So been watching a lot of mnt.men, Yukon men and they all trap martens the same way. Is there only one way to trap the critters. Log leaning on a tree with fur/lure at the end of leaning log with trap in front or a box with a coni? I'm just curious if this is done because it's the most efficient way, or is this the only way?

They will enter ground cubbies, and occasionally get caught in a variety of sets for wolf, lynx, coyote. However, in my experience, the leaning pole set is most effective/efficient for these reasons: leghold catches quickly flip off and hang outstretched by front paw which hastens hypothermia and subsequent death, dead marten are held off the ground out of reach of voles and shrews, sets stay working through windy snowy weather, sets are easy to check from trail/snow machine/dogsled. My 2 cents.

Easy to make and quick to set up every year. When you run several hundred sets they are the quickest especially if you can leave everything next to your trail all year.

AND all the materials are right there, no hauling plywood boxes or any other material.

And.....the leaning log catches the marten's attention. Everything else in nature is vertical. But mostly because when trees die from fire or old age they often tip over a bit. In the winter this causes a protected spot under the leaning pole at the base. Voles use those spots to access areas beneath the snow. Marten know that and look for spots like that to hunt voles or get under the snow themselves.

Thanks guys.. next question do they not climb upside down. I seen with cubby boxes on top they put a piece of fur on the bottom side of the leaning log. What makes them climb up and go in vs climb up and steal you fur?? I mean I'm assuming there is bait in the box as well.

Most any critter will take the easiest route. Top of the pole is easier than hanging onto the bottom ......if that's what you mean. They will walk up the pole and try to get the hanging fur with their paw rather than their mouth.
BUT...........generally the hanging fur or feathers is NOT the bait, but just something that will move in the wind and thus attract their attention from a distance.

I hang feathers above the pole. It serves as both visual attractant and bait. But it will work the same with it hanging below with no box or other bait.

The classic leaning pole set is used primarily and cold relatively dry areas which is most marten country. However, I never use a leaning pole set because where I trap marten you can get multiple feet of snow in one night, and typically several inches a night of heavy wet snow. In the dryer areas big dumps of snow like I experienced are not all that common, and in the dryer areas the snow is more likely to blow off the trap, or at least it's easier to dust it away.
I put my sets under cover in order to protect from being put out of commission by snow. This often means either on the ground in a cat face of a big tree or under a big a overturned root wad. Marten traps set this way do need to be checked a little more often in order to prevent vole damage, weekly trap checks don't really work in my situation.

I prefer a 2 to 3 inch diameter pole because they don't hold as much dry snow and render the trap inoperable also I don't have to stop at every set and clean the snow off.

X2

Interesting, I was just Curious thanks again

Thank You! This is a great time of year to discuss trapping and especially Marten trapping

Climbing sets serve two purposes. Gets the dead or soon to be dead marten hanging off the snow or ground so fur damage is lessened by multiple causes. Second reason is the theory that females are less likely to climb. If true, this is sound conservation of your marten resource, as females will produce next years crop.

Climbing sets do not need a leaning pole or leaning tree for that matter.

When I did my trapping trip to Canada all of our marten boxes where just nailed to the side of a tree and were about 2 feet off the ground.

Why 2 feet off the ground? The trappers I know that nail to the side of a tree nail them 4-5 feet off the ground. No bending over to establish or service the set and tied off to a limb above to to provide for hanging off the ground when marten caught.

Marten don't have to climb so high. And the guy I trapped with has caught a few red fox and several lynx with the lower box position.
The trap was tied off above the box so when the marten was caught It still was off the ground.

http://thebeav.us/Canada.html

Beav I see from the pictures he has little to no snow. I was digging down to my sets mounted at 5 feet last year. 2ft would not cut it here. On a bad shrew year just a marten touching the ground or the box or the tree can get ate up.

We had very little snow that year. And I was back home by Xmas.

Most common but not the only way.Ground sets,dirt holes etc. Also work.

Anything on the ground here will get damaged by shrews! If you ground set it needs to have a tip up system or your fur will be ruined!