It's that time again,first check starting at 8am,will post pic's later in the day/evening good luck to everyone trapping marten/fisher/bobcats.Hope to see some kids trapping pic's.Here's a picture of a different Logan with his first and second trail walk thru bobcat sets,he used 2 of my 3N's for the sets.

Those look like some heavily used trails! Good luck.

There's lots of rabbit in there,been feeding the bobcat for about 5 1/2 weeks wolves had moved on to the bait,it might take a few days for the cat to return no fresh,fresh cat tracks there yes I'm sure the cat will return,just poor timing for the wolves to show up,DANG WOLVES..

Got the 1st fisher this morning with a couple more coyotes. Its a good day!

Nice.

That’s a great day!

Nice catch

I pulled up to a bait pile this morning to check the 8 coyote snares that I hung there yesterday and had a cat sitting in my walking trail looking at me. Yes! Foul snared is better then nothing I figure. But, it just turned and walked off! Dang it. I doubt it went too far though.

No way! That would suck!

Old trappers moto; " what is hit is history----what is missed remains a mystery"

and the wise old duck hunter often said, "Only fools or idiots go without their guns to retrieve a down bird"

Got lucky this morning!

Excellent!

Nice big prime fisher.

Nice big male fisher.

Awesome Backroadsearcher & 20scout!!!

20scout, one has to love them big toe headed males.

Great pic's thats a huge male fisher,we had a good run today,bad thing is we need to pull the marten/fisher boxes tomorrow.Have 14 out and picked up 3 marten today,so it's pull tomorrow.No cat today,no coyote did pick up another fox.Hung 7 more coyote snares today and pulled two locations for coyote,tomorrow i will pull a couple more coyote locations.Set up 1 more bobcat spot today and will set up the last bobcat spot tomorrow.

Wow, that one is a brute!! I suspect that about 95% of Americans have no idea that fishers exist and what they are. On my bucket list someday, maybe a month in the Adirondacks after I'm not answering to a time sheet...

Rick- Those sable look plump! Are those about average size for your area or a bit bigger...?

I'd say average all 3 were adults,i'm sure tomorrow we will have our 4th.

Nice catch Rick

What’s limit Rick? Two each or 4 each?

Nice catches by the way! And huge fisher!!

Two per person,next year they might bump it up to 3 a few years back it was 5 per person.

The young men and their father came up again this year.
About wore me out setting up yesterday, but today made it worth while!
The smiles on their faces made it a great day.

That’s cool friar I remember that from last year. Good deal

Thats what it's all about,great day in the northern woods,hope you guys get a cat or two in the next few checks.Tell them young men CONGRATS.Logan's bobcat has'nt came back,i think the wolves being there has made the cat leave for a few days.

Good catches everybody hope the luck continues!!

Rick,

I love the snow in the photos! I miss it. Well, maybe not so much.
Good luck and Merry Christmas.

Great Pictures Rick

Thank you Mark,Merry Christmas to you and Donna,i sure hope Logan gets his Christmas bobcat,helping new trapper young and old is what it's all about.What Friar Tuck has done with those two young men is awesome,Jim rode with me once last year and we had a great time visiting and talking about keeping trapping healthy and getting and helping as many young and new trappers as we could get out to enjoy this great sport.

We pounded in some #3N’s yesterday so hopefully the kitties cooperate in the next few days.

Good luck Rob and Logan i'm sure those 3N's will grip a cat or two,i have 3 3N's and 3 MJ 600's waiting for the cats to return.

I was surprised and happy to see this big boy in the trap this morning. Surprised since I did not put out many sets (6) and did not see any sign up to that point. I only set where I had caught them before and hoped one would come through when I had a set there. It actually happened. He weighed 13# .

That isn’t bad for an old man!

The young men caught 2 more marten and 1 beaver today!
Wild how excited someone can get over a kit!

Now that right there is three men having a great time on a trap line. Excellent effort FriarTuck.

Christmas came a little early for Logan,he connected on his first bobcat a nice tom.Here's a few pic's.

