Hello all, welcome to my thread. This will be my main thread to post updates and pictures of my outdoors adventures. A little about myself, I have lived in the village for most of my life and enjoy living a subsistence lifestyle. My family and I work very hard to gather and put away food throughout the year such as: moose, caribou, birds, seal, beluga, berries, greens and many others. I've also been a commercial fisherman for most of my life. Salmon is a very important resource for rural Alaska whether you're a commercial fisherman getting a dollar amount for your product or a subsistence fisherman putting away a food that will feed and provide nourishment to your family for the winter. As for trapping, I will admit I have a lot to learn. I've made a few small "lines" in recent years that have resulted in some success, but I strive to become a better trapper and will take all the advice I can on this website. To start, here are a few pictures to introduce you to my Norton Sound adventures.





















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Awesome pics. Trying my best to guess which village you’re in. Checked out your previous posts. Figured it out. I lived there in 2000-2003. Miss trapping around there.

You should be very familiar with this village Mike.

BB I sure thank you for those pictures .Doubtfull that i will ever get to see that country in this life so you filled the gap !!

Great pictures and welcome aboard Bunbun! Looking forward to seeing more of your adventures and life out there.

How far do you have to go for caribou and burbot? What fish are you catching through the ice?

Thanks bronco.

Caribou don’t travel down to our village anymore so we have to travel a ways to hunt them. I think about 260 mile roundtrip is what we were doing last year. We have some burbot in our river here but you only see them in the late fall. The bigger fish we catch through the ice are dollies and the smaller ones we fish for right by town are tomcod and smelt.

Good update this morning.

On the board for fur this year with 2 marten from last nights check. I use mostly bridger 155's for marten with wood boxes. I've been experimenting, setting them different ways and looks like they all work.

Looks like you are set for winter with that variety of meat! Congrats on being on the board! Look forward to reading about your adventures and thank you for sharing!

Is that huge animal, (with the woman in the picture working on it), a walrus?

Welcome BunBun.

Will be fun tagging along with you here.

Nice catches

That would be a bearded seal. That picture is up in Kotzebue when I went hunting with my brother and some buddies. Up there bearded seals are gutted then put back in the boat and then processed at home. Where I'm from I like to break down most of the breaking down and cleaning on the ice. Just an example of how different regions and villages do some things differently.

Thanks. Those Bearded Seals look huge. Don't have those in southeast.

Will be fun to watch your adventures. I spend a lot of time on the lower Yukon area. Buying antlers and trapping again this year.

Update time.

I pulled some gear that I had set for a quick early season soak. Got a marten and a couple beaver from that area. I started to expand my other line that picked up another marten. I've got some high hopes for my next check, saw some promising sign.

I think I will be setting my boxes with the trap facing down from now on. I had a trap that was snapped that caught a marten last check in a trap facing up box. It looked like there was short marten hair from the head pinched in the corner of my 155. I've never had that happen with the trap facing down sets.

Your boxes look good. Are they stackable?

Perhaps you should use some footholds.

Thanks milkcrate. Yeah they stack. I'm making another batch of boxes with my new and improved design. Like the username btw, milk crates are one of my go-to wolverine sets.

Nice marten

I started out using footholds and there's no doubt they do the job. I favor the coni's though because they're so efficient and easy to set. Also, I was getting a lot of bycatch with the foothold even though I had my bait under the pole and trap in the right location.

Thanks Bruce. I've seen a wide variety in our marten color out here, I prefer the darker ones for sure. I will have to find a picture of one of my first marten. It was very pale and just a monster!

Would like to see that

I would like to see some pictures of your new and improved design. Maybe you could post a few?

Great stuff, love it!

Did you ever have trouble with birds with boxes facing up?

You got it milkcrate. Should be done with them some time this week. Waiting for some hardware cloth in the mail. Mail to rural Alaska is painfully slow.

