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Update on the line #7111800
12/30/20 02:08 AM
12/30/20 02:08 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,349
Interior Alaska
smalltimetrapper Offline OP
small greenhorn
smalltimetrapper  Offline OP
small greenhorn

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,349
Interior Alaska
It's been a weird year. We've got a few coyotes and foxes (red, cross and silver), some cats, not targetting marten due to the market in the toilet. There aren't too many on my line anyhow, so farm them a little while the market is down. The wolves haven't been cooperating very well this year either. When they finally came back around, they hit several sets. Three different pee posts were hit, but had out of commission traps. One had a small drift over it, the other two were frozen down. All were #9s, which shows nothing is foolproof. Super frustrating.

You can see where they were all over this one.
[Linked Image]

You can see the dog sprung, but the trap didn't fire.

[Linked Image]

Here is another one that they were on, but trap did not fire through the crust.

[Linked Image]

Had one get hooked up on a blind trail set, he hauled the root wad around for awhile that he was hooked to, then left me with this. (there is a toe in there, hard to see in the pic) This one was also a #9. So some mis fires and a bad catch in 9s this week. I'm gonna have to go back to school.

[Linked Image]

We have a bait set on a lake, been there for a few years. Apparently there are some beavers living under the bank, they tunneled up out through this hole and were foraging for groceries in the willow patch behind where the bait is. Knocked down some snares in the process. There is a snare over that hole now, might get some fresh bail for the pile. Wish I had a 330 with me, but we'll see what happens. I'm thinking they are dumb beavers, didn't stock up enough for the winter. We've been on this lake for several years, never seen beaver sign there during the winter.

[Linked Image]

They had a pretty good trail dragging stuff down that hole.

[Linked Image]

Minor consolation, got this nice cat on a remade wolf pee post. Caught in a #9, thankfully got to him before he messed himself up. Pretty cool cat, has white toes on all four feet, and a little white patch on his chest. I'm thinking a taxidermist will love him.

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

Got stuff working again, hope the wolves hang around and play nice with me. They won't have anything to do with my baits, they avoid them. I'm hoping they weren't educated too much hearing that dog pop on the frozen pee post.




Last edited by smalltimetrapper; 02/15/21 03:32 AM.
Re: Frustrating day on the line [Re: smalltimetrapper] #7112252
12/30/20 12:20 PM
12/30/20 12:20 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,124
McGrath, AK
W
white17 Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
white17  Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
W

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,124
McGrath, AK
Nice cat !! Bummer on the conditions !!

I had a beaver situation like that. Put a 330 over the hole. When I skinned the critter his meat was a bluish purple with no fat or muscle tone. Rather than being oval like a football he sort of flowed like pancake batter once his hide was removed. It was Late February so I believe he was frozen out of his grub pile


Mean As Nails
Re: Frustrating day on the line [Re: smalltimetrapper] #7112268
12/30/20 12:40 PM
12/30/20 12:40 PM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 764
Anchorage, Alaska
broncoformudv Offline
trapper
broncoformudv  Offline
trapper

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 764
Anchorage, Alaska
Tough break on your line but hopefully the weather, sets and animals cooperate on the next check. Nice looking lynx and some interesting beaver issues there.

Re: Frustrating day on the line [Re: smalltimetrapper] #7112292
12/30/20 01:09 PM
12/30/20 01:09 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,064
Wasilla AK
HFT AK Offline
trapper
HFT AK  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,064
Wasilla AK
Yeah this weather has been crazy! Bites about losing the wolf and having your gear froze down. All part of the game smile Hopefully you will get cooler temps and some fresh powder! Thats crazy with the beaver, never seen that and hope you connect with it, Good looking kitty!

Re: Frustrating day on the line [Re: smalltimetrapper] #7112333
12/30/20 01:42 PM
12/30/20 01:42 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
Y
yukon254 Offline
trapper
yukon254  Offline
trapper
Y

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
Same type of weather here Nate. I havent gotten out yet. Like you Im not going after marten this year. I will go out in Feb/March and concentrate on wolves though. What are you using to cover those #9s ? I use foam that goes under laminate flooring and rarely have a trap freeze in anymore.

You might run into Tim, he's down on the peninsula near Tony's for the next few months. He texted yesterday and said he's building a cabin down there. Apparently he forgot how hard logs are to peel when they are frozen so if you go for a visit take your drawknife!


do unto others as you would have them do unto you

www.grizzlycreeklodge.com
Re: Frustrating day on the line [Re: smalltimetrapper] #7112393
12/30/20 02:31 PM
12/30/20 02:31 PM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,117
AK
F
FL cracker in AK Offline
trapper
FL cracker in AK  Offline
trapper
F

Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,117
AK
I've caught 3 like that through the years, in every case, after freezeup the water dropped, creating a new layer of ice and keeping them from accessing their feed pile. Like White 17 said, no fat on them. I could see where wolves had already killed a few before I got there.


