I’ve read all the marten threads I can find and read the study which determined open on top (upside down) marten boxes were the most successful but I’ve not done it. Thinking of trying it. I have mostly closed boxes but a few with screen. Thinking of putting some screen end boxes upside down this year. Anyone tried this, and any different results? I’d be a little worried about the trap and marten getting stuck and not hanging free resulting in mouse/shrew damage. Also wondered if I might end up with more birds, virtually a non issue with solid boxes open at the bottom. Can’t say I’ve ever really noticed refusals anyway but can’t help experimenting. Any thoughts?

Seems like with the open end up and depending on how much snow you get could spend a fair amount of time "shoveling" snow out of the boxes or snow could plug your whole setup, tis bad enough here on leaning poles

THIS

I use marten boxes up down and horizontal,I catch plenty of marten with the opening up.
Snow is not a problem just whack the screen on the bottom and the dry snow falls out.No different than brushing the snow off the top of the screen with the opening down.
Also marten have no problem going into the top of the box even when it is filled with dry snow,the bait is still visible and smellable at the bottom,Marten hunt and travel under snow all the time.
Now if you are in an area with wet snow then it may be a problem.
I check marten traps in winter every 5 to 7 days and havent had any issues with clipping of marten that dont make it out of the box
Some guys that run multiple long lines and only check them every two weeks or more do have some loss to scavenging but that holds true for any box configuration on checks extended beyond 10 days or more

The thing about right side up boxes Is that you have birds hanging on the wire and In turn when they are eating the bait some pieces fall to the ground and that draws In rodents that In turn draw In marten to your boxes. And It's a lot easier to place and secure bait In a right side up box.
Normally your box Is set under over hanging limbs so snow In most cases won't give you any trouble.
I also believe It's easier for the marten to enter a box when It's right side up.
Any way that Is my findings On the marten line I ran while I trapped In Canada.

I experimented with long boxes like that with an opening on the top and the bottom and screen to hold bait in middle.
Caught marten and weasels on the top and on the bottom traps,but never two catches at the same time.
My conclusion was its better to have two separate boxes set a few feet apaet from each other than one box with two traps.
I had many doubles with the two separated boxes for some reason.

I like the open end down.also with more then one in good areas.

Utah doesn't have many marten. But it was a bucket list thing so I found some sign and set a few traps. I had Marty mounted and I tanned Martina myself.

The only two I've ever caught liked opening up boxes just fine. Easy to drop the bait in. Set the trap and go.

I use large coffee cans split open and nailed above the box entrance as a little roof to keep most of the snow out

What are you all using for coon in these boxes? Im going to try some of these this season but wasn't sure about bait. Are you going sweet or fish or something else?

Do you plan on using elevated boxes like you do when trapping marten?

Beave that is my plan, excpt we dont have a season on marten here in NH. There are reports of them in the north country but im in southern /central NH. We do have fisher but i dont generally trap them as there has been a decline in population over the years. So these would be mostly for coon

I tried it here. We have to much freeze thaw or at least i do where I trap. I like it down IMO

I think you're going to have a hard time convincing a coon to climb the tree to stick Its head In the box. Whether It's right side up or upside down.
Keeping the box on the ground would be a better choice.

My experience is trap on the bottom of box; important to have marten swing free of box and hang freely… reduces risks of squirrels or birds pecking on marten laying at top of box. Marten fur is the most luxurious liner for nests

I always set mine with the trap down, due to our wet snow and freeze/thaw conditions. The only thing I have usually had bother trapped marten are other marten, and only a few issues with that. But then I usually have mine hanging freely, although many times right next to the tree. I seen some marten boxes down where I was elk hunting this week, mounted sideways on trees with the open end sticking straight out a foot from the tree. I've seen that before, and I know people catch marten that way, but to my mind they would have to get at least slightly more refusals because the marten have to climb up the tree, go out the box, then swing over the end of the box to get to the opening to go in. With the opening straight down the tree all the marten has to do is go up the tree and into the box, and I don't have to worry about wet snow clogging the trap and box and freezing solid. If you trapped in strictly powder conditions, box end up would probably be just fine.

I always figured It was easier to set and stabilize the trap when it's on the top of the box and easier for the marten to get In. And with open end up it's easy to drop In your bait.

Hanging free - nice late Nov Marten