Good stuff Smalltime ! I agree. If you have a hunch that you should set someplace.........do it.

I have heard reports from others that marten populations are way down to non-existent .

Good to see your connecting! Bites about the kitty getting ate but at least you got the culprit! That is crazy about that beaver! Looks like some good fur on it and I know it is good bait! Good to hear about the yotes, hopefully you got all the bad ones outta the system for a spell! Hope thigs pick up for you! Thanks for sharing!

Another hunch about a spot to put a trap or snare is redoing or removing because it just doesn't look right. Leave it alone cause that instinct is usually wrong I have found...LOL

Good work Nate

Nice catches on your line. That beaver is something else.

Nice catches.

Got a little more snow and wind this week, so had to do a little maintenance out there. It was a beautiful day, if a bit cold. A moose popped a #9 at a pee post, fortunately did not get a grab on it. I got this cat at a wind blown spot that keeps the set working all winter. Set this in November and haven't touched it since. Not even scent added.



This is an 80lb female at a pee post in a #9. You can see the marginal catch. I need to adjust the pan tension on that trap, it's pretty floppy. This set is in a spot that is kinda drift prone, but I like it because it is where a small trail joins the big trail in a big open bog. I like intersections for set locations. It had snowed and blowed a bit after this was caught, so I had to do a bit of hunting to find her. It's about 15' of chain on a grapple. I had hooked the grapple around a piece of deadfall, but it had worked itself loose. She had dragged it down the smaller trail about 400 yds. Snow had covered up all the tracks up to where she was hung up. Once I got close enough to see the marginal hookup I didn't waste a lot of time with pictures. Did have the video running for the occasion tho.



I tried the trench set, was inspired by bfisch. This is a run through the woods where the wolves have traveled a couple times in the last month. I modified the set a little and used my drag to try to help direct foot placement. I blended everything in after the picture, see how it goes. I've got a pee post about 1/4 mile from here, maybe get a couple if they decide to come through here again.

Congrats on the wolf and kitty! I'll be watching to see if you or bfisch connect on that set, hope one of you do

Nice work on the wolves! I like the idea with using the drag as a stepping stick. Hope you connect!

I saw a guy on a facebook trapping page make an attachment on his pull behind sled to leave a trench so he didn't have to dig one. Plus it got the wolves used to traveling in the trench for a great length of time so they were comfortable with it.

Can't wait to try the trench next season, would have tried it this season but the caribou were traveling our tracks non stop. Couldn't even keep them out of peepost.

Nice wolf and lynx.

I assume if you make the trench right, you can drive over the trap without springing it? Seems a little chancy to get the wolf foot to step in just the right place.

Yes on driving over it. Trench is a little narrower than the track on snogo. Hoping the drag in the trail will help place the foot. I used a Bridger #5, as it is a little narrower than a 9 and the pan sits level with the jaws. I've had issues with 9s on trail sets, as the pan sits so high that in order to cover it you end up with too much packed snow over the jaws when you drive over it.

Saturday was beautiful, but since we were supposed to get a bunch of snow Saturday night I waited to run the line. I wanted to make sure things would be halfway working for the week instead of buried in snow. I took a walk and shot this coyote at just under 400 yds. That's always fun.



I'm glad I waited because this big girl got hung up sometime this morning. 97 lb female in a snare by a bait station. This is the biggest female I've caught. It was a fairly old wolf I think, teeth worn down and heavy thick claws. Pretty crazy, I think the rest of the pack was hanging around and ran off when they heard me coming. It was snowing, but their footprints were pretty visible. They had hung around and packed down the area, probably after the wolf was caught. They made a couple real nice trails for me to set. I wish I would have got a picture of one, the tight willows were covered with snow except for the dark line through them where they went through and knocked the snow off. Got some sets in there for when they come back. This wolf has just recently expired, ears and feet not frozen yet at about 0 degrees. This is the second wolf I've caught with the little kill spring on the snare. No water head, not much struggle, it was hardly tore up. Not sure where all the blood is from, will find out tomorrow when I skin.



You can see that spring crushed down. Seems to help a bit. I've had trouble with the Berkshire type locks bending, but the last two wolves with these springs were right about 100 lbs and no issues.



It's nice the wolves are cooperating now after some frustrating weeks earlier in the season. I dug the new snow out of my trench set from last week before I ran over it. Looks pretty good now, I hoping the wolves come along and try it out.

Last day of marten season, kinda weird to not be pulling traps. Didn't set any this season.

Thats a good catch - right up behind the jaw like that they go out pretty quick.

Good looking wolf and yote! Hope you connect with the rest!

Good looking critters! Surprised to see so much open water in the coyote picture. Also doesn't look like you have much snow on the ground.

Nice catch.

Man, I'm glad I got to that wolf when I did yesterday. Earlier would have been better. The pack had beat her up pretty bad. There were puncture marks in 3 legs and a couple around the neck, and bad trauma and blood shot goo along the back and neck. Not sure if they would have eaten her, but definitely were working her over. One of her back legs had been broken at some point. It was all healed up, but there was a big knob on the bone where it grew back together. Probably kicked by a moose or something. Those critters live a violent life. Other than that, a real nice pelt, one of the nicer tails I've gotten on a wolf.

It sure is amazing what animals can live through and continue to prosper with despite medical care. Thats one healthy female!

Very nice!