It has been -60 for the last three days and -40 or colder for the past nine days. Warmed up in a hurry late last night to -10 and was five above this morning. Got a late start, but finally got my line checked.

First catch was a bummer. Had this snare set on a for sure fox trail, but after I set it the fox sign disappeared until now. I guess the location got hot real fast. Fox, lynx, and crows all needed a few calories to stay warm and this is all they left me.



Threw the feathers and innards from our Thanksgivings turkey we butchered in a likely location. Last check had a very fluffy red, but also noticed a lynx passed by. I redid the snares and got him this time. Unfortunately, shrews found him. Will see what the damage is when he thaws.



Had a lynx visit another set and set off the trap. Scared him enough he didn't take the bait, but not bad enough to make him run away. Either way a little disappointing, but I had more lynx sets not far off and was hopeful. I showed up to what I initially saw as another trap set off with no catch. Upon closer inspection it was not empty. It just had a really small furbearer! Little guy must have eaten his fill before he jumped on the #4. Maybe the lynx will be there next time.



No wings to hang for lynx attractors this year so I am trying cd's at a couple sets. Didn't seem to hurt as this little guy was the final catch of the day.



Fun day! Saw some fresh sign and put in a couple new sets. Scouted some new territory and maybe make some sets there the next trip out. Hopefully the marten will move the next 3-4 days before it is supposed to cool off again. Ended with a beautiful sunset that cannot be appreciated in a photo. . .

I always enjoy those days when you see the sun come up and it set, the beauty is priceless Some nice looking kitties! I haven't had a problem with the voles this year, minus stealing bait, hope they didn't get that one to bad,

Thank you for sharing a part of your line with us isn't it amazing what we experience while out on the line, one never knows what to expect it's a great adventure that's for sure.
I hope the damage isn't to bad on the lynx.
Allan

Congrats on the critters. A couple years ago I found a fox head and cape like you have there. Used it as bait/attractor in a cubby set. So far have caught 2 lynx (last year) and a silver fox this year. Stashed it in the shed over the summer with my wings and such.

Update on shrew damage:



Three shrew holes. Looked worse so I am glad there wasn't more. Two in the belly and one on a back leg. The big hole is a little bigger than a fifty cent piece and there was another about that size in the leg.



Wife made them look better with her sewing.



I salvaged the skull from the fox and will clean it up. It was an old fox by the looks of it. It is a big skull with two well worn canines, one canine with the root showing and missing the last canine along with some back and small front teeth. Not worth selling but would be an interesting comparison between it and a young all intact skull. I saved the rest and plan to use it for what you suggested. Awesome silver! How did you keep the flies out storing the fox over the summer?

Nice you could salvage the cat, should be fine by the looks of it.

Fox had been killed by wolves or coyotes, was mostly freeze dried by the time it got warm out. Flies were not an issue.

Well, had a bunch of snow after the cold weather. The 10 inches or so that we got put most of my stuff out of commission. Went through a few days ago and uncovered my traps and opened the trail back up. Only fresh sign on that check was wolf tracks, but did see two decent bull moose that still had antlers. I guess they survived the pack passing through. Hung some wolf snares and set a couple traps, but I am not a wolf trapper. Also was able to make a couple marten and lynx sets in the new territory I made trail into last time.

Checked the line again yesterday and the first set on the new trail was empty, but the second, fourth, and sixth sets connected. This weasel stole the bait at one of my lynx sets (lots of weasels this year). I saw where he had taken some of the bait down a hole so I placed a 1 1/2 long over the hole after putting some fresh bait down the hole. Rebaited the lynx set and nailed the bait to the tree this time. Barely got him as I am guessing the jaws might have been tossing him out when the trap went off. He didn't move though after the trap fired.



New marten set I just put in on the previous time out. A small female.



Made a marten pole set not far from a lynx set, but my lynx sets must be more appealing as this marten jumped on the bigger trap. Nice male. Makes for marten number four so far this year.



Here is the remake after the marten tore up the area.



Have fun and stay safe!

I love those little ermine I had a marten jump dead center of a #5 a few years ago, not the preferred method and did a little damage. Good you only got that little joker by the back foot

Just got through another cold spell. Warmed up to -20 and I took off to check my line. First section was slow and weasel tracks were the only fresh sign. Have seen more of their tracks this year than any other. Not as much marten sign as I expected. Hopefully, they will move now that it is warmer.

I think it is the year of the weasel.



Wolves came through again and I was hopeful as they followed my trail. Last time out I hung half dozen snares in two spots. They ran around the area and each trail that had a snare in it they turned off it right before the snare. I added a couple snares and made a urine post set. The wolves continued to follow my trail same as last time and they exit the trail about 50ft before a lynx set and reenter the trail about 50 ft past the set. These exit/enter trails were the second place I set snares last time. Coming up to one lynx set, I could immediately tell I caught something because it was tore up, but I didn't see the catch. Walked up to it and saw that the wolves found my lynx before I did. Bummer! Now the wolves are not only avoiding my snares they are stealing my catches!

What is left of the lynx.




I had two wolf snares and one lynx set left to check. I past by the first snare. It was empty. I continued and accidentally passed the second snare so I went on to check the lynx trap. No sign there. I turned around with my weasel and lynx leg kinda disappointed with the day's catch. As I came up to the snare I had previously bypassed I saw the area was tore up some. I got off my snow machine seeing a little gray fur and thinking I had caught a lynx in my wolf snare. My first thought was, I hope the wolves didn't ruin this one too! I soon saw the little gray fur get bigger and the little gray fur had a big tail. The little gray fur was a nice wolf! My first wolf! A milestone I have been hoping to pass for a few years now. I am super pumped! For the most part the fur looks to be in good shape. She weighed in at 86 lbs.




I believe this wolf is one of the ones that took the lynx. That helped make up for the loss. I guess trading a lynx for a wolf isn't a bad deal.

Congrats on your first wolf! Looks like a nice grey too.

Congrats you just caught the hardest one . Gets easier from here on out .

Nice work bfisch and congrats. Now your hooked

Congratulations!

That is awesome that you got the wolf! Congrats! Hope you connect with some more!

Good for you !!! That made your day !!.

Man those ermine area PITA !!!

Congratulations on your first wolf ! Keep up the good work !
Allan

Congratulations on your first wolf!

Congrats she is a beauty!

Congratulations! And way to keep after them, hope they come back soon!

You did it .Some folks never leave couch .