Way to go Logan!
And excellent job helping the young man and his dad.

Great pictures Rick!

Nice looking cat Logan and Rick congrats!

A few more pic's of Logan's bobcat.They are going to get it tanned,i gave him the 3N and chain/drag to display with his first bobcat.

I'm jealous, wish I had a childhood like Logan's having!

Nice work! Good luck today everyone.

great job guys , thanks for sharing

Rick,
Logans cheeks are rosy. But he doesn't seem to notice the chilly air because the bobcat fur is warm
Great memories.

Morning Mark,yep it was a little chilly yesterday,not too bad,i think it warmed up to 15 for a high.Logan's cheeks were rosy,at that time in the morning it was about 8 or 9 above.Have a great day and evening and remember the true meaning of Christmas.Heading out to check the traps here shortly.

Morning...Good Lock

The young men went home for a day so I brought out the A-team, my wife!
40 years of marriage and she still enjoys the time in the woods together.

Merry Christmas eve,had a great day again caught a 38 lb bobcat,caught #30 coyote and it was warm enough to let a red fox go out of a foothold,pulled a few places today and hung 2 more snares.Heading over to my brother and sister in law house for the evening in a bit.Made another 3 gallons of waxed dirt/sand tonight,Jim congrats with your wife and your self.Again MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE......

Merry Christmas Rick and all you Minnesota trappers
Red

Here's a few pic's from today.

I like your choice of the trap you used; looks like a 3N Victor, a great trap.
Congratulations on the nice cat too.

Merry Christmas everyone,i think Merl will have a Christmas bobcat today when we check the line today.

Awesome catches All !!!

Merry Christmas

Fantastic, great pics! Merry Christmas everyone!

Well dad stayed at the cabin and checked his line this morning and found a live and very upset fisher. After the whole ordeal he agrees he needs to buy a gun.

ROLF! I can relate to that!

Oh the dreaded Belisle toe catch! Been there, done that.

No Christmas bobcat for Merl today,he/she will be back shortly probably tonight.1 fox today in a coyote snare,pulled a few traps today,hung 5 more snares and remade 4 foothold sets today.Did'nt check any weasel boxes today,late this after noon I took Brian and Logan out to set a few marten boxes we'll check them in a few days,pretty sure Logan will catch his first marten this year too.Have a great night I need to put some fur on some boards.

Heading out to pick up a coyote or two and see if any of the cats came back through,have a good one.

What's your count on coyotes now.

Stuck at 30 and 15 fox was able to release 3 of them so 12 on the boards,no cat or coyote today 2"to 3" of snow late last night,it's going to clear off late tonight I think everything will be on the move.Had a 3X maybe 4X coon in a coyote snare today.Heading into town to watch the Holiday Classic HS hockey tournament 4 teams 3 games over 3 days.

Morning,big storm coming for us,not good.Here's a few pic's of a cubby I built on a good cat crossing no trap just bait,i'll wait to see if a cat gets on it and a couple of snare's set under a fence waiting for mr or mrs coyote to come through.A good friend of mine called last night and said there was a fur buyer coming through Roseau at 5pm,he brought what he had finished and ended up selling northern MN coyotes for an $80 average,thats good news.

What are you using for bait and how much?

Rick, you guys have a pretty decent coyote. 80 bucks is about right as long as there isn't many turds. It seems there is always a couple of those.

A goose for bait,i like waterfowl,beaver etc.Yes $80 is a good price,cash in hand no commission,i have 30 some and maybe 3,4 might be $55-$60 coyotes.Picked up a real nice female pup today and a fox,missed a cat,got lucky and stepped over the trap,it's now a 2 trap trail set lol.Checked another baited cubby just before dark,there was a cat on it and a coyote circling around it.Did'nt have time to set up tonight,tomorrow there will a trap or two and a couple snares for the coyote if it comes back by.Heading into town for the 2nd hockey game,hope this game is a little closer than last nights blowout.

Hockey game was another blow out after the first period,the goalie stopped the first 18 shots.Here's a few pic's from today Mitch on his marten line and me on my line.