It was my first time setting them that way this season and nothing yet. I’ve gotten birds in 330 cubbies/crates, down facing marten boxes, but mostly marten pole sets.

Good stuff

Great pics.

Who is this? I don't recognize her.

Here is the western Akaska version of the white 17 snare pole set. Try it only with a decent spruce tree.

Update time.

Ran the gear yesterday, I don't have much out right now only about 16 marten sets. We had some negative temps a few days ago followed by high winds and freezing rain, and when I checked yesterday it was 34 and raining. I got soaked after driving through wet brush and rebaiting and adding more lure to my sets. Most of the sets are protected from the weather, the one that weren't I wiped down and hopefully they all function after it freezes. I pulled 4 marten out, which was a pleasant surprise. I haven't seen sign of bigger furbearers moving around too much yet but I'll start setting for those soon. I've relocated from my normal trapping country this year so I'm still trying to put in some trail so I can get more sets going. It's still very bumpy out there, there's some snow but not enough to cover all of the rough tundra and brush yet. All in all I feel like it was a good day out in the country. I'm a working man with a young family so I don't have as much time as I want but I make do. I'm hoping as it gets smoother, trips will be faster and I can bring the family on some trips.

I've conducted a little experiment last weekend while setting some gear. I set my coni boxes next to some proven pole sets with footholds. Same bait, and lure smack in the middle of them. Here's the results

Little hard to see the pole in this one but its back there. That one was was set by the original set maker, Clarence Jr.

This one had a beaver foot with good meat on the bone on the pole and the box had a little chunk of beaver meat with fur.

Both sets are still set with fresh bait, I'll keep you guys informed.

As promised. My first marten I got when I was in high school. Hanging on the wall in my mother's house.

That is a super pale marten! Interesting your boxes seem to be attracting the marten more than the pole sets are. They must be some curious critters.

Does that crab trap you posted with the wide entry fish well?

It does well. I like it better than a regular circle shaped pot with just a 16 inch round entry.

Very nice.Love having the feet left on them.

Here's my new and improved design. Pretty much the same as my last ones but I made one side of the box longer so that it's easier to put screws in it onto a tree. I used 18 ga. staples this time too compared to finish nails and glue. They should be a lot sturdier.



I use these on the inside to hold my bait in. Holds well and quick to change bait.

My 155 fits nice in there it'll fit a belisle 120 also and regular 120s. I could've made it a little narrower but better to be on the safe side so my springs wont jam in there.

Nice, those look good. I build mine to fit a 155 with a little wiggle room also, 120's work good in them too. It does bug me that there's a gap when I use a 120, but I don't want 2 different size boxes. I started making mine with a long side for fastening purposes too, way easier than trying to put in screws or especially nails inside a box.

Looking good.

Thank you. Those look great. Is the wire screen just held in by pressure?

Is there room for the trigger to lift and fire? Picture looks like it is tight to the lid.

Those are nice looking boxes that you built. Well thought out with the fitment of multiple trap sizes and bait retention.

Not to redirect your thread, but I have an aversion to driving nails or screws into live trees. Reason being is the amount of sap that they will weep is crazy, and I go out of my way to keep pitch off of my fur at the sets.
Something to consider, drill two sets of four holes through the bottom of your boxes to wire them to the tree or pole. This also allows them to swivel a bit when bears smack them around during the off season.

Yeah it pretty much wedges in there, I bend the edges so it gives it a little bit of spring pushing against the box. I cut a hole in the middle to so I can put my finger inside and pull it out.

Hey viking, I know the picture doesn’t show it that good but there is room for the trigger to engage. I push the trap in til there’s a bit of room on one side and I’ll bend the springs up towards the trigger so the bottom jaws are touching but the top still has a gap.

Weekend update:

Still rough country out there so it's pretty slow travelling. I got some more sets out and picked up some more fur. Didn't seem like there was a whole lot of action with the warmer temps this week. I'm expecting more volume this week with the lows dipping into the negatives. I've been using a lure with a strong lingering sweet smell which seems to be doing a good job so far. I'd alternate using the sweet and then a skunky lures when I first set and found the sweet was doing better. My brother and Junie gave me company this trip and it was a good day out in the country.

