New to Tman, but I was curious if anyone else places marten boxes out before season on a new line? I leave old ones on established lines, but I also place them on a new line 2-4 weeks prior to season, and bait them in an attempt to get the local marten population used to the boxes being there. I've always done it this way, so I'm curious as to wether it makes any difference or if I'm just wasting trips into the woods placing out boxes with no trap in them

I am far from an expert Marten trapper but it would seem that having the boxes placed ahead of time would save you time on setting day and allow you to carry just traps and bait. It makes sense to me to get them out in spots you like ahead of time if you can.

I thought intentionally feeding wildlife was illegal in Alaska?

"You may register your bait station 15 days before the start of the season, but bait cannot be placed in the field until the first day of the season." Same as bear baiting.

I suppose that depends what you consider bait. I don't place any meat in the boxes until season, I should have specified that. I smear lure above the boxes on whatever they're nailed to (leaning pole, tree, rootwad)

The regulation law doesn't mention marten. Maybe it is legal? I don't do it. Time is money. Unless you are getting some preseason trail cutting in or getting a jump on competition, I don't see the point of putting boxes out or pre baiting, even if it was possible here.

I have 2 general stomping grounds also, I'm from SE and still work and spend a lot of my time down there, where I can literally set a #120 on my table on the porch and catch marten all day. But I have a place a little ways north of wasilla now (I got engaged to a gal from the valley, and she doesn't want to be in SE full time) so I am trying to mark my territory as it were, there isn't elbow room in the valley like we have in SE

I bait boxes when I set traps.Dispersing juveniles will find the boxes if they are set strategically and resident marten will find them in time since their home range is not that extensive.
I do toss a lot of meat all over my traplines all year round mainly beaver from fur trapping and also nuisance trapping in the off season.
Any time spent traipsing the trapline is time well spent whether you are trapping or not.

I've been putting boxes out as I've been cutting firewood, so it's always a dual purpose trip. I leave the house with a truck load of boxes, and return with a load of firewood. It's easier to do that sort of thing now that I have a place on the road system. It's harder to justify a trip out on a boat that may or may not take all day depending on weather, the truck doesn't care about wind or tides. It is harder to find spots to trap without competition and thievery though. I'm wanting to try for a wolverine this year too, not something we have a lot of in Southeast, so I've never caught one.