Good morning,heading out to pick up some critters in about an hour,have a great weekend,pic's to come later.

X2

That's what it's all about,helping new trappers young or old.I'm hoping Merl's cat came back last night,Logan and Brian should have a marten another first when we get together later to pull the couple of marten boxes.Done with breakfast time to think about heading out to collect some critters,pic's to come......

Thats how I rolled this year... ah, next year Ill pre bait

Great catch MnMan!!!

Awesome pictures All !!! Great job with the kids!

Good evening,another long day pulling checking etc.Saw some cat sign today,none caught however,we pulled Logans marten boxes this evening,he now has his first marten also,he was really excited.His dad and Logan were talking about what trapping stuff they need to order for next season.Saw one area today that it looked like two coyotes were working a bait,i hung three snares there,set up that cat locations this morning with a rub type walk thru and a back door set at the cubby,hung two coyote snares about 30 yards and 60 yards where he had been circling.Set up one exposed trail walk thru heading to a bait with a 3N,other than the storm coming we'll see what happens tonight and after the storm Monday night,forecasting 4"-8" up here,sure hope it 4" or less,i feel for you south of us,you guys have been hammered this early winter.Have a great night,heard the boys won 6-0 today there 11-0 now.

The young men got their cat yesterday, all their marten tags are filled
They got their first fox the day before. Now they are trying for their otter.

Nice to see the young men are doing well,your a good mentor,Logan was PUMPED about his marten,this has been a GREAT SEASON.I'm hoping to get 3 to 5 more coyotes and maybe 3 or 4 more cats.

Well Jacob was happy to see traps held some fur when we returned from Christmas, pulled all the traps and made it home from the cabin tonight

Way to go Jacob,already looking forward to next years marten adventures.

Great pictures everyone!

Rick your coyote looks like hes starting to break already, is that normal in your area so early/

The last one was just starting to break in the hips and a little rub on the tail,depends on the weather last year they stayed pretty good till Jan 20th the last 2 from last year started showing.That warm up we had put a crust on the snow so there starting already I will see what the next couple look like,more than likely i'll pull the plug by the 10th if not a few days earlier.6"'of snow with 30 mph winds today on the line no catches but mon tue night should be a good night after the storm for the critters to be on there feet trying to fill there bellies.

Turned the bobcat and the two coyotes ready for a few more in a day or two,hope we don't get too much more snow durning the night and for the wind to go down,it's winter now for sure.

So on blizzard days do the CO's just drive by trappers homes and check if they go out for their 24 hour checks?
Then write tickets the next day ?
or just posting on here get you a

Days like yesterday it would have been real nice to have a 48 hour check,but we don't.Had a trapping friend ride with yesterday and burned over a half tank of gas,pulled a few,got stuck turning around one place for a short time.Ater checking my line my friend went out to check the few sets he had out,he called me later and told me where he was "He was stuck"went over and pulled him out,no catches for either of us,but I didn't check all the weasel boxes today everything will get checked.Dont know if anything moved last night or not,it was still a little nasty last night,7" of snow or a little more hard to judge with 25 to 30mph winds,i'm sure it will be another half tank of gas again today.

I've wondered that myself. As of tomorrow night at midnight my season ends. Sixty days straight of checking traps and I'm beat. Got the sled stuck one night and had to walk about four miles out in the dark. Hiked back in the next day pulling a sled full of gear to get it out. Got to check those traps.

Four months of beaver trapping ahead but it's all under ice so I can let them soak for a week if I want. Looking forward to a more leisurely pace.

Today will be the 72nd day checking,i'm looking forward to the end coming soon,a couple more cats and coyotes.Might be 80 checks the line is getting a lot shorter that's for sure.It's been a very good year,but I do need to wind it down and get going on some other projects,have a fairly busy Jan coming then Feb,March will be real busy and lots of traveling for work.Have a great rest of 2019 and a great 2020 to come.

