heard of some being caught last year, but last year was a hunger year for marten/fisher up here. This year food is everywhere and they can be picky. Not 100% sure, but I've learned enough to go all in on 120 boxes next year.

Hope this helps.

Hey JWood, now you tell me. I put out most of my small boxes and thought I needed some big ones. So I put out about a dozen "big side entrance" boxes in the past three days. BTW, I might have driven past some of your sets today. I went out Rocky to Quebec and turned left. 193 miles later I had 18 more boxes out. Saw a pack of six bulls together out there if you're looking for more horns. I did get 3 fisher and 4 or 5 marten in the side entrance boxes last year. Maybe the deep snow helped.



Note the hole something chewed in the side of the box. I watched a squirrel trying to get into a side entrance box yesterday. All the sq. did was try to squeeze in the spring slot climb over the box and try the other side. It did that 2 or 3 times before I chased it away.

Now that sounds like a long line! PM sent.

I'm on board with getting rid of tbe boxes. Always was but still have yet to hear anything positive about them.

First beaver check was today for me, got skunked. Never been skunked on the first beaver check in my short 13 years of doing it. Really drags you down.

jwood exactly what I have been hearing all along.You will catch smaller fisher and marten in the smaller boxes with the straight shot.No fisher in the larger boxes with the opening in the front and a very few in the larger boxes with the opening in the side.

Jeremiah, I guess I can add to your theory. One my line this year I set one side entrance 160 box and the rest were 120 boxes. I caught 1 marten and 1 fisher in the 120 boxes. I also caught 1 marten in a 120 box in the past. I set my 160 box where I had seen a fisher run across the road in front of me and had it set for almost a month. I regularly had my 160 box disturbed (boughs tore off around back, tracks around it) but nothing ever stepped foot in it.

Alex

Over kill, That's my one and only SAUVAGEAU - 2001-5F - BODY GRIP TRAP that I bought to test.

Did you guys all hang up your steel?

We need boxes with a larger opening on the end.

I'm a long ways from being a fisher expert but have you folks ever noticed how tight fisher hold to waterways. I see more fisher tracks on snow running streams. It's almost a given I'm going to see their tracks.

What a great grouse season we had. Still going through the end of this month. Took the gun out for a bit this afternoon, flushed eight or ten birds and connected on one, missed a couple.

Concerning the 4 inch opening on 120 sized boxes: I saw somewhere that someone was turning the 4 inch opening on it's side creating a diamond shaped opening. Anybody know if this is an acceptable way to build them? Still a 4 inch opening depending where the measurement is taken from. Also would allow a Fisher a little more space to get themselves into the box.

I'd imagine it would work for the laws. Should work. Lord knows with the wardens here though, haven't found many to be trusted that doesn't like to pinch people for the dumbest things just because "it's the law" and they interpret it differently.

Wardens never had an issue with me doing it. It's still a 4x4 opening, there is no law governing how it is oriented.

Alex

Lt. Tom Ward told me that was acceptable.

A recent article in the "Trappers Post" written by Bob Noonan suggested that the diamond arrangement of the entrance hole was a better option.

Thanks for the replies everyone. When I finally build some I will go with the diamond shape.

Nice job on the fisher Butch! I check tomorrow.

Good Luck!

I check Sat & Sun, no log trucks on the weekend.