It has been a slow freeze up and barely any snow. Pretty rough going any distance. We are finally getting the cold which is good. Hopefully we get some snow before too long. Made some sets closer to home and caught this light colored marten where a wolverine had passed by. My dad was along which was a bonus. He taught me how to trap and we trapped together in MN from the time I was ten until I got my license.




My wife set some snares and one trap and connected as well.



Was also able to take my dad spearing pike


and then my dad and two older daughters. They each got one. The older speared last year as well, but this was the second's first time.


and my wife was able to spear for the first time as well.

I used to spear in MN religiously. Whitefish and pike. Sure do miss it! Guess I never really thought about doing it here in AK.

Thats great start to the season, love that marten! Good seeing your family all out enjoying your activities.

Congrats looks like a good start to the season

That orange marten is very like the one I named OJ , that T4ever trapped for my hat. Good pics and seasonal beginning.

I started a few years ago and it is nice to not have to stop at three and deal with slot sizes.



When I first saw it, I thought it was a small fox.

I can see that you would think that, bfisch ! What a sight it must be to see that orange ball bouncing in the trees with the snowy backdrop !

That is a pretty looking marten! Love the color! Looks like the wife might out do you trapping if she keeps catching like that! Glad to see you spending time with the family in the great outdoors! Thanks for sharing!

Conditions have been tough for traveling and getting out as much gear as I would like to or at least that is my excuse for why my wife is out-trapping me.

I caught a muskrat and a kit beaver. . .




while my wife caught these two beauties.



These are her first snare catches. She is also being much more cost effective on her line as she is never more than 2 miles from the house. I might have to rethink my strategy.

nice job

Hahaha!! Good for her!!!! At least your getting some good bait and a little fur in the shed! Hoping conditions get better for you!

Good stuff!

Nice catch! Great looking foxes too.

With all those Pike you can make fish ice cream, another food to use seal oil with !!.
Did that last fox get caught around the body?
Making the best of tough conditions, pats on the back for everyone!!

Thanks all!

I have had some pretty good fish ice cream, but never with seal oil in it (that I know of). Yeah the fox got one and a half arms through. It is a little curious though. She has some very fresh bit marks on her back legs. I wonder if she wasn't running when she hit the snare.

canary martin= see a past thread about them

Might consider decreasing loop size or raising the loop height above ground. 8 in. loop. 8 in. above ground caught me a lot of fox when I lived in Nome.

Up to 8" above ground but keep loop size at 7". You miss the odd one but rather miss a few than hip catch. They get caught in the next snare or come back most times. Started doing that years ago and hip catches went to nil. There is a bit of an art too to put the snare right where their head will go. Expect you know what I am talking about. Really can not explain it.

Really good what you guys are up to especially having a Mrs. that is interested like that.

I don't think it quite qualifies. Close though.

Yeah, loop could've been a little large. This was her first time setting snares.

Well for her first time she is doing one heck of a job getting them! I wouldnt change anything, stuff happens. Now if it becomes a constant problem then an adjustment is warranted. I am hoping she gets a bunch more!