I usually set my boxes on a leaning pole but might try setting them vertically. When you guys set vertically is the box opening facing up the tree or down?

Down. A cubby full of snow is not too productive. A marten can step on a body grip if facing up. A marten can hang up it a cubby set facing up and become shrew or another marten's food.

I set mine with opening down to combat the amount of snow we get.

Plus I think it helps with non-targets.

I face the box opening down for reasons mentioned above.

Haha. I got a project to redo tomorrow lol. Thanks fellas. Thought I was doing things bass ackwards.

I know some guys, Boco comes to mind, set them facing up. Maybe he will chime in. There may be compelling reasons in your area to do so.

I like horizontal with the opening facing the tree.but have boxes every which way.
Marten have no problem going under snow.
Opening down is good but if you change out bait a lot like I do it is more of a hassel having to wire in your bait instead of tossing it in.
Each way has its benefits and drawbacks.

I was told by a old-timer to set the boxes with the opening facing up so the marten come down into the trap but it seemed wrong to me. He said it'll save on bait. It is definitely easier to set the trap in lol.

Thanks Boco. When the marten/fisher climb the tree do you have to worry about them flipping the trap?

My traps are solid in the slots.
Some boxes from previous trapper have wide slots where that can happen.
When I make boxes I make sure the spring eyes fit inside the box and the slots are cut same width as the spring rod.
That way the trap is held solid no matter which way your box is oriented.
If you are short on beaver for bait,the wired in bait suspended inside the box opening down lasts the longest.
Old bait in my opinion is not the best attractor for marten boxes.I like to change bait every couple weeks.Old bait goes in the jackpots,or on the ground near the snared walking trail to the box from the skidoo trail..

I set for Fisher vertical...with wire cubbies...opening facing down

Thanks again fellas for passing on the learned knowledge.

Opening up. No effing around here.

Opening down for me. Then it can snow all it wants. If I'm doing opening facing up I'll use screen for the bottom so I can easily shake the snow out of the box.

Went around and switched the box's so a marten will come up into the trap rather then down. I ended cutting some high tensile wire to use as pins to hold the traps in the boxes. Seems to work good.