An update on the experiment:
The boxes are still undefeated against the poles 3-0. The poles were nice and dry with no snow this time. There are 3 more sets that I added to the experiment. I think it's just a matter of time that we'll see out hanging off a pole. But so far the boxes are on a hot streak.

Nice marten

That is a pretty neat design you got for your boxes!

good eyes Viking
Field modifications; a little run with the chainsaw tip cuts a grove so that the dog can rise to overcome this problem

Overdue update:

I got a couple checks in since my last update. Both my best checks so far.
Wednesday I went out on a chilly below zero day. I had plans to fill some gaps between sets and brought more boxes, but somewhere along the line when I was swapping traps with fur in them to empty traps I lost the bit for my impact driver. This was my very first ride with my brand new snowmachine and remembered I had the tool with a phillips head on it. I went to my next set that had a marten and went to use the tool to release the trap. The head on the tool snapped off the instant I applied torque to it. The day was getting longer and I figure I won't set any more boxes now that I'm out of tools drive screws in. I had to use the back of my axe to remove the washers holding my fur filled traps the rest of the trip.
Yesterday I went out and freshened up my sets with some lure and made sure the bait was still good. I was able to get a few more sets out also and it was just a gorgeous day.
Good news for all the traditionalist trappers keeping track of my body grip vs foothold experiment. There was one set that a marten had preferred the foothold over the box. On another set, the box had an unsprung trap dangling with no bait inside and next to it, a marten caught in a foothold. This week the boxes barely came out on top with a 3-2 record, making it 6-2 on the season.

An interesting set I made that paid off.

One of the double sets. You can see a marten had went up the pole and snapped a snow covered trap.

Beautiful sunset on the way home.


A great first ride on my new snowmachine. Love these 4-stroke widetracks. I got rid of my previous one, same exact model that I put 12,000 miles on.

Nice catch of marten

Good catches! Look at all those marten tracks under that double setup!

I am with you on the Expedition 4strokes. I have a wide track and a SWT both with the 900 ACE love them.

I've always told myself I'd buy a brand new sled someday, and then always end up putting money into my boat instead. Maybe next year...the old powder special is gonna have to carry me through another winter lol

10 marten in 1 check? How many traps you check? You need to get more traps out. Those 10 are something between 500-700 bucks. That will help pay for a new snogo!

Great catch. What do you need the impact for, as to switching out traps?
I had my coni's rigged with cable, and a snap/carabiner to the anchor on tree.

Those of us who earn our living on a power saw greatly appreciate you. I can't tell you how many beautifully ground chains I've annihilated because of a nail or a piece of wire left in a tree. And the trapper in me totally understands, the timber cutter in me wants to hit that guy with something heavy lol

So for now I've got a screw and washer securing my trap chain. I've got some swiveling clips on their way I'm going to start using. They're the same ones on the savageau's that clips right to the spring. As for the screws and nails in trees, you guys must understand I'm in an very remote area. I take my traps and boxes back after every season. Most of the timber I tap into are in a burn area so they are pretty dry.

I used to make boxes with a long end to put a screw through, which worked pretty good. But when I started making tapered boxes that nestled, I went to drilling a hole in the box a couple inches from the end. I just sink a screw halfway into the tree and then hang the box on it by the hole i have drilled, then drive a screw tight at the mouth of the box, this holds the box tight to the tree and the one it is hanging on through the hole keeps it from moving. Works great and is faster to put up, plus I can cut all pieces the same length when making the boxes and they nestle well without a long side.

That's a good idea bearcat, might have to try a few that way.

