Re: Question for wolverine trappers?
[Re: muskrat411]
#7439559
12/23/21 01:57 PM
12/23/21 01:57 PM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 9 Alaska
Ramhunter
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 9
Alaska
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I catch everything in 330 with milk crates. Even got 2 wolves in milk crates last year. Milk crates are tough to come by up here though. Buti suppose wolverine have a lot more options to eat where you southern young fellers trap. I got 2 Lynx in fence sets last year but did not get a wolverine. Im running amounts in line this year so I'll try one the community government had some old fence they said could take. The box sets work, I caught three wolverine in them last year, 2 males, one 39.5 pounds and another 36 pounder, and a 19 pound female, just running about 50% refusals or more!
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Re: Question for wolverine trappers?
[Re: muskrat411]
#7439766
12/23/21 06:17 PM
12/23/21 06:17 PM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 9 Alaska
Ramhunter
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 9
Alaska
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One more thing on wolverine passing up you milk crates. I use a couple types of bait in the same box. As a wolverine can be fussy. So maybe tainted bear meat, fish and Muskrat in the same box. Make sure he gets what he is looking for that day. Also lure on a ball of hide just to keep his attention and scraps or dog feed on the ground make sure he spends some time in the area. Turn them Old Golu eyes to eating and you will do good. Great advise! Thanks!
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Re: Question for wolverine trappers?
[Re: muskrat411]
#7440304
12/24/21 10:07 AM
12/24/21 10:07 AM
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Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 797 Alberta
Norwestalta
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 797
Alberta
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Has anyone got a picture of your milk crate set they could share? Thanks
Last edited by Norwestalta; 12/24/21 10:08 AM.
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Re: Question for wolverine trappers?
[Re: Ramhunter]
#7440542
12/24/21 03:16 PM
12/24/21 03:16 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,175 McGrath, AK
white17
"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
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"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,175
McGrath, AK
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I am not convinced that avoidance is caused by having been 'educated' previously.
I have never trapped in an area where wolverines were likely to have encountered another trapper. Even though they can have very large home ranges and travel a heck of a distance looking for love, I believe that the average wolverine is pretty much a homebody as long as he can find groceries. Especially the females.
I can recall when Gulo was the area biologist here. He was having good luck catching wolverine in bucket sets. He was trapping mostly with the airplane but still was at least a hundred miles from my line. The difference , I believe, is that the individual animals he was trapping had encountered man-made things before. The individual animals in my area had not.
I believe that the critters closer to civilization become more familiar and at ease with things that are, or look to be, out of place.
A bucket or a milk crate are not things a wolverine normally encounters in his lifetime...........unless they live closer to a community.
I also believe that mama wolverine teaches her kits travel routes through the country and also things to avoid..........like a bucket or a box. That's why I think my luck with buckets changed after I eliminated the older cohort in the population, with footholds.
I also started leaving buckets inverted over a stump during the summer. Maybe the critters became habituated to seeing them and thus lowered their avoidance behavior.
Look how common it is for wolverines to circle a set. That isn't 'hunting' behavior, it is caution. If something appears natural, I think their alert system is at a lower level. I also believe that if you can focus their attention higher than their normal line of sight, it gives you an advantage.......particularly with footholds.
Many of us remember Piper9er on here. He used mostly 330's in buckets and crates but they were elevated on a couple of leaning poles. I believe that was mostly due to wind and drifting snow on his line but I think it also aided the animal's ability to see the bait without "scrunching " down a bit.
Who knows ? That's what makes these guys such an interesting animal to pursue
Just my 2 'scents'
Mean As Nails
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Re: Question for wolverine trappers?
