We have caribou, moose, musk ox and sheep but no bison.

We get the occassional Bison carcass float down the Mackenzie in the spring

I can smell that from here.

Me, Bobby and James spent a couple days out at the camp. We set up a small line to get started. The plan was to set more but the deep snow was more than I’ve ever seen. Sure was nice to be at the camp after trapping sonnys line for a couple full seasons.

Great shots. Keep the young guy covered up.

I can smell that through my phone. You take the head on it?

The lower leg bones make great knife handles too .

I'm glad you fellas made it to your camp and got a line out even if the snow was deep .

That has to be rough going in for the first time so late in the season.

It sure was. I usually make walking trails up the river banks to do my sets with 2 traps and 3-4 snares per spot but for this year I’m just doing sets on the river with drags. Snow is waist to armpit deep in some of the main places I set. We’ve got 20 traps out to get us started. Planning to head back on Friday and set a bunch more.

Heading out to pull the marten line after work today. Hard to believe its already that time of year. Still got some delta trapping to keep me busy for the next few weeks then its on to the mountains and wolf tracking.

After not trapping my own line for 3 years I was missing the cabin and all the old familiar spots. In my mind I could easily imagine it all because I’ve trapped the area since 2009. Last weekend me James and bobby set 20 traps and got the camp operational once again. James had to travel this weekend and it was a bit too cold for bobby so I went and check the traps alone for his weekend.


Trap #4 is where I picked up #1. I’ve caught a few here

Two traps later and I pulled up to an empty box with a spring sticking out of the snow. A quick brushing and there was big male #2 for the day. As soon as I seen it I was set on hopefully picking up a third one with 13 traps left to see.

Couple big males when I pulled up the camp and got a big fire going.
I had one set in the lake where I’ve caught a few in the past and last weekend there was two sets of tracks overnight after making a trail to the woodpile. One big set and one smaller set. From a distance I could see smoking fresh smaller tracks headed to the trap. I zoomed right past and let the excitement build. When I pulled back up the trap I could see the tracks stopped at the box but couldn’t see the trap itself.

With some fresh mink tracks close by it was a guessing game but turned out to be #3 freshly caught and it was soft enough to be able to skin it in a couple hours. Right on. Haven’t skinned fur at the camp in 4 years.


By the time i got back to the cabin it was warming up inside so I had a can of Dr Pepper and changed my hat and neck warmer for dry ones. I had 7 traps left to see and couldn’t sit still so off I went with hopeful expectations but being realistic I didn’t expect much more that evening.

I pulled up to this mess and a robbed box. I could see the female was here but there was also a second size set of tracks.

Just around the corner I could see eyes glowing in the headlights long before I realized I had another good sized male caught at the wolf carcass set. Wow. Trappers high.

Second to last trap was robbed as well. I figured it was the same one/s that snapped and robbed the other trap until I came around the next river bend and spotted eyes again. I thought this time it has to be a lynx but low and behold I pulled up to wolverine #5!!


I headed back to the cabin and hauled a quick load of wood before skinning the two fresh ones while waiting for the female to thaw.

4 males and a female hanging in the cabin. Such an awesome day and one I may never experience again.

What a beauty this one is. 3 of them have white toes.

I spent the rest of my time getting a few more traps out before travelling back to town arriving at 245am half frozen but very happy. I didn’t have the right trap to replace this spot on Saturday and look at the scene on the way home.

Another big male was back during the night to clean out the bait. There was enough fresh overnight wolverine sign that my hopes are high for another good trip this coming weekend. Hopefully it’s mild enough for bobby. It wouldn’t have been fun travelling hope if he came with me. I’m still cold today and can’t remember being that cold in at least 20 years since my skidoo broke down 130km from town and I had to catch a ride home on a sled load of frozen caribou meat. I sure love trapping. Now let’s hope the wolves come through this week.

You can retire now Ryan lol.

What an awesome day! One you will never forget.

Great catches Ryan and a good payday.

WOW! That is a awesome run! Congrats!!!

Tracked 3 wolves in the dark on Friday. Got two of them. I followed the tracks back to where they came from and pulled up to this

Luckily they didn’t find the other wolverine

Pretty sure I’ll be Shutting it down for wolverine after this coming weekend but I’ll keep wolf traps going fo a while yet

I’ve never caught 5 all season,much less in one day. Then you caught 2 more the next day? Your population must be pretty high. Is it higher than normal?