bfisch. yep that is were I got that yote this am

Nice bunch of fur HFT,that marten on the left of the pic looks real pale.

Looks like you're having a fun season with a mixed bag of critters

Nice collection of marten

Little chilly out there today at -21, but it was a real pretty day
Picked this little girl up in a snare set along the river edge.



When I was out the other day I cut 2 sets of kitty track, one just south of a bunch of gear and the other right at the beginning of my line, so I was hopeful Well the one visited a set, walked all around it, except for were the snare was and had zero interest in the bait. The second one, I don't know if the trap had froze down or if maybe a stick got in the jaws, the trap was hanging in a branch and there was a tuff of fur in it. That kitty was hungry, he polished off a lynx quarter and a duck, Hopefully he will hit a few other sets in the area.

Time to do a little maintenance on the sled and get some steel ready to go for the K9's,

Until next check be safe out there!

Nice catch of marten.

Nice work out there and Happy New Year John

Good deal!

I bet you get that second cat if he comes back.

bfisch I hope he does

Went out and dropped some bait on the short line today and picked up another yote. This joker managed to get wrapped up in 2 snares, wasn't going anywhere Both the yotes I have pulled so far came from a established bait station with no bait, that I have had out there for about 8 years now. It pays off to top them off at the end of the season.



We got a little snow and the temps are still down, hoping it get the critters moving! Be safe out there!

Good to see the animals are moving on your line. They are all holed up in my area for the time being. That coyote did a number on itself!

Today was a frustrating day out on the line. I got about 6 inches of fresh snow 2 days ago and man did the critters run! In 10 years of using Montana #3 Specials I have not had a fired trap without a critter. The fox pulled the trap out of the bed so I know pinched him. That followed by a kitty that stepped right on the dang pan, it had to be froze down he did the run and jerk and poof he was gone. Then another kitty walked around 3 different sets and was able to avoid 4 snares.
But it gets better! The guy that was running with me, we were 3/4 of the way done, his freaking handle bar broke off the steering column!
The highlite of the day was finding a otter hole and toilet, dropped a 220 there so hopefully next check he will be waiting for me. That and man did the fox and yote run! Need to drop a few traps out there next run.
Be safe out there!

Been there done that on the broken steering column !! Suggestion..................... remove handlebars and drill large holes in hollow steering column tube. Insert steel rod............rebar or old outboard motor shaft,................ spot weld shaft through the holes previously drilled.

Never break again !

Otherwise you will be steering with a pair of vise-grips until you get home

white, it is a old Phaser, it has a dang knuckle on it and it snapped right there. I will get a pic when we go to retrieve it in the next day or two, vice grips sound like a good idea though

LOL Might have to weld the vise grips in place ))

Sounds like you'll be skinnin again soon HFT, with the fur running around on the line.
When I miss fur from frozen traps,and bait hit or taken I dont mind.Once they get a free meal they almost always come back in winter.

You all are having some sled issues out there this season. Good luck with the recovery and repair of that one. I can only imagine trying to ride out of there with visegrips with all those turns!

Keep after them.Always days like that.

Well the plan was to retrieve that sled today but my buddy got sick, I had picked up a goat that had passed trying to give birth so I decided to make a run today and get it out to the bait station.

I know I complain about the weather, ALOT My wife tells me it all the time BUT..........we went from -12 to +36 in the blink of any eye. Just wish it would stay freaking cold!

Anyhow, I dug out the hay sets I had out there and put in a few more. Even put in one of those buried bait sets like white suggested. Hit all the kitty traps, popped them and put fresh spruce boughs under them.

Seen a bunch of these....................



Which led to this



That Meowch is killing them this year

Also picked up a nice mink, going to start pulling that gear next run. Not seeing a bunch of sign, dont know if they are under the ice or if they just aint there in numbers,



Till next check be safe out there!

Two more in the fur bag! I am curious to hear how that buried bait set works out for you.

bfisch- me to I run a huge circle around a lake, approx 2.5 miles, right at the junction were I compete the circle is were I put it. Big ole piece of tainted moose scrap. If the yotes and fox run it again like they did the other day no doubt they will find it.