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Inupiaq's Lynx Line #6193796
03/20/18 04:33 PM
03/20/18 04:33 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 99
Kotzebue, Alaska
I
Inupiaq Offline OP
trapper
Inupiaq  Offline OP
trapper
I

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 99
Kotzebue, Alaska
Well, I've had more success with lynx this year, than any other. Partly because I found new country where there are a lot of lynx. Partly because I switched to wing sets, partly too because I'm doubling up my sets, a trap with a snare nearby. Our rabbits have hit an all-time high. They are everywhere! Here are a few pics.
This first pic is of the landscape next to one of my best sets. It's a small opening in a tree line. On the west side is a group of large trees with large branches. Little snow cover. I knew when I saw it it would be wonderful. Every once in a while though, you stop, take it all in, and enjoy the scenery. And that's what this shot is.


This is a couple lynx I caught on this particular trip. One trapped, the other snared in that fence set I showed in my other post about lures.


After checking all my sets, I decided to go home alongside a set of mountains. 15 miles later, I came across a fresh wolf track. It was going BACK to where I just came from! So...I followed it. It was white-out conditions, snowy, I lost the tracks often on the hard snow, but found a claw mark here, and there, until it walked in soft snow again for a ways. Turned out, earlier, as I was heading east alongside the mountains, he was heading west out on the flats. We were like two ships passing in the night. Anyway, I tracked it across my trapline west, and into the mountains. Eventually I caught up with it, a nice black wolf. I fumbled here and there with my .22 magnum, but managed to the put the majestic beast down. Quite a thrill, after so long of a difficult tracking job. I crashed once. It's always a gamble, tracking and chasing in complete white-out, but it's a chance we can't seem to say no to. It's not often to run into a fresh track, so I'm very blessed to have done so.



This pic should've been up at the top. It's one of those two on the back of my sled. I made my own snares from a beaver trapper on this forum. Thank you, to him, and to you all for imparting your hard-earned wisdom.

Re: Inupiaq's Lynx Line [Re: Inupiaq] #6193809
03/20/18 04:43 PM
03/20/18 04:43 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,276
NWT
Ryan McLeod Offline
trapper
Ryan McLeod  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,276
NWT
Right on! Nice big lynx and the wolf story was great. Ill bet it looked great when you caught up after all those miles! Gotta be careful in that flat light but youre right cant turn down fresh tracks!


If you take care of the land the land will take care of you
Re: Inupiaq's Lynx Line [Re: Inupiaq] #6193815
03/20/18 04:49 PM
03/20/18 04:49 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 99
Kotzebue, Alaska
I
Inupiaq Offline OP
trapper
Inupiaq  Offline OP
trapper
I

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 99
Kotzebue, Alaska
Not long later, I had an incredible trip! I got 5 cats in one check. The first 2 pics are of the first lynx. A young one. But I'll take what I can get.



This is the same set, the cat next to the sled is from the trap, I also have a snared cat on my trail. Caught a double here.


This is a re-make of the snared set. The cats always travelled through here so I drove through with my machine and put a snare there. Works! Set where they walk.


This is a re-make of the trap set. I use a CD to get their attention from the hillside. Then the wing to get them to step on the trap.


This is another kitten. A lone set. Wing-set.


This is my next double. Notice the snared lynx behind the trapped one. This is at my "favorite" tall tree set where I put a fence. It seems they hear the trapped lynx once in a while, come in to investigate, and get snared in the process.


This is the snared cat uncovered. Got wrapped around a sapling without really disturbing the fence. These snares are incredible. Love 'em.


This is all 5 together in one pic. I only have 8 sets out total, traps and snares. So 5 out of 8 is not bad.

Re: Inupiaq's Lynx Line [Re: Inupiaq] #6193850
03/20/18 05:20 PM
03/20/18 05:20 PM
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 981
Alaska Northwestern
That Fool Offline
trapper
That Fool  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 981
Alaska Northwestern
Awesome pics and story! Hopefully will start getting a bunch of lynx next year, lots of rabbits and starting to see sign of lynx. Got a couple in my wolf sets.

Re: Inupiaq's Lynx Line [Re: Inupiaq] #6193924
03/20/18 06:25 PM
03/20/18 06:25 PM
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 135
AK, Northwest Arctic Borough
C
Caribou Offline
trapper
Caribou  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 135
AK, Northwest Arctic Borough
5 out of 8 is excellent, Inupiaq.

