Now that we have Starlink I figured I would try and post more pics. Had a beautiful sunny day so figured we would take the flintlock smoothbores for a walk. The rabbits were allusive but we found a few grouse for dinner.

Did you get them on the fly? I'd be pretty dan impressed if you did with a flint lock! Good deal on getting out there with the youngsters!

You're off the grid, right? What's your source of power? Starlink getting really popular. Was it difficult to set up?

HFT these were spruce hens which is mostly what we have around here. I f you want to shoot them on the wing you have to punt them like a football lol; however, ruffies and sharptails are a different story. We had quite a few sharptails show up last winter so I'm hoping they'll be around again this winter.

Martentrapper, we use a Yamaha 2000 generator for power. Super easy to set up and it's pretty small so easy to transport. We have the RV one so we can transport it wherever we go. When we first got it there were times during the day where service was spotty but we haven't had those issues in a long time. Starlink has been a game changer for us!

Found a rabbit today and some wolverine tracks.




Seeing a fair amount of muskrat pushups on the lakes, looking forward to trapping some in the spring.

Good deal on the bunny! Pretty good size track for a wolverine. You going to chase him when the season opens? Here those little push ups are fox and yote magnets. I had a buddy that would trap the in the winter, I just couldn't bring myself to be putting my hand down in the hole! Cant count the number of times he got bit!

We won't be able to get the line out till the creek freezes up, usually that's after Thanksgiving but last year we had a crappy freeze up and it looks like it might be a repeat this year. That being said, yes I will be targeting wolverine this year. We got our wolf snare pens put up this fall so all I have to do is add bait and open the loops. Muskrat push-ups are certainly magnates for fox and mink but the foxes disappeared a few years ago when the rabbits crashed. Rabbits are coming back strong and the voles are pretty thick so I'm hoping the fur numbers will start to come back as it's been pretty slow trapping the past few years. Never stuck my hand down a muskrat hole I just pull them out by the chain, yes they sure are spunky little buggers!

wolf snare pens? would you be willing to elaborate and possibly show ia picture? How successful are you with that method?

Slick pan, I don't have any pictures but I can explain how I set my snare pens. Wolves will run my trail so I look for black spruce that are growing close together and big enough to hold a wolf along my trail. The bait is placed in the center wired or spiked to a tree and then a ring of snares are put in a circle around the bait, maybe 25 to 50 yds depending on how big the patch of spruce is. I also hang some random snares inside the circle. I like to put my snare pens in during the off season so I can plug up any holes with brush and hang the snares that way I won't leave as much scent or sign when it comes time to set it. The snare pen is a good set and is pretty common to use for wolves here in Alaska. I would also add that a pee post set is also a good addition along your trail near the snare pen. If you don't have it I highly recommend the ATA wolf trapping manual, it is jam packed with good info.

Thank you taking the time to explain it. Its a different set I was not familiar with but explaining it in detail like you did I can now understand. I would have though that wolves would be leery of such a set. I have my copy of the ATA manual on order.

Creek is freezing up slooooooooooowly! Temps have been mild sure hoping for a cold snap soon.

Looks like the grouse numbers are up in the interior. They sure are fun to hunt and shoot. Its good to see things are freezing up for you, hope you all have a great season!

Thanks Bronco looking forward to seeing your adventures again this winter. Seems like you found a decent spot. Been seeing decent fur sign so far, with the rabbits increasing and the crazy amount of voles it's no wonder. Talked to the fur buyer and he said marten will be around $70 for males and hopefully go up after the December sale.

There was a guy who posted a set years ago in the ATA mag, I think. Similar idea to yours, victor. He placed a bucket of sour meat in trees or brush and then walked away from the bucket setting snares in natural openings in the trees. He did this in 3 different directions from the bucket. Caught those wolves circling the bait.

Whipped up some ermine boxes with some scrap we collected this summer.


Creek is no way near frozen and with these mild temps it's going to be a late freeze up. Started getting some marten and ermine sets in where we could walk to.




Had another young trapper tag along, he runs his own marten line. Helped us mark muskrat pushups and critique our sets 😁



My son and I got a Crocket .32 caplock kit and got it put together. Turned out nice, should be fun chasing rabbits with it.

Marten at $70, sure makes a guy excited

good looking boxes! Look forward to see how many you connect with!

I like your ermine box design. Bet those holes help let some scent out. Nice looking flint lock.

Not to change things on your thread but curious where you got your hats. ball caps with ear flaps? thanks

Apocalypse Design in Fairbanks makes them. akgear.com or you can stop by their shop if your in Fairbanks: 201 Minnie St, Fairbanks

Yes...... "Epoxy Lips" Design on Minnie Street! Great gear, locally made.

Pete

Got some more marten sets out and picked up a few......

Nice! Love seeing the youngsters out there! Hope you guys connect with a bunch more!

It's all about the kids these days, love to see the excitement and the big smiles!!

Picked up a few more marten today and cut tracks of two wolverine. Plan on getting wolverine buckets out early December. Hoping for more snow and cold so we can get the snogos out and on to the rest of the line.....

Surprised at your low snow level ! We have 20" on the ground over here already. Hope you guys can get out soon.

The kids are happy and doing good on the line. Good luck on the wolverine!

Good deal on the marten! Hope you guys connect on the wolverine!

Enjoying the mild temps and marking some muskrat pushups for spring, my wife counted about 80 on this one lake. Wolverine tracks all around the lake and checking out the beaver lodges. Sharptails are showing up and add a little extra fun when checking traps.