Update time:

Things have really slowed down for me this week after having such a good week before. There's hardly any sign anymore and there's just no action. It'll be interesting to see what happens after this weird warm storm were having now. High winds, almost 40 degree temps and rain. I'm hoping after it cools off again that the marten start to move around again. I got a few more sets out over the week but nothing crazy yet. No pictures this week, and no marten in the double sets for the experiment.

Well dang! Time to move and change your target species maybe! Probably losing snow, eh? South river?

Update time:

It's been awhile. I picked up a couple more marten but it's very slow going. I've been pretty busy around the village so I haven't been able to put in trail and get more sets out. It's also been blowing hard since Saturday. Constant winds around 30 and some peaks above 40 with gusts to 60. I found that the marten aren't hiding from the wind in my boxes because I picked up my first goose egg check on Sunday. There hasn't been crazy sign out there, like there was when I was getting good numbers. There are a couple wolves hanging around that I need to make some sets for. It has been pretty bleak on the trapping scene for me.

In other news, I started up a youtube channel. I have one video out about blackfish traps, it's a little rough but now I know where I need to improve. I also have a couple cool shorts of some hunting. I'll start doing some on my trapping also. So if you get some time, check it out! Here's the link.

Chiroskey Outdoors YouTube Channel

Update time:

I let my sets soak a little longer than usual and still getting some low numbers. I did run into some promising sign though and it looks like hopefully I’m going to get a little spike. Ran into some wolf sign in a couple different areas that I made some sets. I’m trying a set by a pee post where a pack went through. I chopped some smelly moose into the ground and set a foot hold with a drag in an imprint by it. There’s another area where I’ve seen a pair of wolf tracks on different occasions. I made a little snare set with a piece of a moose leg. I’m slowly getting more sets out. I was hoping to see wolverine sign but nothing yet. I did get some decent footage and put a new trapping video up on the YouTube channel. Please check it out if you get a chance! Also let me know what else you guys would like to see on there.

New trapping video

Good video! I enjoyed it!

Nice video.

Thanks you guys. Trying to my editing skills to make it a little more interesting. I'm kind of aiming for a broad audience so I'm not going crazy on details for trapping terminology and what not. Glad to hear you guys are enjoying! Means a lot!

Update time:
Well I busted some good trail finally, I'm planning to go out today and cut some brush out of there and make some sets. Still pretty slow with the marten, but I am seeing some new life deeper in the creeks. No sign of wolverine and the wolves haven't gone back through in a while. I'm debating to whether to snap a little string of traps until I see more sign. This way I'm cutting down on checking time so I'm not going back and forth on a bumpy 5 mile trail. I'd be focusing on getting my loop done and I'm betting I'm going to see better marten numbers going into the hills. I have another video out also on my YouTube channel. I'm enjoying making these videos so it can help people visualize my way of life and hopefully teach younger generations to go out and be outdoors. Here's the link for the video.

New Trapping Video

Nice video.Thanks for sharing

Thats some good looking country! I like your videos.

As far as wolves or wolverine go I would leave your sets in place. You never know when they will be coming back through.

Update Time:

Hey guys, one heck of a ride last outing! Went through all the gear and pulled out a few marten. Then I made my trail over the ridge into the next creek. Boy I thought I had it made looking at that creek on satellite image maps, I was wrong. There was a lot of willow plowing and cutting. I was planning on setting traps but just didn't have the time. As we headed further down the creek to the next river the snow was disappearing more and more. By the time we made it to the river we were in brown country. There was a ton of marten sign through that creek though I must say. Also seen some recent wolf tracks of a lonely guy. If I was using my head right I would've turned around and went home the same way but nope, I wanted to make my loop. Big mistake, It was 8 miles of bare tundra, monster bumps, and messed up creek crossings. I'm not going back through there until we get some decent snow. For now I think I'll just have to to the down and back ride, which is a little longer but won't be so painstaking. I posted a new video as well if you guys want to check it out. Looking back I know I could've filmed some more of our trail making efforts but sometimes I just want to get things done and forget I'm making a video. Wishing you all a great new year and good luck in your trapping endeavors!

