Thanks Rob

bfisch, that one was pretty bad in the hocks. Trying to get the yotes that are out there, I will probably shut that line down the end of next week.

Getting a few furs ready to be dropped off for the online ATA fur auction.

Your fur looks great,HFT.
Still have your cats to put up or did you sell those already?

Boco they are all put up, have a few that still need sealed but waiting till the end of the season (Feb 29) then they will go off to Moyles for tanning. With what they brought at the past few auctions I make more money tanning and selling them. My wife is a good hustler when it comes to selling my fur

Nice bunch of fur!

Thanks Rob, thought of you today

We got dumped on pretty good last night a little over a foot and in some areas the snow is waist deep off my trail now. Since I got this newer sled I have not really cared for the low windshield, kept thinking of replacing it and getting a higher one. I should have acted on that thought because today it totally kicked my butt, riding on one knee breaking trail through fresh powder over the hood is no fun says my back.

Spent the day digging gear out and reluring. Walked down to a kitty set by the creek and I could see fresh otter track on the other side!



Well I went to go over there and took 1 step and punched through above my knee! Looking at the hole the water is about8 inches down from the ice, a perfect spot for the Bronco set



Picked up this yote in a modified hayset, pee post/ dirt hole, little fox matrix urine, and tainted moose scrap down the hole. I love my Montana Specials!



Got the steel working today, but didnt have time to mess with the snares, next run I am going to start shutting things things down snare wise.

Be safe out there guys!

Now I understand why you sent me that picture! LOL.

Nice looking yote.

Another coyote down! You must walk in some scary places.

Yeah that creek is always sketch. My first year out there running it I felt the back of my sled drop, the ice gave out, gunned it turned around and the front dropped and the skies went under the ice. Thinking I was billy bad butt I tried lifting it out, the water was only above my knees. Long story short being wet at -20 is no freaking joke! A group out trail riders gave me a lift back to the truck 7 miles away. The wife hat to use hot water to unfreeze my laces to get my boots off, I was lucky that day. Went back the next day and with a chainsaw chisel come along and got it out.

Getting that machine out...Did you try the two extension ladders ? where you lift the machine on one then the other, then the ladder sides or raises sideways onto solid ground. Sorry no pics.

Northof50, that has been the one and only time I ever had a machine punch through and I take every precaution to never do it again We used spruce poles to leverage the front end out back onto solid ice after cutting and chipping around it. I pay attention to the stories here and how others recover their sleds because you never know Never heard of using ladders but that would be a concept that would work.

HFT
I got the same foot of snow, can you describe your dig out a little bit. I pulled mine up packing a trap base to lift my canine traps this creates fairly large depression. i made effort to smooth over and leave no abrupt edges to cause as little disturbance, but hey don't look untouched. Open to any advice. What do you probe for trap with,
Thanks Bob

trapperbobs, I use one of those spades from F&T with the long handle to probe with. Right now I have probably a dozen sets out for the yotes and fox and after this last dump when I ran I found all but one set, I know where it is at general area just have to kick around more next run. All those sets are right beside my trail. I pull up so that my pull behind sled is right beside the set, take on step off my snogo opposite side of set and into my sled and work from it. When I go to leave I step in that same track and erase it when I hop on my snogo, the pull behind sled does the rest.

Everything I am running right now are hay sets, modified dirt hole/ pee post. Here is a pic of the set. The trap is right in front of the snow on the hay. The yotes and the fox love peeing on little spruce, so I took the top of on and planted it there. Moose scrap in the hole, matrix on the spruce along with pee. I try to keep the trap area level if not just a little lower ten my trail.



If they work the set I normally get em Now that pic was before the dump of snow. Out in the open I try and make the backing were the hole is higher then the snow level, kinda like a mound, that way when we do get a dump you can still see were the set is, I take my sifter and scoop the snow away from the hole and on top were I think the trap is. Then probe for the trap and lift it out of the bed, re pack the snow in the depression, add a little more hay were the trap will lay, place trap press down to bed it, cover with a little more hay, then take my sifter and tyr to blend it all in the best I can.

If your using snowholes, same concept except I dont sift the snow over the wax paper, I use one of those scoops from Teds Fur Shed and lay the snow over the wax paper. All the disturbance is right there at the set and the goal is to make it look like another fox or yote was there. I dont worry about abrupt edges or if it is smooth or not. Just need them to take that one step off of the trail

Hope that helps a little.

That is all great info, and helps a lot. I have a ton of mushers around and the Ravens are crazy about hay. I can't keep them out of it. The dig out help is great. Thanks a lot.
Bob

Knock on wood I have not had that problem with the ravens this year, I know exactly what your saying though, ruins a good set.

Was some pretty weather up until today, we picked up another 2 inches of snow and it is beginning to get warm again.



Started pulling some gear and shutting down snare lines today. Came around a spruce tree to slip a snare and Mr Bunny was sitting there looking at me, Thought it was a cool pic



Picked up another yote running the wrong bunny trail



Poked around a little for otter. I know the jokers are there but under the ice shelf. Chipped in two holes just need them to pop their head out.

Be safe out there!

What a cool pic of the hare!
Glad you are doing well.

Good deal on the coyote! I haven't seen a hare all season, but they are around. Will you continue going after otter or will you be done the end of the month?

Thanks AV, that bunny knows were it is safe

bfisch, gonna keep after the otter, I got gear were they normally come through at, just a waiting game.

X2