Week 5 of dragging a sled behind me up the side of a mountain. First season trapping and my brother and I have had our work cut out for us. Spent 12 hours today straining every muscle in my body just to discover a broken snare. So far our catch has been a total of 4 squirrels. Lynx, Marten and Coyote tracks everywhere the eye can see. It has been comical how rough of a go we've had of it. Would be easy to lose hope but the view is absolutely majestic. We may spend the rest of the season coming home with empty hands but I still think I'd do it again next year.

Keep at it, once things start clicking it will start to make sense.

They are telling you where to catch them.

Did you bring a canoe?

welcome first off, and thanks for the pic, keep at it and when you get something post a pic, and you will get something!!

Gods country right there!
Stick at it, I got my first marten a week ago. Last year I’d ask my buddy “you coming with to make sure our boxes are still empty?” We did score on other stuff though. Sometimes it takes alotta patience too.

Keep at it and never quit! I struggled at first also too. That was over 40 years ago.

My first year Also 1986

keep at it!

Sounds like you went that route prematurely experience/prep wise if you have all that sign but no catches yet. Not sure the extent of the trip overall but experience goes a long way in adapting to a situation is what I’m getting at. Experience, comfort and equipment will make it a better overall experience for a guy.

I admire the effort and determination I really do it’s a great learning experience most will never have just figure out the gaps and make the adjustments as you go or make a to do list for the next trip.

Good Luck I hope things get better for you.

4 squirrels might be sayin your too low with your snares maybe. Keep at it , you’ll figure it out.

I agree with the other folks, the first season is the hardest. It was very humbling to put so much effort into not catching much in the beginning but I spent time in the off seasons doing a lot of reading and honing my gear. It takes time and patience but you'll get it, don't give up and keep the pictures coming!

Maybe a bust but it sure is fun. Good luck

If you are seeing lots of sign but not catching,then you are not making proper sets in the right places.

Have any pictures of your sets? What are you using for bait and lure?

Thank you for posting your trapping experience. I hope you continue and please keep us updated on your journey. I love to see your pictures and looking forward to more.

Welcome, great pic, please share more when you can. You got humbled by the animals, but it was just because you were doing it wrong. There is a ton of information to read and watch to understand your equipment and the animals you want to target. Study and with your drive you will be dragging a sled full of fur.

Like all the good advice already mentioned, keep at it. Stay very observant and keep detailed notes and records. A detail that may seem miniscule just might be the key to consistent success. Good luck.

Thanks for all the encouragement and advice everybody. I appreciate it. I will make sure to get plenty of pictures of some of the sets when I check them next. We do plan on setting some footholds in coyote tracks when we get some fresh snow. Been weird weather here lately for late November. Rain is not typical this late in the year and everything had a nice layer of ice on it when we were up there and we definitely were not prepared for that. I think our cubby sets are pretty solid but I do wonder if the marten boxes are up to snuff, just need to snap some pictures of them set up. I'll make sure to post more pictures for yall to scrutinize soon. I'm a good listener and you won't hurt my feelings. Been using a variety of baits and lures, mostly fish heads for the marten boxes with hawbakers marten lure and cavens tree climber. Been alternating to try to see what's successful. For the lynx, and wolverine it's been chunks of duck and internal organs from moose, small game and some fish heads. On the cubbies and bucket sets Been using dahlkes L.D.C.

Every time we run it we add in a few sets and push the line up further. Added a couple boxes and a few more buckets and cubbies. Put in a snare set on some fox tracks we found and used some hawbakers fox gland lure. By the end of the season we'd like to have it be a complete loop so we aren't covering the same ground twice on a run but it's a work in progress. Hard work slugging it up that mountain, the whole lines run on the "heel toe express" so i cant expect to have it finished in a month. Going to be patient. I hope to be doing this for a long time so I'm viewing it as an investment for the next 30 years or so. Even if it winds up being a dud I know I'll learn plenty to pass down to my three sons. All worth it in the end.

That pic looks like your working off the Rich hiway.

Yessir. Guilty as charged