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Help With Marten #7707904
11/03/22 06:06 PM
11/03/22 06:06 PM
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 9
Alaska
T
The907Trapper Offline OP
trapper
The907Trapper  Offline OP
trapper
T

Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 9
Alaska
Im a new trapper in Alaska my first year have already had some success with beaver but this next week Marten opens in my area i have already scouted a are that seems to just be filled with tracks i have about 15 traps to put out thinking of all pole sets but wanted to hear other peoples thought and how far should my traps be spaced apart?

Last edited by The907Trapper; 11/03/22 06:20 PM.
Re: Help With Marten [Re: The907Trapper] #7707923
11/03/22 06:34 PM
11/03/22 06:34 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,666
Idaho, Lemhi County
G
Gulo Offline
"On The Other Hand"
Gulo  Offline
"On The Other Hand"
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,666
Idaho, Lemhi County
Are you in SE or interior Alaska? Whereabouts? What are you using for transportation? Using snowmachine or hiway vehicle, I always figured (loosely) that I wanted marten sets about 1/4 mile apart, but that depends largely on sign. Pole sets are encouraged. In my experience (27 years trapping in Alaska), elevated sets generally catch a higher proportion of males than ground cubbies (the females apparently don't like to climb as much as the males), so use leaning pole sets. Watch your ratios of total young marten per adult females. You approach 4:1 (or 3:1 or worse), shift locations or quit for the year, to try to "farm" your marten rather than "mine" them.

Jack


Re: Help With Marten [Re: The907Trapper] #7707927
11/03/22 06:36 PM
11/03/22 06:36 PM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 121
Alaska
S
Super Wide Online content
trapper
Super Wide  Online Content
trapper
S

Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 121
Alaska
Depends on your territory and the holding capacity of marten. Depends on how your managing the trap line and how close is the next guy. Snowmobile line, foot or highway line? What is the ratio of male to female and YOY (young of the year). Many more issues to think about, because marten are easy to hurt if not careful. How close is the next trapper and are you two overlapping trap lines? Takes time to learn each line.

One of my lines is very remote through great habitat, lot's of marten, no neighbors, 100's of square miles around it, and is run on a snowmobile. I set a elevated box every 1/4 mile, and every water crossing or substantial feature I come across. I set lot's of traps, about 120 traps total for a 55 mile run, one way. Run out 55 miles and check the traps on the way back. Run this line all season, real hard, great ratios every year, never worried about over trapping them. Very few wolverine on this line, so a box now and then to protect the wolverine sets, but not very many.

Another line I run, I manage really hard, only 10 miles long, way less traps, leave big baits for them in the spring, try hard not to over trap and keep my ratio's where I want them, so I don't hurt the resource. I have nesting boxes and try to keep other predators off of them as much as I can. Not many in this area to begin with, not great habitat, other trappers nearby, only 10 miles off the road system, etc. So for this line I set 1/2 mile or further, usually just the big draws, creeks, river crossings etc. I have about 12 traps in 6 miles. I usually shut this line down early and first. I will set a marten box at some wolverine boxes or trap set, just to guard the wolverine trap. This line has lots of wolverine.

What your describing above, set all 15 traps, suspend all catches, good bait and lure, some attractor and keep a written record of the line all year. Watch your ratios and go get them! Just how I do it, doesn't mean you have to.


My Super Wide will pull your broken down 4 stroke, up a hill backwards, with you on it!
Re: Help With Marten [Re: The907Trapper] #7708009
11/03/22 08:13 PM
11/03/22 08:13 PM
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 743
Bush Alaska
victor#0 Offline
trapper
victor#0  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 743
Bush Alaska
How much area did you scout out?

Re: Help With Marten [Re: The907Trapper] #7708250
11/04/22 12:32 AM
11/04/22 12:32 AM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 811
Interior Alaska
3
30/06 Offline
trapper
30/06  Offline
trapper
3

Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 811
Interior Alaska
Our small marten line was located at the confluence of 2 small valleys. Sets in relatively protected areas did well while breezy or windy spots didn't. I think marten quickly traversed windy spots but actively hunted/explored calm, protected spots. Also, I would heartily recommend pole sets that suspend your catch out of reach of voles. Marten are precious, and it's a bummer having them chewed by voles. Just 2 cents from a small-line guy.

