Cool Lynx story.

Thankfully you caught that lynx in the act and managed to get it. Nice going! So far the lynx on our line avoid caught lynx like the plague, they will be walking along the river and when they get close to a caught one they will jump off the trail go around the caught one then come back onto our trail.

Interesting, I never knew lynx are canibals.

Went out on Thursday. It was -30 when I took off and a balmy 0 when I got home. Tonight is -40. The trip sure had its ups and downs. Most everything was exactly how I left it. Only three sets had been touched. the bait out off two marten poles were gone. One knocked the trap off the pole and at the second the marten had jumped up from underneath wrestling the bait off the wire all the while using its weight to unravel the wire holding the bait. The trail camera showed video of the whole thing, but because it was video it was difficult to get a still shot to share because he was moving so fast.

This is after he had the bait half way down and off.


Since I have not been seeing much wolf sign I went further on out to the river in a place I have no sets to take a look. Sure enough the wolves (maybe about 4) had walked along the bar. I plan to bring a couple traps for the location next time. Later on down the line I came out to the place I had last seen wolf tracks along another bar and upon first coming out of the willows there was no sign. I went along further and saw the last pee post I had set out was empty. It is easily seen from about 1/2 mile away. I continued on toward it hoping to put it one more trap on a drift log on the opposing sand bar. When I got closer there were wolf tracks everywhere. I was surprised that the trap was empty and drove up to the set to see that being empty was not always the case. I had a wolf for a short time, but obviously not anymore. I was disappointed and hope that I didn't just educate all of them. At the location I saw two arm sized sticks that were laid in the snow that had not been there before. I can only guess the pack left them there. I remade the set and put in another on the other side of the river.

Before heading home and checking the last couple sets I cut a sleigh load of wood. On the ride home I checked a few fox snares that I had set up in my trail. The last time I had checked one of them a fox had walked right up to the snare and did a 180, but we had a little snow since then and there was one waiting for me. I reached in my inside coat pocket to grab my camera, but it wasn't there. I checked my other pockets, but nothing! I had taken the camera out to take a picture of the empty wolf trap and the snow tore up a little and I had taken my coat off when I was cutting up and loading firewood. I went back to those two locations and dug around in the snow for a good bit. Unfortunately, it is still missing. I am not so much concerned with the camera as I am with all the pictures on the SD card. It sure is a bummer losing all pictures from the last two years.

Here is the fox and wood (taken with my spare camera after getting home).


In light of eternity the lost pictures don't mean much, but today they certainly feel like a loss.

UGH! That sounds like a frustrating check! Crazy about the marten doing that with the bait, pretty cool you got that on camera Bites about missing the wolf, I hope you connect with them next time they come through! Good looking red!

What a huge loss with the missing camera... Had that happen once years ago and have tried being better about backing up pictures on a more regular basis. Hope you find it next time out. That marten is something else, can't believe it figured your sets out and is getting the bait like that. Makes me wonder if I had a smart one like that a couple years ago, I for sure thought a person was messing with my sets but couldn't ever find tracks due to the weather not cooperating.

It can be a real problem for some. Especially when snaring family groups. Any not caught will cannibalize the others. I have been fortunate I have not lost very many.

HFT & broncoformudv-

It has been fun watching videos of the marten and if he can continue avoiding the trap I will be happy with the pictures. I could change up the set, add traps or additional sets, but am also having fun seeing the videos.

A little snow followed by two days of -50. That is what we got between my checks. Went out yesterday and I believe it was the nastiest weather I have ever checked traps in. I almost didn't go. It was -20 with gusts 40+ mph. The flats and the river were ground storms and even though my original intention was to make a couple more wolf sets on the river I opted to postpone. A single wolf came to a bait sight and broke out of a snare he was caught in. Bummer! Wolves 2 me 0. I feel like I am being humbled this year. I believe my sets are in good locations and they are starting to connect, but am having trouble holding them.

Made it out to the river by way of the trail I made this year and the first set is about 20 yards to the right after I hit the river. Empty and no sign. I drive down the bar and it appears that the brutal wind has uncovered the drift log my second trap is chained to. The wind is whipping and the snow flying but the drift appears to be moving, but it may just be an illusion from the weather. Nope it's a wolf! I quickly jack a round into the chamber and drive on ready for anything. I don't want to lose another. I soon saw a full paw in the trap and took time to snap a picture.



69 lb female

Nicely done. That’s awesome !

AWESOME!!!!!!

Nice job on the wolf,fur looks good.

Great job! Losing wolves due to equipment failures etc is a hard pill to swallow.

Download pics to the puter regularly. You appear to be graining ground on the critters. Good luck!

Went out again yesterday. It was a bit breezy but nothing like the last time I was out. I found another place to cross the river after cutting through willows and opening up some drifts. I was hoping to find some wolf sign, but instead I saw some fox and otter sign. There is also several beaver houses in a lake and drainage by some hills. One beaver house had tracks going around and on top of it. From a distance I figured otter, but there were no slide marks. The critter had bounded up and did the same coming off. I drove closer and then walked closer. Sure enough! Wolverine tracks! I am fortunate to find one track a year on my line a season, but knew there were some around and I think there is a better chance now that I am closer to the hill (also furthest point on the line). I made one set under a large lone spruce near by the beaver house. He had also urinated all over the top of the beaver house. Hope he comes back!



Caught this little lynx on the same lake I got the last two. No fresh wolf sign.



Here is how I make my wolves look bigger!

Good deal on the kitty! Sounds like that wolverine was marking his turf! He will absolutely be back and I hope you connect! Haha that is a good way to make it look bigger

Be sure and include the kid if you post pics to sell the wolf! Cute.
Wolverine seem to be more prevalent where there are hills or mountains. The hills west of you would likely be a place to improve chances of wolverine in my opinion.

Nice work

Plus they should be a lot more active and covering more ground for the next 8 weeks or so

I am really hoping for a wolverine! A couple people have caught them this year around here. I plan to bring out a couple 330s next time and maybe another foothold. Season goes longer for them and wolves than most other furbearers. So, I'm saying there's a chance!

Went out yesterday and saw some fresh sign. Lynx tracks in a couple places and the wolves came back to the same bar on the river where I caught the one. They avoided my sets, but are still working the area. Trying to figure out the best way to make a trail set with a trap without using river drift to chain to. They keep using a portion of my trail. I may just have to cut a huge drag that can't be pulled far (nothing to get snagged up on) or try hammering in some sort of stake which I have never tried before. Also put out a couple snares.

I set two 330s around that wolverine sign from last time. One is set in a cubby similar to my lynx cubbies but a little more closed in. The other I put on the beaver house and looks like a mock otter hole set. There is some bait in the bottom of the hole and it doesn't show well in the photo but hole is at about a 45 degree and 3 feet deep. Never tried much for wolverine. We'll see what happens.



Made new trail extending the line another 1 1/3 miles. I didn't do any cutting as I bounced from lake to lake. I'll clean up the trail in the future and if I want to get to where I want to go there will have to be some more serious cutting. I haven't decided for sure that this is the direction I want to take so until I do I don't want to expend too much energy/time on it.