No catches today,got cats sets back in working order with the boom.Had about another 1" last night and today,snow was a little harder I got stuck a few more times today,but that's why they make shovels.I'm hoping to go one more week if possible,we'll see what the weather does.I don't want to break out the snowmobile if I can help it.Have a good night everyone.

It's 0 here after the storm,thinking the critter's had to get out and try to fill there bellies,hope to have some last catches of this decade,we'll find out in a few hours.Have a great day everyone,happy new year a little early,be safe.

We only have a few sets left out and all are conibears so no check for us today. It was pleasant checking yesterday in the wind. Don’t forget to register furs today guys!

Heading out to the winter wonder land,the sun is out for a change,hope to have a catch picture or two,check in later.

Great pics everyone, thanks for sharing

Home before dark for a change,no catches today saw a couple of wolf tracks saw a 15 lb cat on a coyote bait,pulled out of there so it didn't end up in a coyote snare.It will have enough food there for a few weeks.Tomorrows a new day the coyotes and cats are due back anytime now.Have a great evening i'm going to have a late lunch.

The cats are moving today. We saw lots of fresh traps on both of our remaining spots this afternoon. Of course the pigs have the feed bag on tonight too!

Nice pic's Rob,the deer I ''ve been feeding headed to the heavier cover for the rest of the winter.Yesterday I had a young buck here in the yard.They winter 1/2 mile south of my place or 3/4 north east of here in the good conifer woods,my 160 acres might have 15 conifers on it.HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE......2020 HERE WE COME...

Wonder if there will be a NEW YEAR cat waiting for me today,a 2020 coyote would be ok too.Have a great day everyone,the start of a new decade.

No New Year bobcat but there was a 2020 coyote so I covered some gas for the last few days.Big dark adult male above the Warroad river,he was heading down to the river when he got hung up.Waiting in 5 spots for bobcats to come back through,maybe tonight will be the return night.Have a great rest of the evening everyone,todays 2020 coyote make #31.

All of the coyotes around here are 80-100 pounds and too heavy to carry out.

Yes MN has a too healthy population of the bigger dogs,everything needs to managed,sure hope the get delisted this year,IT'S TIME.....State issue not a FEDERAL JUDGE that knows nothing about living with wolves.

I'm curious as to how big an area you cover, Rick. Do you measure it in acreage, miles or counties? I trap all private ground and it's a very sizable chunk just due to the way it can be accessed. I'm the only one trapping it.

The 5 bobcat locations are from 1 3/4 miles to maybe 6 miles from my house 3 locations are on private land the other 2 are on state land.

Thanks, Rick. Like I mentioned, I have pretty much exclusive access to a few thousand acres due to the way the land is accessed. Best I can tell, there are three to five cats using it. I could expand my area with a little door knocking but there's more than enough ground where I'm at to keep me busy.

That's nice having exclusive acess I have a few land owner like that other land owner let a couple of trappers trap there land,the other trapper are honest guys so it works out,but exclusive is nicer no doubt.My furthest west farm has been really good this year 9 coyotes,released 2 fox kept 3 fox and 3 coon 2 4X and 1 4X that property is about 2500 acres.Gotta love 17 critter farms.Another section 640 acres I've taken 6 coyotes off that one section.A private gravel pit over west has gave up 2 coyotes and 2 fox so those 3 locations has produced 17 coyotes and 7 fox,i like those kind of property's.Closer to home has been almost as good.

That sounds like a pretty good year, Rick.

I missed the biggest cat in my area judging by the size of the tracks it left behind in the snow. There's a logging road the cats frequent and I get year-round pics of them using it. I had a flagged rub post set there. The cat went straight to the flag and ignored the rub post three feet away. That was about a week ago. The last time it came through was late October. That's a long time to wait only to miss out.

Great pictures everyone Rick here's my secret of how not to have to worry about snow work on your snowmobile and get it running I did right after Thanksgiving and we did get some snow but nothing like what we could be getting.

I went and checked my super short snare line no coyotes but set more snares on another ranch west of here .
Happy New Year to one and all !
Allan

That might work here,but we don't get those Shinnook winds SP,most year we have snow on the ground from mid Nov to April 1st most of the time.Making some eggs and heading out to see if any cats came through last night,hope so I need to see spots.Have a great day everyone.