Re: Help With Marten [Re: The907Trapper] #7708258
11/04/22 01:12 AM
11/04/22 01:12 AM
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 9
Alaska
T
The907Trapper Offline OP
trapper
The907Trapper  Offline OP
trapper
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Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 9
Alaska
So it a acess road that leads to a gravel pit that branches off the highway in south central Alaska you can drive to a bridge but then must walk past the gate from there on I probably scouted a mile and a half mayber 2 and saw a abundance of marten and vole tracks there is a old marten box on a tree right next to the highway but I have found it not uncommon for people to just abandon them I am wary since just a couple weeks ago had a beaver taken out of a trap but believe with some well placed sets could keep my sets out of view I have never seen so many marten tracks in one area before but I found a chain attached to a tree leading me to believe that in recent history there may have been a bear bait station which would explain the spike in numbers it I have a marten lure that I picked up from Cabelas and a beaver carcass from a week ago i from my small amount of knowledge I believe I can harvest a lot of marten in this small area but with all the marten am wary of them being chewed have heard of putting to sets together to prevent this any thoughts?

Last edited by The907Trapper; 11/04/22 01:14 AM.
Re: Help With Marten [Re: victor#0] #7708259
11/04/22 01:13 AM
11/04/22 01:13 AM
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 9
Alaska
T
The907Trapper Offline OP
trapper
The907Trapper  Offline OP
trapper
T

Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 9
Alaska
It is only about a 2 mile are by a creek that I went looking for ptarmigan but all I found where marten and voles

Re: Help With Marten [Re: Gulo] #7708260
11/04/22 01:15 AM
11/04/22 01:15 AM
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 9
Alaska
T
The907Trapper Offline OP
trapper
The907Trapper  Offline OP
trapper
T

Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 9
Alaska
I am in south central Alaska thanks for the ratios I have never seen thsi many in such a small area so I’m excited to see the results

Re: Help With Marten [Re: Super Wide] #7708261
11/04/22 01:16 AM
11/04/22 01:16 AM
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 9
Alaska
T
The907Trapper Offline OP
trapper
The907Trapper  Offline OP
trapper
T

Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 9
Alaska
Thank you so much for your feedback has made me aware of many new factors!

Re: Help With Marten [Re: The907Trapper] #7708262
11/04/22 01:26 AM
11/04/22 01:26 AM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 765
Anchorage, Alaska
broncoformudv Offline
trapper
broncoformudv  Offline
trapper

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 765
Anchorage, Alaska
I have only trapped a limited number of marten in the south central area of the state and never had any issues with marten chewing or biting other marten. Voles or shrews on the other hand have chewed up a couple that were suspended off the ground a good ways.

Re: Help With Marten [Re: The907Trapper] #7708265
11/04/22 01:33 AM
11/04/22 01:33 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,064
Wasilla AK
HFT AK Offline
trapper
HFT AK  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,064
Wasilla AK
One marten can make alot of track especially if it is on a food source, but then again I had a buddy pull 6 out of a 1/2 mile stretch. All you can do is your best smile The archives have alot of info on this forum. Also ATA has a meeting next Tuesday at the VFW in Eagle River @ 630pm, some very knowledgeable folks there. Also the AFTA has their meeting the following Tuesday at the VFW in Palmer at 6pm.

Re: Help With Marten [Re: The907Trapper] #7708478
11/04/22 10:34 AM
11/04/22 10:34 AM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,514
juneau, alaska
A
alaska viking Offline
"Made it two years not being censored"
alaska viking  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,514
juneau, alaska
I rarely put in just one set for marten. Too many times, (when I did), I would catch an ermine, and find marten tracks all around.
And have taken multiple marten at one spot on the same check many times.


Made it almost 3 years without censor!

Re: Help With Marten [Re: The907Trapper] #7708516
11/04/22 11:47 AM
11/04/22 11:47 AM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,264
james bay frontierOnt.
B
Boco Offline
trapper
Boco  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,264
james bay frontierOnt.
Gang set each location.Use big bait to attract multiple animals..Couple of marten sets,and a few snares inback for prowling lynx and fox.(and maybe sets for wolverine and wolves if there are sign present)
If you make your sets on fur funnells,routes where juvenile marten use for dispersal in late fall/early winter a few sets can produce a lot of fur.
The main dispersal routes where I trap are timbered drainages that run thru old burns or clearcuts,necks of land between lakes or the big timber along the better drained grouns along large rivers.
Also high ground eskers that run thru swampland is good too.
The main thing about all these corridors is that they connect with preferred marten habitat.Here that is older growth successional boreal forest with good overhead cover and lots of coarse woody debris on the ground.These are the areas that dispersing juvenile marten will be seeking out for a home range that will sustain them thru winter.