Psalm 34:6
Re: Frustrating day on the line [Re: yukon254] #7112443
12/30/20 03:26 PM
12/30/20 03:26 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,349
Interior Alaska
smalltimetrapper Offline OP
small greenhorn
smalltimetrapper  Offline OP
small greenhorn

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,349
Interior Alaska
Originally Posted by yukon254
What are you using to cover those #9s ? I use foam that goes under laminate flooring and rarely have a trap freeze in anymore.


I was using some stuff that came with some traps I bought from an estate sale. It is like wax paper, but not wax paper. It was a pain the butt to use, but when I was out setting it's what I had with me. It will go directly to the trash. I saw your post awhile back about using that packing material, sounds like a good option. It's even the right color!

I might have to change my handle to 'toecollector' or something like that. I've got a couple from a snare a year or two ago as well. A few years back I harvested a toe in a pee post, then got its owner a few weeks later in a trail set. Hope to see the rest of this guy some time, too.

Weird thing on the beavers, I didn't see evidence of a feed pile in the lake. I was by there during hunting season and didn't see any beavers. We had lots of snow last spring and a cool, wet summer, so water levels were high. Will be interesting to see what's up if I get to skin one of these.

Another beaver thing, I caught one in the fall that had probably ten holes in the hide. Lots of trauma in the back area. It was caught in a drowner setup, so no 330 damage. I know that the juveniles get some nips when they are being escorted out of the nest, but this was worse than that. It must have had a run in with a predator and managed to extend its life a little bit. I didn't even flesh it yet, not sure what I'll have left when I do.

Re: Frustrating day on the line [Re: smalltimetrapper] #7112795
12/30/20 08:29 PM
12/30/20 08:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 223
Chicken, Alaska
Chickenminer Offline
trapper
Chickenminer  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 223
Chicken, Alaska
Cheer up .... we all have days like that. Thankfully they are not ALL like that smile
Those cats with white feet are always neat to catch.

We've got 20" of settled snow on the ground, looks like you guys could use some!

Re: Frustrating day on the line [Re: smalltimetrapper] #7112860
12/30/20 09:16 PM
12/30/20 09:16 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,514
juneau, alaska
A
alaska viking Offline
"Made it two years not being censored"
alaska viking  Offline
"Made it two years not being censored"
A

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,514
juneau, alaska
I had the same thing happen last year, only the wolf went into a wolverine cubbie! The NO B.S. grabbed a toe, and held on long enogh for the wolf to destroy everything within reach.
[Linked Image]


Made it almost 3 years without censor!

Re: Frustrating day on the line [Re: smalltimetrapper] #7112884
12/30/20 09:35 PM
12/30/20 09:35 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,349
Interior Alaska
smalltimetrapper Offline OP
small greenhorn
smalltimetrapper  Offline OP
small greenhorn

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,349
Interior Alaska
Looks like the trap survived the storm! Those things are tanks, I've got a few of them.

Re: Frustrating day on the line [Re: smalltimetrapper] #7112921
12/30/20 10:02 PM
12/30/20 10:02 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 446
Southeast, AK
R
rosscoak Offline
trapper
rosscoak  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 446
Southeast, AK
No BS are amazingy tough. Had one that got used as a "drag" for a Bridger 5 that caugt a 91# wolf by the back toes on Sunday. Slowed the wolf enough so we could find him after trailing him in the dark for an hour.. reset the No Bs...the #5 needed shop work.

ST, are you night latching those 9s?

Re: Frustrating day on the line [Re: smalltimetrapper] #7112927
12/30/20 10:04 PM
12/30/20 10:04 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,581
The Panhandle of Alaska
M
mad_mike Offline
trapper
mad_mike  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,581
The Panhandle of Alaska
Originally Posted by smalltimetrapper
Looks like the trap survived the storm! Those things are tanks, I've got a few of them.

Agreed. I have held four wolves in the last two seasons in them and they held up fine. One KO Extreme took the wolf and two wolverine with out me having to tinker with it at all. They were set at wolverine cubbies. With that I will say that there is no way I would set one targeting wolf.

smalltime, keep pressing forward, it’s what we do.


Advice? Wise men don't need it. Fools won't heed it.
Re: Frustrating day on the line [Re: smalltimetrapper] #7112950
12/30/20 10:20 PM
12/30/20 10:20 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,349
Interior Alaska
smalltimetrapper Offline OP
small greenhorn
smalltimetrapper  Offline OP
small greenhorn

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,349
Interior Alaska
Mine 9s are not night latched.

