The jugs are basically a cubby.

He takes the cap off because he runs a wire around the bait and out he cap hole and around the jug handle so when they get ahold of it they have to fight to get the bait.

The only drawback to the jugs is they're not super deep and they can reach th bait easier and by wiring the bait in he compensates for the shallowness of the jugs.

He's caught over 1000 marten with the same sets over the years so the jugs are effective and easy for him to transport the jugs.

He brings them a home and reuses again the next year.

If you take them with you then no one knows where your setting.

Yesterday Jerry caught 2 marten. He fought snow all day so today he took off to go buy a pair of boots and skin.





And this is why you trap beaver early. The ice isn't thick enough to trap through and the snow covers all the sign. You can't tell where the runs or crossovers are.




I've been sick the last 2 days so that's why I haven't posted an update before now.

65 in 13 checks.

He's gonnabtrap till Tuesday. If they start moving again..he can still make his goal.

He hasn't given up.

It was just too dangerous for him to no today. The main road is solid ice.

They got 5 inches while he was checking up high and probably another 6 last night so he wasn't risking it today.

If they're caught. They'll be there tomorrow.

Sounds like a good time to catch up on chores and such for him no sense risking getting hurt or mired

Cathyrn - hope you feel better soon

Thanks Turtledale. I feel a bit better today.

Jerry has hit one of those rough patches that anyone who does much trapping knows all about. A day when you trap 70 sets and come up with one animal.

We've had it happen like that before for a day or 2 then..bam..ya catch 10 or 15 the next day.o e day e had 1 coyote in the last set after checking 80 multiple specie sets.

Then the next day we had 26 coon.

I have confidence in him. If the snow finally quits and the animals start moving again he'll catch his share.

He said there are no elk tracks or anything..everything has holed up.

He needed a day to regroup and rest.

He broke an ankle a few years ago when the horse he as riding went over a 30 ft bank into the river basin chasing a steer.
. The horse was actually killed in the fall. Its lucky he wasnt.

Walking in deep snow really makes it sore.

Does he put the traps right out side the opening of the jug or what? I can't see the traps in the pics.

Pofarmer I ttt a thread called Jerrys marten set. It shows the trap in the jug.
It should be near the top of the page

This has been fascinating reading about Marten trapping out west,there's a lot of articles been published thru the years about trapping the western states but their all about predator trapping.I remember back in the '80's the Trapper magazine had a picture of a guy with 200 marten in Idaho.I didn't know Idaho even had Marten!

Used to have a pic of a guy in Idaho with 320 marten. Trapped up in the snowy country with a snowmobile. Northern Idaho.

Cathryn - sincere thanks to you and Jerry for sharing the information and photos.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my traplines here in Ohio, but it has always been a dream to run a wilderness trapline. So I am hanging close to your reports.

Does Jerry have access to a 4 wheeler, side by side, or snowmobile to run or pull the line if too dangerous for his truck?

I hope you feel better soon!

Ran into a trapper in the Frank Church area while elk hunting. He had a bunch of small cabins and was on trek to meet his wife w/fur and to pick up supplies. Chatted for a bit, and he said he still had 5 hrs to renz point.

I'm feeling much better today. Thank you to everyone who's wished me well.

He does have access to a 4 wheeler or side by side if he needs it.

He's checking now..it was 8 degrees at the pass this morning.

Hopefully he gets a few but they might just not be moving.

3 yesterday

The weather sucks. He's getting somewhat discouraged but I told him andnhe knows..they gotta move eventually.

Less than 3% catch rate ?

Some other pics.

What a beautiful but rugged place.

Willy firewood. This pic is for you.

His line goes through Here

Cold weather will really get the marten moving.
They have a high metabolic rate and need to eat a LOT when its cold, if the snow is not deep enough for them to go subnivean..
When the snow gets deep they will go under to hunt and conserve heat.

Not when ya count all the fur he's catching. I'm only posting the mrten..he's right at a 20% catch rate.

He's happy with that

If he hadn't already paid for fuel through Tuesday he would have came home but he did and even if the catch is slow, the atmosphere is priceless.

That's Awesome ^^^ Good for Him!

The snow pictures are beautiful. I can't wait for some snow.

Hope he has one or two big days before heading out. His catch so far shows his work ethic and love of what he does. All my best to Jerry.
And thank you Cathryn for taking the time to document his travels and trapping. It really shows what this site is all about.