So I am from the very southern end of Minnesota and when I went to register our marten i was very surprised to find out that there were quite a few other guys that had registered as well in my area. Didn’t realize how many other guys were making the trip north. I think it’s a great tradition and glad others are doing it as well.

I'm hoping next year two brother's from down by St.Cloud will be able to make it up this way for marten/fisher season,it didn't quite work out this year.He promised next year they would come up,hope so it will be fun to get together and do a little trapping.Still no cats returned only a large weasel today,i think sunday I will pulling 90% of the coyote snare's I have out.The 5 cat locations I might leave out till the following sunday the 12th.Have a good night everyone.

We are pulling today. The snow is crusted hard so the critters can walk anywhere they want. Time to pull and get back to reality.

Yep, I pulled 2 days ago - ended with a total bust! The bug/crud I'd been fighting off hit it's turbo button and put me on the couch for a couple of days. Yuck. Good job to all of you who got your animals. Still hoping to get out to a few more beaver ponds but we will see what happens.

If you have the crud feel free to stay away from me!

ME TOO.....I'm pulling 90% of the coyote snare's tomorrow,i will leave out the 5 bobcat spots till the 12th and 3 coyote spots till then also.Work is going to keep me too busy to try to keep doing what I've done the last 70 plus days.It's been a good year hoping for 2,3 more cats and maybe 2,3 more coyotes if I get 4 more canine's fox,coyotes that would be 50 during the fur season,plus cats,coon,mink,otter,marten,fisher,weasel,cant forget about the 2 skunks lol......Forgot no cats or coyotes today,tonight is the night....

Well we will see what todays check will have,pulling all but 3 coyote spots and the 5 bobcats locations will stay out till the 12th,then i'll see what I want to do.Have a great day,missing the winter meeting again ,but I have some other project going on as well.

Ended up pulling almost everything today,kept the 5 bobcat spots set,i'm down to 2 spots for coyote.One more coyote and two more cats would be nice to end a great season,31 coyotes,15 fox,8 3x-5x coon,1 otter,1 mink,12 weasels,2 bobcats,2 marten and 2 skunks that I didn't skin,no muskrats or beaver this year,the otter I caught in a mink set.Have a great night everyone,the Tanned Fur project MTA will be getting some of the red fox,coon,mink,otter,weasels and a bobcat this year again,GREAT PROGRAM to donate to.

No cats today,tonight is the cat night if not some time later in the week.20 to 40 mph winds during the day,it's laying down a bit now.

The wind howled here today for a bit, too. What conditions make you so confident of a cat tonight?

They need to fill there bellies,it been too long for them to not return to where they had been camped out before the storm,just a feeling there due back.I could be wrong,but i'm a betting man within 2 nights i'll see SPOTS lol.

Nothing yet? The warden stopped by my house a couple days ago to tag my cat. I asked him how many guys were taking cats. He checked his laptop and said just one cat beside mine had been tagged in his district. Fifty miles away from me. Feeling pretty good about taking one.

No spots today,that really surprised me,maybe tonight the night lol.The wolves were on the move,lots of tracks today.I need to skin the last two fox if they are thawed out,have a great night everyone,i need to check the few weasel boxes I have out tomorrow.

Pulled a spot today down to 4 bobcat spots,leg snared a wolf in a coyote snare today,the break away worked perfect I don't think he was there for a minute even.If I have time tomorrow I'll check the cubby I put bait at on Sunday.Have a great night I need to run to town now,spots are coming tomorrow,or the next day.

Looks like the yotes are finally checked out one bait sight. Going to give them a little time to set up a couple of trails before I land mine the area.

Good deal I hope you get a few more,i might pick up 1 or 2 more might,i still think i'll have 1 or 2 cats by the end of the weekend.I have other commitment for the next 3 weeks so i'm super limited for time.Barn shot coming hopefully next week,as of now everything is put up.