Nice bridge.

When I answered the OP's question.......the choice was between meat or fish. I chose beaver.

But the fact is I almost never use any meat at all. Strictly grouse wing regardless of the temperature. Movement of the wing in the wind is far more attractive than scent IMO

Yep! You answered the question.

DOT approved!

I think you nailed it White17. Same goes with cats. I get asked every year on what is the “best” bait for lynx. Wings..hands down. I’ve also seen the evidence with marten. Seen their fresh tracks often B line straight to the set from quite a distance. One thing to note is my marten area is in mostly open, wind blown saddles between semi thick stands of skimpy spruce. Wings may not work as successful in deeper, thicker timber that is protected from most wind breezes that really trigger the wing action.

I always used wings as an attractor period. I know several trappers that use flagging and some even use tin can lids and CD’s.

What’s the opinion on using other than wings?

The reason I bring this up is for new marten trappers.

I don't like using unnatural stuff because of the possibility of the wind blowing it away

From what I’ve seen you guys are spot on re visual attractors. If I had more bird wings I would use them. One problem I have with meat bait is it leaves an odor after the season and bears tear up the sets, so I end up remaking some. As far as cats I’ve tried a lot of things and nothing comes close to a wing. When I get a grouse I like to take wings and tail and spread them out and pin em to dry.

I think necessity is the mother of invention, one of my best friends never using anything but beaver meat, no lure, no flagging, no wings nothing but beaver meat.

Other trappers I know don't have access to an easy bait source and are more creative or maybe out of necessity develop other methods that work in their area.

For some a piece of tainted caribou or moose hide is all they use.

Using visual attractors for some trappers is what they have to work with and are very successful at it.

In my travels I like to see what works for them in there area.

I have used a lot of partridge wings for lynx not so much for marten.

No wrong methods if they work.

I have used strictly grouse wings in the past when I did not have fish heads. I'd pin out my wings in the fall and dry them, put a ring of tie wire through the center with a brass swivel on it and they were ready to go. A small piece of wire from the pole would allow the wing to spin in the breeze but not flutter and get tangled up. I would use a little stick for Gusto lure on another piece of wire. Had a lot of success with that. I do like fish heads though with or without a call lure.

If anybody needs wings I sell pheasant wings in my trapping store. They come on a swivel and 16" of string or bare whatever you prefer. tedsfurshed.square.site

Ted

Picked up 20 last night with two month old coney fish for bait. I find Beaver loses its smell after about 10 days and marten stop checking it out. Coney and Martin magic seems to be just right for me

Coney fish??? Great catch.

Shee fish. Inconnu. Coney.

These big greasy whitefish


Best to pre bait in the warm shop. Saves time and keeps your hands warmer

Nice work Ryan. Is Coney what we call Shefish? How many sets out to pull 20 marten?

Yup coney is shee fish. We have about 120 sets going but those 20 are from a short 36 hours sit

Probably more like 100 sets because we pulled one section.

Nice catch Ryan.
Is that a mink in the picture or all marten.

I use beaver meat too most of time in winter, some muskrat carcass on opening but that become dry faster... the best is beaver fleshing saddle and fat, i keep it and split in plastic baggies, with a large beaver i get 2 or 3 good piece of bait. I had ask it (marten bait) cause i see Marty in mountain men use only piece of moose or caribou hide under pole, that no have a lot of smell , most visual attrator...

Is he using a call lure? My bait is just a visual attractor. It is chosen to not get all ate by shrews and not degrade completely during thaws. It don't have to smell. I can handle it and I don't have to smell.

all marten gibb. Havent seen any mink tracks at all on this trapline.

Marty uses a lure on his marten sets as well as the scrap of hide.