I moved up to SE AK this summer and was going to let this season pass by without trapping but I just couldn't let a season go without setting at least a little steel. I'm from Tennessee so this is all new territory for me. Never trapped a marten before and never even operated a boat. I bought a skiff this summer and set about learning tides and how weather affects the waters. My goal was 1 marten. Not very ambitious but this season is about experience and not the number of critters. I got in touch with some folks who know the lay of the land and who is trapping where up here to avoid stepping on anyone else's territory. My first week met with some success and my goal was realized in a few days.

I keep my tide chart out to help me anticipate what the water will be doing



I anchor out and take my raft in to keep from getting beached when the tide changes




I've been using both #1 LS and #120 BG's




It wouldn't be a SE AK trapline without a crab pot or two out. This little Dungie was too small to keep and went right back into the water



I don't have any newspaper tubes or boxes so I got some Coni-brackets from MTP and wire my bait behind that on a leaning pole. I cover the bait and my trap to keep birds away and to keep the marten from climbing over the trap. I guess it works,



Fun fact about marten that I didn't know: they don't have pads on the bottom of their feet, just hair.



Sure is beautiful out here




Doing my best to live an Alaskan dream. I've got a week off work coming up and plan to get more traps out and see if I can really get some fur rolling in. I'd be out there today but 40 mph winds is making the water a bit choppy for my liking.

Wow!!! What a Great Story to share. Sure looks Beautiful up there and way to go on learning how to Trap Marten in Alaska so fast.Makes me want to come there. The Best of Luck to you and please keep us updated.Thanks for sharing and AWESOME PICS!!!

Awesome. I'm up in Anchorage. You guys down south luck out with the small amounts of snow. We're getting hit really hard right now. Makes things difficult.

thanks for sharing

Awesome pictures, congraon your move to Ak.

Very Nice!!!! Can we come visit?

Man that is some pretty country Jonathan ! Looks like you completely changed your lifestyle.


Just a comment about marten feet. They DO in fact have pads . They are just very difficult to see because the hair is so dense and stiff. If you get the foot wet you can part the hairs and see the pads clearly.


Looks like quite the trapping rig you have there ! Be safe.

I'll get some pictures of my LS sets next time I'm out. Here in my part of SE we have marten, mink, weasel, and river otter (people here call them land otter, as opposed to sea otter).

White17: I'll certainly have to take a closer look at the next one I catch!

Their pads are kind of cute little things. They look like tiny little beans

What sort of work are you doing ? Looks like you're well set up to enjoy that country

Welcome to Alaska and nice skiff!

Cool pictorial! Marten are one of my favorite beasts, we are allowed 2 (two!) here. That is up from 1 per year since season was re-opened back in 2000. What part of S.E. are you in?

I work at a dental clinic as a dental resident. I graduated school in May. I am based in Sitka but I travel around to other parts of SE AK too.

Great pictures......very jealous

I almost had a panic attack thinking about having to ride a skiff then anchor, then take a dingy out to the edges of absolute wilderness not knowing if there’s a bear or monster waiting to grab you. I have a hard time sometimes getting off my snowmobile here to set a Marten trap in the cedars. Scary stuff!
Congrats on the Marten!

Nice pics, just got off the phone with my daughter in Sitka. Go up a couple times a year and stock upbon seafood. Lots of trappers but a lot of country too.

Awesome pics!

Pretty fun isn't it; are you spoiled yet?

Good for you! You are in some nice looking country and enjoy every minute of it.

Love your pictures.Congrats on your moving up there,your doing something a lot of us just daydream about.

Are you the guy from MO? At any rate.... live the dream, live the dream.