[Re: Ramhunter]
#7440762
12/24/21 07:56 PM
12/24/21 07:56 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,336 Alaska
piperniner
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,336
Alaska
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This thread brings back fond memories. The days when the WT+L section of Tman was most active. So many participating and offering their experience. For those who are interested, go to the archive section ie - wilderness trapping and living archives. All of the topics offer a wealth of information. There are several sections that pertain to Wolverine. The buckets that White referenced are shown in the archive thread titled - Wolverine thread archive by trapper Joe. The pics were posted by fisherman 222. Bucket sets don’t seem to work for some, but my experience was positive. As you can see, the elevated sets are positioned at a downward angle. In theory, the animal has all four legs occupied as it sticks it’s head into the bucket. A loud skunk call always helped draw them in. Consistent behind the neck catch. Often, you would get them on their first curcuit, other times months later. But who really knows, it could be a new animal entering the area. All sorts of methods work, but the nice part is the drama of foot holds is avoided.
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Re: Question for wolverine trappers?
[Re: Ramhunter]
#7440800
12/24/21 08:26 PM
12/24/21 08:26 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,514 Orergon
alaska viking
"Made it two years not being censored"
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"Made it two years not being censored"
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,514
Orergon
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I agree. And the drama is real!
Just doing what I want now.
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Re: Question for wolverine trappers?
[Re: Ramhunter]
#7440897
12/24/21 10:10 PM
12/24/21 10:10 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 392 ak
nooksack
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 392
ak
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I've had luck with buckets and boxes or crates. However I've gone to mostly this type of set due to restrictions where I trap. The bait is covered to help it last longer when it warms up and keeps the birds out. I've had them circle this and leave too. Funny as I have caught many in lynx sets with completely exposed traps, no bait, and just a wing with or without lure . The good thing about those has been that I use mainly Jump traps for cats, and the under spring keeps them from chewing of their frozen toes and pulling out.
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Re: Question for wolverine trappers?
[Re: Ramhunter]
#7440918
12/24/21 10:43 PM
12/24/21 10:43 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,514 Orergon
alaska viking
"Made it two years not being censored"
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"Made it two years not being censored"
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,514
Orergon
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I had poor luck with V-14 jumps. Several pull-outs, and a couple toes. Since switching to NO BS CANINE EXTREMES, that Kendal made with no off-sets, for MadMike, and I, zero loss. I will say, those traps have held everything, including wolves, for MM.
Last edited by alaska viking; 12/24/21 10:43 PM.
Just doing what I want now.
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Re: Question for wolverine trappers?
[Re: Cytex]
#7440981
12/25/21 12:45 AM
12/25/21 12:45 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,859 Northwest Territories
muskrat411
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,859
Northwest Territories
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Cytex: Sounds like you are trapping lazy not putting the effort in to make the box area attractive to to the wolverine to mill about and work the area. But if you catch him further down the line it's all good.
Last edited by muskrat411; 12/25/21 12:46 AM.
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Re: Question for wolverine trappers?
[Re: alaska viking]
#7441502
12/25/21 02:08 PM
12/25/21 02:08 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,175 McGrath, AK
white17
"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
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"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,175
McGrath, AK
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I had poor luck with V-14 jumps. Several pull-outs, and a couple toes. Since switching to NO BS CANINE EXTREMES, that Kendal made with no off-sets, for MadMike, and I, zero loss. I will say, those traps have held everything, including wolves, for MM. Yes I too had several V-14's completely disassembled by wolverines. But I have never lost one from the MB-750's . In fact I have never lost anything from an MB-750. That is a nice set Nook. I prefer to use a snare rather than the 330 in that situation. That drop off of the bank is a great place
Mean As Nails
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Re: Question for wolverine trappers?
[Re: nooksack]
#7441542
12/25/21 03:20 PM
12/25/21 03:20 PM
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Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 797 Alberta
Norwestalta
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 797
Alberta
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I've had luck with buckets and boxes or crates. However I've gone to mostly this type of set due to restrictions where I trap. The bait is covered to help it last longer when it warms up and keeps the birds out. I've had them circle this and leave too. Funny as I have caught many in lynx sets with completely exposed traps, no bait, and just a wing with or without lure . The good thing about those has been that I use mainly Jump traps for cats, and the under spring keeps them from chewing of their frozen toes and pulling out. Wow what a shed. Wouldn't surprise me if that a 70"+ moose.
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