I'm still here in northern MN Hunter, I have hone to Arctic cat and Polaris crossover sleds. Just picked up a Polaris 600 IQ ES and what a pleasure to run. I was going to go four stroke but the weight pushed me off. Lot of the guys up there in the remote like them however and I understand. My point is I wouldn't be resigned to a utility sled these days with all the great options out there.

Osky

Osky - I am totally looking for snowmobile input. I looked at a four stroke skandic but too heavy for a 54 year old with a fused back - if I get stuck, which I will. So looking lighter. I'm hearing I need a long track for deep snow. I'm open to any brand. Seems people up north like Skidoo, but I'd consider any. I need something to get me by the first year or two. Then I will upgrade.

I see the T-man Homerites haven’t chimed in yet. The fellas you want to talk to are Family Trapper and Spek. They’ve both trapped out of the Homer area for decades at least, and probably know as much as anyone about who goes where. I haven’t seen them on a lot but I’m sure they’ll chime in soon. If not, look them up and message them.
The Peninsula does have wolverine in the Kenai mountains that probably roam down into the foothills, so you might not have to run too far to find them. I’m sure I’ll never see one here in the Kenai River swamplands.

The Kenai Peninsula Trapper Association branch has meetings in Soldotna. I don’t know of any meetings down south (Homer). Both the ATA and the KP branch have Facebook pages if you use that.

In my opinion, the most important basic concept re wolverine trapping is this: Wolverines are not particularly difficult to catch. The challenges are: 1. Find where there actually is a wolverine or two, and 2. Use adequate hardware to HOLD them!

I caught my first one within a couple years of starting to trap in Alaska. Caught it in a #2 coilspring trap set for a fox. Luckily it was a small female. I was checking the line and came on the set probably only an hour or so after the wolverine had been caught! Beginners luck for sure. I had it "rugged" and it is still on the wall of my office to remind me of what an incredibly lucky SOB I am!

Just to keep the conversation going, my favorite wolverine trap is the 330C. Followed closely by my NH 48's and NH 114's.

So my recommendations are: invest in some decent heavy gear. And leave your preconceived notions about how it "should" work in Alaska based on how it works in MN, behind you!

Pete

Thanks for the input Kid. Yeah - I've talked to the local biologist. Seems like there might be a couple wolverines in the Kenai Mountains for me! It's gonna take some work, but I never shied from that before.

I really want to meet Family Trapper when I get to Homer - I think his name is Les? or Len? I heard about him from my pal Rally Hess in Minnesota, who makes some dang good snares I love. He's building me some break-away wolf snares as we speak!

So this family trapper guy is famous, I guess, but he is a rather elusive man :-)

Pete - I'm bringing #330 Belisle with me on the plane! I keep hearing about Newhouse on the forum. Never heard of them down here. Where do you get them?

I wish you the best of luck, I think we're twins separated at birth. I wanted a wolverine as bad or worse than any big game animal I took up there. I hunted the upper Kenai a lot and I imagine there are stretches there that would hold wolverine. There were a fair number of wolves around.

Pete, you're a pilot by the looks of it, do you know Les Zerbe? If you have any ill will toward him, forget I asked. If not, I knew him years ago.

They don't make Newhouse #114, or #48, any more, and are too valuable to collectors to put in the field, in most cases.
I have used several different brands and types for gulo, and my current favorite is the NO BS CANINE EXTREME. No off-set, outside laminate jaws.
A tank of a trap, and no dog to lose.
I did cut about 1/2" off the pan.
Oh, and lots of swivels!

My preference for wolverine is the MB 750W.

The KP is about the last place I would choose to trap...simply because of the numbers of people and the horrible wet winters.

If i were in your shoes I'd be looking for a fly-in location where you will have some country to yourself and temperatures that are a lot more stable

Do you ever venture into the Upper Trail Lake area? I killed a couple of sheep in there. Closer to Anchorage, the Twenty Mile River, Placer River? I hunted those areas a lot for black bear. I walked through the Whittier Tunnel before they ever thought about putting a road in there. Me and a pal thought we would break into some pristine country on the other side of that mountain. Sadly mistaken as you probably know.

Good wolf and wolverine across the inlet from him down on the Peninsula if I remember correctly.

NO BS CANINE EXTREME

Who's that made by?

White17 - that will be a long term goal. Another is to eventually get my own plane and fly. However, I Live in Homer part time. My wife and I have a home there. And, I do have a job - although it is pretty dang flexible. So - my plan for this winter is to just get "geared up and orientated" and get a little experience. Next winter, I will get more serious. And by then, it will probably be a full-blown addiction. I know me...

Dear God - to be able to just drop everything and go live in the bush and trap every day for a couple months? Sorry wifey, but that would be my dream. I still love ya and everything... :-)

I'm confused about the snogo part. How often can one actually use a snogo around Homer? Maybe if your up in the higher country? I wonder if you'd be better off with a good boat and boating somewhere out of Homer?
mt

I’ve stomped around the Chugach mountains a bit on this side of the pass. Not much on the Anchorage side. Most of those mountains are a lot of work if you’re off a trail. If you’re not in devils club or alders, it gets steep fast.

You know it well.

Well - I got a real good boat, and a Zodiac, and that is likely my best option.

There are a number of snowmobile trail networks around here that I just wanted to "scout". See if there is sign, and see if anyone is trapping it. Perhaps breaking trails off of the established snowmobile trails wherever it might be appropriate. It is only an option that I want to explore. And that is only if no-one is already in there trapping it.

Some of you might have advice on this I'd like to hear it...

No BS Traps are made by Kendall Obermier.
His company is actually called NO BS LURES.

Finding a wolverine in the Homer area is pretty tough, they are around, mainly in the Kenai Mountains and those areas that are adjacent to the mountains are the most heavily trapped. There are several established long term lines in that area as well as a few younger trappers from the Russian villages that are working the porifera. That being said there is quite a bit of wolf opportunity in my opinion in the Anchor River drainage. I don't believe anyone is really targeting them, partially due to the potential for mangy hides. It takes a lot of time and effort to connect on a wolf and its a letdown when they are patchy and thin. Last I saw about half have good hides, of the 4 I have caught in recent years 1 was good, 1 okay, and 2 junk. Talking to Jason at ADFG would be the best thing to find out what is going on in that area. I am only really up on who is trapping to the east of Homer where my line is. feel free to PM me if you want more information.

Like to connect when I get up there. Would be nice to know a fellow trapper in town.