New Trapping Video

Happy New Year

Nice video and catch of marten.Nice bunch of bonus ptarmigan

Well looks like you're getting the snow needed! Been bumpy so far

Hope you get some snow. Anxious to see that loop get done. Where's all the lynx? Gotta be wolverine around.
Maybe you can scoot onto the river, punch a hole and get some trout on video? Probably otter around there.

Update Time:

Last check was very exciting to say the least. On the board for big fur this season with a big beautiful wolverine. We just got some fresh fluff also, about 5 inches. Mr. wolverine looked like he had found my trail about a day before I checked and had not too far after he smelled some old moose meat. While he was digging around he found a big pretty bracelet that fit his left front leg very nicely. That set was made for wolves but it proved to be just as enticing to the wolverine. He tore up the place pretty good so I had reset the trap and threw in a couple more pieces of bait incase another wolverine or wolf gets curious.
A nice day on the line though with the fresh snow, picked up a few more marten. One in a 330 set on the ridge. I finally got my little swivel clips in so I can phase out my chain and screw setup. Now I just need to screw in my cable once and when I change traps I unclip the old one and clip on a new one. They're the same clips that are on the sauvageaus.
I made my first sets in the new part of the trail on some good looking sign for marten. I didn't loop around this time, I think I'll need more snow for that yet.
Seeing lots of moose sign around, It's about that time of the year to look for their sheds. I usually have luck finding them where there's lots of moose tracks on the rivers.
Already got the video out on YouTube for this trip. I was excited to share this one with everyone! Here's the link.

New Trapping Video

Wow thats a nice looking wolverine!

Nice wolverine.A beauty.Congrats.

Awesome video.

I didn't know you could use moose meat for bait.

Salvaged from a wolf kill before the season.

That would be some fine bait. Bet you get a wolf. Especially now that gulo stunk up the set.

Congratulations on the wolverine it's got some great color to it !

Outstanding looking wolverine.

Wolverine looks big, real big.

Thanks you guys! I got him all skinned out for ruffs and trim for parkas. When I get wolverines most of them will be made into traditional ruffs. I make sure and split the hind legs at the longest hairs and same with the front. The legs will be stretched straight across. I am hoping to start doing my own tanning, If I can ever get a good pickling solution to ship way out here. I am grateful for a local taxidermist and fellow trapper for letting me use his workshop and equipment to handle my bigger fur. This picture is before I skinned the paws out. Don't worry, it has a tail. It's just hanging off the edge.

What he's trying to politely say is when a wolverine comes to his house it immediately becomes the property of his wife!,
Been there, done that!
Did you weigh it, Bunbun?

Nice job.

Sorry MT, no weight. We measure the length of the coffee stirrer in these parts.

Doesn't that only work with males? Guess they are always the larger gender!

It works with females too but the measurement always ends up being 0"

Now THAT is funny!

Not really. Female wolverines DO have a baubellum like the male baculum. It is just quite a bit smaller and not quite as obvious to access

This is getting deep.

So, female wolverine could, in theory, Identify as a male wolverine?

Exactly !!

Wow did not know that haha. What started as a joke turned into wolverine biology 101. Loving it lol. Thanks for the info white17!

Update time:

Spent some good time putting in some marten boxes in on the new trail. I have about 70 out now and I plan on putting about 6-8 more in. After that I’ll focus on getting some big fur sets scattered around. I have only about a quarter of the 330 sets out that I want out and I have more footholds and snares for wolves to set. We’re still getting snow but I know I’m gonna need at least another foot or so to finish the loop. I’ve been neglecting my marten sets that are by the rivers but I’ll make sure they get some fresh bait and lure before they start moving down low again. It seems like they are hanging around in the hills and creek heads this time of the year. It’s gonna be interesting to see what happens as the season goes on. I’ve got a new video out from our last trip. Had a little mishap where my partners snowmachine fell through in a deep spot on the creek but it didn’t take too much to pull out. I usually carry some 1/2 inch rope for such occurrences but I didn’t have it this time. Anyways we made it out safe and finished setting the boxes we brought. Here’s the video if you guys want to check it out.