I am lucky when I get 1 out of 8. laugh


What would the Founding Fathers do?
Re: Inupiaq's Lynx Line [Re: Inupiaq] #6193961
03/20/18 07:01 PM
03/20/18 07:01 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,513
james bay frontierOnt.
B
Boco Offline
trapper
Boco  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,513
james bay frontierOnt.
Nice haul.It pays to gang set for the cats.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Inupiaq's Lynx Line [Re: Inupiaq] #6193987
03/20/18 07:37 PM
03/20/18 07:37 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,686
Alaska
D
drasselt Offline
trapper
drasselt  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,686
Alaska
Originally Posted By: Inupiaq

This is another kitten. A lone set. Wing-set.



Looks like a snow goose wing?


you can vote your way into socialism, but you will have to shoot your way out.
Re: Inupiaq's Lynx Line [Re: Inupiaq] #6194013
03/20/18 08:02 PM
03/20/18 08:02 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,638
Bethel, Alaska
fishermann222 Offline
"OX"
fishermann222  Offline
"OX"

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,638
Bethel, Alaska
Next year that much wing won't be legal!!!!!


I survived the Tman crash of '06
Re: Inupiaq's Lynx Line [Re: Inupiaq] #6194057
03/20/18 08:38 PM
03/20/18 08:38 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,175
McGrath, AK
W
white17 Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
white17  Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
W

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,175
McGrath, AK
Great stuff !!! Thanks for the pix.


Fish is correct about the wing. Might want to bend the ears on your advisory committee to submit a proposal to change that !!


Mean As Nails
Re: Inupiaq's Lynx Line [Re: fishermann222] #6194122
03/20/18 09:24 PM
03/20/18 09:24 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat Offline
trapper
bctomcat  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
Originally Posted By: fishermann222
Next year that much wing won't be legal!!!!!
In my experience a 4X6" piece of cardboard white on one side and brown on the other works just as well, if not better. Fluttering in a breeze it looks like a flashing neon sign.


The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.






Re: Inupiaq's Lynx Line [Re: Inupiaq] #6194220
03/20/18 10:44 PM
03/20/18 10:44 PM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,859
Northwest Territories
M
muskrat411 Offline
trapper
muskrat411  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,859
Northwest Territories
That was a cool post Inupiaq I wish I could use snares. Always get eaten lynx whenever I use snares. If I catch in them usually don't and get tired of fixing them. You using anything for bait. Me I have been using Vick's. I got 7 lynx last visit.

Re: Inupiaq's Lynx Line [Re: Inupiaq] #6194226
03/20/18 10:50 PM
03/20/18 10:50 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,289
Mt.
g smith Offline
trapper
g smith  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,289
Mt.
Congrats on that nice wolf !


You can ride a fast horse slow but you can't ride a slow horse fast .
Re: Inupiaq's Lynx Line [Re: Inupiaq] #6194328
03/21/18 01:48 AM
03/21/18 01:48 AM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 99
Kotzebue, Alaska
I
Inupiaq Offline OP
trapper
Inupiaq  Offline OP
trapper
I

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 99
Kotzebue, Alaska
When I'm not trapping, I like to fish for sheefish. They're very close to town this year, even behind town under the big bridge. They may have always been here, nobody really tried till this year. My daughter and her bff, this year's Jr. Iditarod champion drill a hole through the ice. We've had very warm weather this year, thin ice. But the fish were hitting. Got a sled load. Lots of protein in sheefish. Glad to have them all year long.



My wife is the best cook in the world. She makes the best sheefish tacos. Fresh cilantro, special sauce, the fish is fried, spicy. Boneless too.


My good friend and brother in Christ from Noatak spent a few days with us. We celebrated his 60th with "niqipiaq"...aka. "real food".

Bowhead maktak, frozen fish, frozen caribou, seal oil, dried bearded seal, beluga maktak, boiled salmon heads, baked salmon, sour dock, blueberries, salmonberries, etc.


Last, we watched my daughter Melissa on the History Channel. She played Sacajawea on the Lewis & Clark portion of The Men Who Built the Frontier.

Re: Inupiaq's Lynx Line [Re: Inupiaq] #6194330
03/21/18 01:58 AM
03/21/18 01:58 AM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 99
Kotzebue, Alaska
I
Inupiaq Offline OP
trapper
Inupiaq  Offline OP
trapper
I

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 99
Kotzebue, Alaska
I thought 5 out of 8 was pretty good. 2 for 3 was alright. I have 2 other traps and a couple snares at a different location. Both traps caught lynx.
This first one was a medium-sized fella.