Re: Frustrating day on the line [Re: smalltimetrapper] #7112952
12/30/20 10:23 PM
12/30/20 10:23 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 188
Southeast, Alaska
S
SE.Current Offline
trapper
SE.Current  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 188
Southeast, Alaska
How long did it take the wolves to cycle back onto your line? Mine take 3-5 weeks. Seen fresh sign on Nov 24th and they just showed back up on Dec 29th. They punkt all my sets and got a free meal. Not happy. Ready for 2021 already

Re: Frustrating day on the line [Re: smalltimetrapper] #7112991
12/30/20 10:48 PM
12/30/20 10:48 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,349
Interior Alaska
smalltimetrapper Offline OP
small greenhorn
smalltimetrapper  Offline OP
small greenhorn

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,349
Interior Alaska
Those dates are about the same as mine. I set that line right after Thanksgiving and they showed back up in force last week. There seems to be a couple straglers around too, as there are some random single tracks from time to time.

Re: Frustrating day on the line [Re: smalltimetrapper] #7113000
12/30/20 10:58 PM
12/30/20 10:58 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 188
Southeast, Alaska
S
SE.Current Offline
trapper
SE.Current  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 188
Southeast, Alaska
When I catch a random single it’s usually a young female trailing the main pack. The carcass makes a good curiosity bait for the pack when they return.

Re: Frustrating day on the line [Re: smalltimetrapper] #7182866
02/15/21 03:32 AM
02/15/21 03:32 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,349
Interior Alaska
smalltimetrapper Offline OP
small greenhorn
smalltimetrapper  Offline OP
small greenhorn

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,349
Interior Alaska
I thought I would give a little update on my line. The wolves have been really lucky this year, but I did manage to catch up with a couple of them. I got this beautiful big grey today. 100lb male, nice color and hair. He was in a snare that I set last week, frozen solid. It is nice when you get a quick reward when the voice in your head tells you to stop and hang a snare.

[Linked Image]

Got this female a couple weeks ago. The wolves will have nothing to do with bait this year, she got hung up in a snare on a go around trail by a bait station. Can anyone say waterhead.

[Linked Image]

I ended up with one beaver out of that hole. I should have taken a pic before I pulled it out. The head and shoulders were out of the hole, frozen hard. The back half that was still underground was soft. His buddy had chinked dirt and sticks around his butt to seal up the draft. After I pulled him out I came by the next week and whoever was still living there had stuffed up the hole and hasn't been back out since. Got a 330 waiting if he does.

[Linked Image]

Had this cannabalized cat a few weeks back. I used it to catch his mom, I think.

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

A few things I've noticed.
-You should always have snares with you handy and go ahead and set one if you think you should. Cost me a wolf when I didn't do this and the next week came back and they had used that trail again.
-The wolves seem to be more random on low snow years. They don't run trails as much it seems.
-When you use drifted snow and break it up to bed traps it seems like it is more prone to freeze up. I've had some really bad luck with frozen traps this year and that is some of what I attribute it to.
-This year it's been impossible to make the wolves do what you want them too. I just have to follow their lead and try to get ahead of them.

Got a few weeks left, hope to get a few more. Buddy flew over my area a couple weeks back and saw a pack of 9. I've got 2 of them now.

We had lots of rain last summer. There are some areas with bands of trees in open bogs that I usually catch marten in. I've seen no tracks, I'm thinking that the rain was hard on vole populations and consequently hard on the marten. I haven't set one marten trap this year, giving them the year off while the market is down.

Last year a lot of the coyotes I got were kinda ugly and ratty looking. This year, same areas, they are much better looking. Got 3 that were really exceptional. Don't know what makes the difference one year to the next.

Here's to Valentines Day bringing love in the air for the start of mating season. Seems the critters move around then. Good luck!

Re: Frustrating day on the line [Re: smalltimetrapper] #7182869
02/15/21 04:05 AM
02/15/21 04:05 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 446
Southeast, AK
R
rosscoak Offline
trapper
rosscoak  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 446
Southeast, AK
It's the season. Great post Smalltime, good tips as well.
Hang em high and hang alot! Lol
What cable and lock are you using?

Re: Frustrating day on the line [Re: smalltimetrapper] #7182870
02/15/21 04:18 AM
02/15/21 04:18 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,349
Interior Alaska
smalltimetrapper Offline OP
small greenhorn
smalltimetrapper  Offline OP
small greenhorn

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,349
Interior Alaska
3/32 1×19. Locks are Berkshire. My new snares have a kill spring (the dead male), female was in an old snare without the spring.

Last edited by smalltimetrapper; 02/15/21 04:18 AM.
Re: Frustrating day on the line [Re: smalltimetrapper] #7183254
02/15/21 01:20 PM
02/15/21 01:20 PM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,144
AK
bfisch Offline
trapper
bfisch  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,144
AK
Nice catches! I agree that the wolves are much more sporadic in their movements with less snow this year.

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