MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!




First Gulo, and Oh - what a feeling. You guys know how long I have been dreaming about this? Like, since reading Fur, Fish and Game back in the 1970's, and dreaming about coming to Alaska, but having to settle for catching what was available on our little Minnesota lake - like Muskrats, Mink, and Beaver. So yeah - over 40 years I've been thinking on this.

It started with a bunch of wolverine cubbies along the salt, and up some of the drainages. I have 8 of them. Of all 8, this particular one was my least favorite. I dunno, it was out in the open at the base of a big draw with a trickle of water coming down. But I thought it was too close to another one that I have about a quarter of a mile away - and I was actually thinking about pulling the trap and putting it somewhere else. But it was a good natural spot. The wind had blown some very deep snow around a little patch of small spruce. The downwind side of the spruce patch was open, and a good natural approach for a wolverine. So I used a shovel and dug into the bank, and made a little cave. I filled it in with spruce bows. Inside - just a good sized piece of moose hide, and some gusto. On the open snow, I threw down a piece of moose hide, and I'm sure the crows shredded it and spread it all over. Some guts and rumen too. It looked like something big happened there. This is the set right after I made it about two weeks ago.


Today, I hit the beach at low tide. I had two sets to check prior to this set. Nothing - so I just refreshed things, and moved on. Beached the boat with the tide turning in, and went hiking to this set. You really can't see it until you are right there. So, imagine my surprise when I got there, and looked down in the hole. First Gulo!

Super good catch, right behind the skull, and a quick kill I'm sure.

That right there is one happy man! Who would have thought I would be able to orient myself, scout, lay down some sets and catch a wolverine less than two weeks after making the set? Feeling pretty happy and blessed.

There was no sign of struggle at all. I pulled the wolverine. Reset the trap. Refreshed everything, and YES, I will be leaving this set where it is! This is after the remake. The wolverine is a male. I'm wondering how much he weighs? But I'm also worried about my canoe - for I had left it for longer than I expected, and I could see that the incoming tide was reaching it. I hefted the wolverine over my shoulders, around my neck, and hiked back to the canoe at a very brisk rate. What the heck, I've waited for a wolverine for so long, might as well get acquainted with one up close and personal.

Ok - since this is my first Gulo, I'm gonna make a big deal of it. I took a bunch of photos while I was enjoying examining him. Basking in the glow.

He looks pretty big on the front of my canoe!

And on the back of my boat.

I got home around dusk. Wrapped the wolverine around my neck again, and rang the doorbell. When my wife answered the door, she and the three dogs went bananas. The dogs did the same thing they do when I come home with a bear. We call it the "bear bark." It's a mixture of fear and panic and alarm. Pretty funny. My wife took this shot, and then I weighed the wolverine at 31 pounds.
Planning to do a full size mount for our home. Got any recommendations on who/where? I've got good taxidermist in MN, but I don't want to bring it back and forth. Need a good taxidermist here in AK.

I'm giving some kudos to Alaska Viking. I have watched his posts closely. He offered me a couple tips on PM. It's not likely I would have made this set where I did without his influence. So Thanks AV!!!

Also to Andrew Stanley aka "The Wild North" on Youtube. My cubbies are tailored after his. I have watched every video he has made for years and years. Quite a character, that Andrew, and if you haven't checked out his trapping exploits on youtube, you are missing out.

As if that weren't enough, I had just enough daylight left to check a wolf bait. Nothing too special. I just went to an area where I had seen some wolf tracks a couple of weeks ago. I have a moose head, and I wired it to a spruce tree in a good dense thicket. Well, it looks like a whole herd of wolves came in. Ok, that's an exaggeration. But a pack of 5-10 have hung around for at least two days. When I put in the bait - I didn't lay in any traps. I wasn't sure if they would even come. And if they did, I wanted them to get good and comfortable and conditioned. Well, they showed me where I can hang several dozen snares, as well as the leg holds that I have. I REALLY wanted to set some tonight, but with daylight fading, and smelling like Wolverine and Gusto - I figured it smarter to regroup. So, tomorrow I set for wolves as much as I can. And who knows, maybe I will get one of those rascals too, before I'm done.

Congrats!!!! Great feeling to finally accomplish something that you have been wanting for that long!

Well done !!

You are a happy camper and you should be.

Way to go! Me and my trapping partner caught our first two last year. Great feeling.

Awesome and congrats!!!!

Way to go!!! That is a fine, fine wolverine! There are a few trappers on this site that helped and encouraged me on my first, and am forever grateful.
Now I will share another gem, one of many I got from mad_mike: keep setting. There are more!
Again, well done!

Woo hoo! Congrats! That is a soaker, for sure.

Nice work and congratulations on your first wolverine.

Very nice! Been looking forward to you connecting.

That's great !! Congratulations ! Here's one more 'tip'. I have found over the years that where you catch one, you can likely catch others year after year.

Best AK taxi that I know of is Aurora Wildlife Arts. Not sure if he has retired or not. But I would sure consider Taximan on this forum. Beautiful work !

Congrats, way to have a goal and accomplish it without stepping on others toes. You should be very proud! Ken is correct, where you catch one you will most likely catch others. We have one spot on our line where we stashed bait one year for the next weekend. Came up next weekend and wolverine had been there, set it up and caught, and in years since we have taken 6 or 7 at this same spot.

Nice job congrats

Congratulations!
Luv the pics...

Wow, that's awesome, congrats! Looks like you found a spot!

What if you are out of traps? Just buy more, right!

Whats a "soaker?" Never heard that expression before...

[quote=white17]That's great !! Congratulations ! Here's one more 'tip'. I have found over the years that where you catch one, you can likely catch others year after year.

Best AK taxi that I know of is Aurora Wildlife Arts. Not sure if he has retired or not. But I would sure consider Taximan on this forum. Beautiful work ![/quote

Is Aurora Wildlife Arts and Taximan one in the same, or two different entities? I looked up Aurora last night. No website. He has a Facebook page, but no photos. Doesn't seem to advertise. Perhaps he's as busy as he wants to be, or like you say, retired. I will have to call.

I'm not sure what I'm gonna do with this guy. I like the idea of a full body mount. He is a cool specimen - but very dark. Not the light brown/orange diamond back that seems to be so highly coveted - but whatever the case, he is my first, and he's gonna be something special to remember.

Some of the guys I researched last night were getting upwards of 2K for a full body mount. Geez - this ain't a bear! I can remember when bears were under a grand.

Congrats.WH.

Nice job! There is nothing like the first one