Got a few wolverine sets out and picked up some fur. Going to try and start getting some of the snogo trails in even though it will be a tussock rodeo with so little snow!

Its great seeing the entire family out enjoying the trapline and getting birds and bunnies. Looks like the action on the line is picking up.

love seeing your pics . . thanks for sharing

Punched out one line but not enough sign to warrant setting traps. Saw some fox tracks which we haven't seen in a few years so that was good. We've finally been getting subzero temps so the creek should be frozen up well enough to travel on soon.

Enjoy following your adventures! Who makes that jacket that your son is wearing? Looks like wool?

Good to hear the weather is changing enough for you to expand! I think I still have a bit before I can do that here on my line. Congrats on the fur! Look forward to seeing those youngsters smiles when you guys get the bigger critters
Actually saw my first sharptail grouse the other day pretty birds

Nice catches

It's fleece, from costco I believe. Only time I can afford wool is when I find it at a thrift store. Thanks for following along

Good to hear the temps and starting to work in your favor. Hope you find some more animal sign as you all open your lines up. I like the decorative touch on your trapping box.

Saw some sunshine today and lots of smiles

Are camp robbers a problem Vic 0?

I put a few pieces of spruce over the bait which hides it. I do catch one every once in a blue moon but I wouldn't say it's a problem.

Looks like you guys are having a blast!!!

Looks like the marten population is doing good up your way.

Finally got some snow! Kids got the poles cleaned up and picked up a few marten.

Otherwise not much else moving around out there................................................

Still nothing else moving out there except marten, no complaints though. Just checked the line a few days ago and figured we would run it again after we got all the poles cleaned off. Kids should have a nice fur check this year

Glad to see you getting the family out on the line Jormah. Heading down to see my own family for the holidays. Looks like you are putting up some fur too. Good luck on the wolverine. Happy Holidays and be safe.

JR

Your kids are doing great on marten! Always nice to have something in your sets. Gives you motivation to keep at it.

You guys are stacking them up! Love seeing those youngsters out there!

A beautiful day, a full moon and the sun were both out set a couple squirrel snares and got one today.


Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Very cool!

Jumped a flock of 20 sharp tails and about 10 or so ptarmigan. I bought a RIA single barrel 12 gauge the other year, it's really short, light, and it folds in half so it fits in the trapping box. Good little trapline gun........

Thanks for posting .You have some fine hired men on the line with you ! They seem to be earning their keep .

Good deal! You guys are stacking the marten up! I did squirrel snaring one year when things were real slow, Ended up getting around 40 of those little jokers Paid for a jug of gas at auction

Got a guy that's paying $10-12 for stretched and dried squirrel, ermine, and muskrat. Kids aren't going to pass that up!

and little lady

There's something in the archives on snaring squirrels. Pretty easy.

Good day for flying snowballs.....

Nice! Some good eats right there! Still stacking them up! Good deal!

Things are slowing down some except bird hunting. January has always been a slow month. Won't be long till we start gearing up for beaver and muskrat. Been hanging around -35 go-45 the past two weeks, finally got a warm spell at -25.

Good deal! Wish we had that cold here! +35 today You guys get gear out for the wolverine?

Yes got some buckets in but haven't seen em come back through yet. Got some wolf snare pens we're going to open up soon. The wolves don't usually come through till late February/ March. Days are getting longer, good to see the sun again even if it's for just a little bit.

Cold broke for a few days and a few animals came out, dropped back to -40/ -50 and is supposed to hang there all week.

The kids still have smiles on their faces so they must be happy with their catches. Stay warm!

They're getting $10 to $12 for stretched and dried squirrels which adds up pretty quick. It's been a lot of fun watching them run the line this year.

Thats good money!

Wow, nice market for squirrels! How many does that guy want, lol.

Need more details on this 😂 They look like they are having a great time!

Cold snap finally broke and enjoying the warmer weather, only a few more weeks left for marten.

Still stacking up marten and squirrels and enjoying the beautiful weather.

You guys are stacking the marten up! Love seeing the young ones trapping and handling the fur! Get any wolverine gear put out?

The kids sure are having a good time this season!

Done with marten and on to beaver............

How many did you end up with?

Nice bunch of marten and smiles.

Many thanks for taking us along .

Enjoying the spring weather and snaring some beaver through the ice.

So far so good........

Wow they stacked up a nice bundle of marten and are onto the beaver now!

That's a big hole. Had any come up out of the hole? Kinda didn't like above freezing temps about as much as below zero when I was beaver trapping!
Got some big uns there!

When we started getting the sets in it was 50 above and in the 20's at night so we didn't get the layer of ice so we had one out of the hole. Temps dropped after and we now have an inch or so of ice over the hole and no more beaver out of the hole.

Couldn't ask for better weather to be out trapping, we'll be going after rats soon.

Put a couple cut blocks of ice,one on each end of your safety crosser in mild temps then any beaver caught before the hole freezes cant get out on top.

That's a good idea, thanks for the tip!

Yep, that’s what I do. I even have a set of tongs for easy handling of those big blocks of ice . Nice job on getting the beavers

Tongs are handy,Push the first block down a bit and when it pops up snatch it with the tongs,the rest just grab em with the tongs.

He's getting the beaver fleshing and stretching down

Spring beaver lots of fun but lots of work as well good to see you keeping the kids involved

That beaver hide looks great! I need to take some lessons from your son.