Could be different habitat requirements in your area,although there will be preferred habitat.

Last edited by Boco; 11/04/22 11:49 AM.

Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Help With Marten [Re: Boco] #7708523
11/04/22 12:03 PM
11/04/22 12:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,153
Alaska and Washington State
W
waggler Offline
trapper
waggler  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,153
Alaska and Washington State
Originally Posted by Boco
Gang set each location.Use big bait to attract multiple animals..Couple of marten sets,and a few snares inback for prowling lynx and fox.(and maybe sets for wolverine and wolves if there are sign present)
If you make your sets on fur funnells,routes where juvenile marten use for dispersal in late fall/early winter a few sets can produce a lot of fur.
The main dispersal routes where I trap are timbered drainages that run thru old burns or clearcuts,necks of land between lakes or the big timber along the better drained grouns along large rivers.
Also high ground eskers that run thru swampland is good too.
The main thing about all these corridors is that they connect with preferred marten habitat.Here that is older growth successional boreal forest with good overhead cover and lots of coarse woody debris on the ground.These are the areas that dispersing juvenile marten will be seeking out for a home range that will sustain them thru winter.

Could be different habitat requirements in your area,although there will be preferred habitat.

^^^^^
This.
And don't get discouraged if after setting on a bunch of tracks your sets don't produce right away.
Several years ago I snowshoed a half mile up a tight little valley that ended in a glacial cirque, there were marten tracks everywhere. I made eight sets. Three days later I checked the sets with much anticipation....nothing!! I couldn't figure it out. When I checked the sets again, three days later, I caught six marten in those eight sets. Mysterious little animal.


"My life is better than your vacation"
Re: Help With Marten [Re: The907Trapper] #7708625
11/04/22 01:44 PM
11/04/22 01:44 PM
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 2,363
Interior Alaska
O
Oh Snap Offline
trapper
Oh Snap  Offline
trapper
O

Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 2,363
Interior Alaska
Marten country, lots of traps required and even more work


[/al[Linked Image]


I love the smell of burning spruce---I love the sound of a spring time goose---I love the feel of 40 below---from my trapline I will never go!
Re: Help With Marten [Re: The907Trapper] #7709194
11/04/22 10:09 PM
11/04/22 10:09 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,583
The Panhandle of Alaska
M
mad_mike Offline
trapper
mad_mike  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,583
The Panhandle of Alaska
I am all about the gang sets. The idea just plain works, for me.


Advice? Wise men don't need it. Fools won't heed it.
Re: Help With Marten [Re: The907Trapper] #7709241
11/04/22 11:29 PM
11/04/22 11:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,489
Moved to Fbks, Ak.
M
martentrapper Offline
trapper
martentrapper  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,489
Moved to Fbks, Ak.
With 2 miles and 15 traps I wouldn't worry about "farming" your marten. Put your sets out and see what you get. Several ways to decide where to set. Spaced every so often, set on sign, set where you think will work. Step off the trail/road a ways and make pole sets with footholds. Boxes, plastic jugs may be seen by others. How often will you check. Once you get a trail, car tracks, established you may find others checking the area. Did you say your limited to 2 miles? Why is that?
Good Luck.

Re: Help With Marten [Re: The907Trapper] #7709265
11/05/22 12:43 AM
11/05/22 12:43 AM
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 2,363
Interior Alaska
O
Oh Snap Offline
trapper
Oh Snap  Offline
trapper
O

Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 2,363
Interior Alaska
I always set my traps 1/8 of a mile apart. What you are seeing is a lot of tracks in a small area. I would be surprised that by the time you get it set out they are still there. At least that was the way it always was for me. So I always had my trails well covered.


I love the smell of burning spruce---I love the sound of a spring time goose---I love the feel of 40 below---from my trapline I will never go!
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