Vic- I think that's a good idea. I have a few spots in mind where that would likely work well.

I do think I should take some extra steps to put spruce boughs around/covering the bucket to make it appear less foreign.

If they are refusing buckets, I would do something else. I tried buckets and milk crates, but 12 years of putting one near a cubbie, I never got one with plastic. Had one 330 Belidle pulled out of a milk crate, (the only time a wolverine made contact with a crate set), and ate the 1/2 beaver wired to the crate. It then went to the spruce cubbie, 30 yards away, and found the NO BS.
I sometimes set 2 traps, one inside the entrance, and one around one side or the other.
One time, that resulted in a very angry gulo that had one trap on a front foot, and one trap firmly attached to the tail!

Buckets are still going to go up. Too easy not to put some out.
But, I’ll increase set variations with coni’s.

Some of these buckets are going to get the foothold treatment.
But, I’d rather catch them in coni’s to be totally honest.

Need to put an order in with Mr. Hanson, but would like to chat with him first.

Every one is a little different. Some dive right into the box on the first time checking it out. Others get smart but just pay attention to what they do and try a set. Might not seem logical but if it works it works. I was getting a lot of them going into cubbies by the back so I set a few cubbies with no trap in front and sure enough Id get them behind the cubby. Another one that made me lose sleep was in the habit of eating my snared animals one year. I tried everything to catch him. Then for about 3 trips in a row I’d find my #3 upside down but still set. One of my uncles told me the next time you see that, set the trap upside down with the pan facing down and enough space underneath for it to fire. It worked. He was so used to getting a paw underneath and flipping it over that it actually worked. Never seen one do that before or since but I’ll
Know what to do if it ever happens again. Other wolverine over the years just had their way with my trapline and I never did get some of those smart old ones. I Love trapping wolverine and I Can’t wait for November already.

Ryan I like that upside down trap set. I will try and remember it if I ever run into a wolverine doing that.

Yup. The uncle that describes that set to me had seen it before too so I guess a few wolverine know how it’s done. Probably had a bad experience with a trap. Some old timers taught me a sure fire way to get them hard to catch ones. I won’t describe it here but it involves J hooks. I’ve never tried it and don’t plan to.

I've seen that method employed for coyotes. I never knew who did it, but twice when I was young I came across it in the woods. It may work for wolverines but I very much doubt it is effective for canines.

Well, it was outlawed here, the j-hooks. Must not have been effective.

J-hooks, huh? Always thought that was an old wives tail back home.

What an awful way to go.

Anyways- do you guys prep your traps any fancy way for wolverine?
Gas (de-grease), hang & rust, then wax? Or just put them in the ground as is?

I’m working on getting all their pan tensions the same. I’m thinking roughly 6lbs?

The no-bs traps I have come with some coating that is very hard. Almost wolverine-proof for a few catches.
Other than that, I do wax most footholds.

I am trapping north of Anchorage and do not use wax but I boil my traps to get contaminates and scent off them.

I have 3 no bs traps in the mail. Once they arrive I’ll see if they’re what I want to be using and grab another 48 if so

Will be waiting to hear what you think Ryan.

Did you go for the big ones or the juniors?

I think you are going to be happy with the No BS traps Ryan. They are very well made. I have a dozen of their wolf traps and a dozen of the K9 extreme.

Which BS model are you all using? The wolf, wolf junior, or coyote?

My 3 k9 extremes are here. Going to open the parcel and check them out after supper

I am using the wolf for wolves and picked up a doz coyote for wolverine/lynx this spring.

Just my opinion here but this is how I view this set.
The bucket is a red flag because it is so unnatural in that context. You could have success with just the 330 without the bucket.

OR. Put the bucket on the ground and bury it with snow......leaving only the opening visible and oriented to the downwind direction.


Remember...it's winter and every critter has a heat/energy budget that he is trying to maximize. I prefer not to make them work hard for something that looks unnatural.

I use milk crates and the wolverine don't seem to mind going into them. Never caught anything in a bucket. Tried a couple times. I'll try the set Ryan sent me with a bucket on the top of a pole this winter if I set a line at my coast camp. It will be super cool to see a wolverine hanging from a pole in the treeless tundra. I'll see if I can find the pictures Ryan sent me

Thank you for the feedback. That makes a lot of sense.

Might do two sets at that site next year. One with just a conibear and bracket/nails and brushed in a bit.

And one dug under a pine tree as that was frequently traveled area.

I did have success on a vertical. Definitely neat seeing one hanging waiting for you.