I have never trapped that far north. I have trapped in mountains in WY. Can get pretty cold there too. I had a marten line out and was using beaver meat straight for them. Worked great. Ran out as I was also using half carcasses as a bobcat attracter on another line. Cutting through 18 inchs of ice is a lot of work and I had had enough of it. So I put some prepared coyote bait in my boxes. A nelson type bait with a lot of stuff added. More lure than bait really. It caught marten too but not like the beaver meat did. I shot some jackrabbits and prairie dogs and was back in buisness. They definitely preferred that straight meat. Plenty of jack rabbits up there where the marten were but no prairie dogs. Didnt seem to matter though.
this is the "nelson" formula bait solution passed around a lot. its a good starting point.
NELSON BAIT FORMULA
Bait:
Any red flesh will do but the best is beaver, horse, woodchuck, skunk, housecat or bobcat. Cut into desired sized pieces, or grind. Place in gallon jar, 2/3 full. Place lid on loosely, just enough to keep flies out. Place in warm but shaded area until bait swells and juice forms on it and it has a frothy look to it. Just a good taint, not rotten. Stir in solution with a long fork. Mix well and when finished, the solution should cover the settled bait mass by about an inch. Bury a foot or so deep in earth trenches, lids on firm but not tight as jars may explode. Age in trench for at least one month.
Solution:
In a gallon jar, place 2 pints sun rendered fish oil (catfish or trout is best), 1 pint of glycerine and 20 heaping tablespoons of sodium benzoate. Add 1 ounce of valerian, 1 ½ ounces of tincture of aseofetida, then 8 tablespoons of ground beaver castor, 20 drops of pure skunk essence, and 1 pint of pure red fox urine. Fill jug the rest of the way with pure rainwater, shake well and age at least one week prior to adding to bait formula. It helps to add 4 ounces of ground muskrat or mink glands.