This second one was a big one. Huge tom. These big ones though are quite powerful.


This cat actually squatted and took a dump right there.


Last edited by fishermann222; 03/21/18 02:57 AM. Reason: dispatch
Re: Inupiaq's Lynx Line [Re: Inupiaq] #6194333
03/21/18 02:11 AM
03/21/18 02:11 AM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 490
Fairbanks AK
Aknative Offline
trapper
Aknative  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 490
Fairbanks AK
Quite a spread on that table, thanks for sharing!


Rumors of my assimilation have been greatly exaggerated.
Re: Inupiaq's Lynx Line [Re: Inupiaq] #6194334
03/21/18 02:21 AM
03/21/18 02:21 AM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,686
Alaska
D
drasselt Offline
trapper
drasselt  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,686
Alaska
Nice spread some day I would like to try bowhead.


you can vote your way into socialism, but you will have to shoot your way out.
Re: Inupiaq's Lynx Line [Re: Inupiaq] #6194336
03/21/18 02:41 AM
03/21/18 02:41 AM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 99
Kotzebue, Alaska
I
Inupiaq Offline OP
trapper
Inupiaq  Offline OP
trapper
I

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 99
Kotzebue, Alaska
5 out of 8. 2 out of 3. Then came my best day ever. Got 6 out of 8 at my original location.

The first 2 cats are at my tall tree area. There's a snared cat to the right of the tree that's next to the trapped lynx. If you look closely you can see it.
I should've gotten a pic of the snared lynx.


This is me with the two lynx at my favorite location. There's a few dead trees in this area. The week before, I put my new Polaris Titan XC in low gear
and drove around in the trees. Floated like a butterfly! I dropped my sled and chainsaw here. Came back for a load of wood later.


This set is at the top of a high hill, kind of out in the open. Lots of songbirds, ptarmigan, and some rabbits up there. This cat was a young one.


This cat freaked me out. Way up towards the mountains, there are large willow patches on the sides of hills. There are two willow patches in this area, each on opposite sides
of the hill, with a narrow strip of willows joining them. There are a few spruce trees in those willows. I found this big ol' "Joshua Tree" up there and put a set.
The cable on my traps is snare wire, kind of long. Well, I got to this set and there was no trap under the wing. So I followed the cable from the tree. And it went up.
I looked up in the plethora of branches and had this fella staring at me. First time that's ever happened! Took an act of congress to dispatch that one!


This fifth cat was a big one. Always nice to ride up to a set, you know? So much anticipation! Eyes straining early to see if there's a lynx head with pointy ears
sitting up by the set. Sure enough, I pull up and see this.


A big, mature male. They seem to really like this high country. Loners, mostly. Only not so. As I was stepping around to dispatch this one, I saw a tuft of black
fur sticking up out of the snow near my snare! Remember my snogo trail snare? Well, it caught one and the storm blew the body over. Just the ear tuft
was sticking out. I wish I would've taken a pic of that one too.


This is of my friend from the school who travelled along with. You can see how big both of these cats are. I think the snared one is the biggest of my
lynx trapping career. I'll have to weigh these and keep a log.


This last pic is back at the tall tree set area. I lashed the snowshoes on and cut a bunch of trees. Got quite a load there. 6 lynx and a big pile of wood.
Felt great to come home with such a bounty. All glory to my Lord and Savior though. I just work with my hands, He's the one who made these beautiful critters.

Re: Inupiaq's Lynx Line [Re: Inupiaq] #6194339
03/21/18 02:58 AM
03/21/18 02:58 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,638
Bethel, Alaska
fishermann222 Offline
"OX"
fishermann222  Offline
"OX"

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,638
Bethel, Alaska
Great pics, thanks for sharing!


I survived the Tman crash of '06
Re: Inupiaq's Lynx Line [Re: Inupiaq] #6194400
03/21/18 07:18 AM
03/21/18 07:18 AM
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,706
Ohio
Ronaround Offline
trapper
Ronaround  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,706
Ohio
congratulations on a fine season! It must be a real thrill to get so many.

Re: Inupiaq's Lynx Line [Re: Inupiaq] #6194641
03/21/18 10:54 AM
03/21/18 10:54 AM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 397
Interior Alaska
E
EurekaTrapper Offline
trapper
EurekaTrapper  Offline
trapper
E

Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 397
Interior Alaska
Those are some nice cats! Congrats! It sucks that Lynx aren't selling well at the auctions.


"Wise men learn more from fools than fools learn from the wise."
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