New Trapping Video

I appreciate you taking the time to make the videos, Glad you two were able to get out of the creek without getting wet. I gave them a thumbs up and subscribed.

outstanding video clip
Creek baptisms are never nice on snow machines.

Update Time:

Had a pretty good midweek check. Didn't set any traps but we did pick up some decent fur and broke trail through Egavik and made the loop. I still have some planning as far as big fur sets go but I think I'm pretty much done setting for marten. All the marten from this check came from the one creek that I recently set. All of them covered with snow, indicating they were caught Sunday-Monday when It was very warm outside. The area I'm trapping just got dumped on with fresh powder. Snow was coming over my hood on the trail in some parts. I rigged up a tire drag to tow behind my sled to make the trail a little smoother. I brought Junie and his son Donald with me, I'm glad I did because I ended up getting stuck heading up the hill coming out of the south side. We had a tough time trying to get my sled up the hill but eventually made it to the ridge. Junie was happy to be out checking out his old trapping territory. Before crossing Egavik I found a nice ditch that sent me flying over my handlebars. Was fortunate nothing broke and I didn't get hurt. That country is making sure I work hard for my fur. Hopefully I get a decent enough trail in by the end of the season so I can bring my daughter out. Long days spent on the trapline. Marten tally broke 50 which is my best by far. I usually don't trap marten that hard. I just got the video uploaded on YouTube so please watch and enjoy. Also, sorry for the ads, but someone just got monetized.

New Trapping Video

Cool run. Thanks!

What is that clip you use on your marten traps? I can' quite see it clearly.

Any sign of lynx on the trail back to town? Gotta be a few somewsomewhere!

Nice catch of marten

Hey viking, here's a pic of what they look like. From my understanding they are made by sauvageau for this specific purpose, they come on their 2001 series traps. I make my own cables for it with a bench swager and aluminum ferrules. On the clip side I put a washer and a stop and on my anchor end I just put a small loop with a double ferrule. Of course the first one I put out that caught a marten failed, but that's because I didn't swage the stop on good. Lucky my ldl 120 mag took care of him quick, he didn't go anywhere. I double checked the rest to make sure they hold. The last 4 marten caught with them worked very well. Fast and easy to switch traps.

Kitty's are scarce in the area I'm trapping. If I happen to see more sign I'll put more sets out for them. But for now I don't plan on putting the hammer on them.

I enjoyed your video, thanks for the trouble to do this. Out of curiosity, what caliber rifles do you carry and what do you hope to get a shot at ?

Hey TraderVic, always a pleasure creating content for fellow trapper or those who are curious. I usually carry a .17 hmr on me, hoping to shoot some small game like grouse and hare. I also use it to shoot furbearers if I come upon them like lynx and wolverine. It may do alright for wolf if you really hit them in the right spot but something like a .223 or 5.56 are the way to go for them. I also carry a 22 mag pistol in my handlebar bag incase.

Update Time:

Went on a quick run through my gear yesterday and picked up some more good fur from the creeks. The part of the line by the river is still not producing, I would be a poor trapper if I didn't make my move into the hills and into a different drainage. Got a surprise red fox catch in my milk crate set on the ridge. Not really targeting fox but I'll take it. I was trying to do a speed run because my baby daughter is going through it now with an illness and I didn't want to be away too long. After all that glorious snow last week, our temperatures skyrocketed to almost 40 degrees, rain fell, snow is gone from the hill tops and open tundra. The valley's are still good. We are forecasted to get more snow again this week though. Just uploaded my video for this check, here's the link.

New Trapping Video

Thanks for your response, I enjoy your videos and "tagging along". Hope your daughter feels better real soon !
Regards, Vic

Update Time:

Did my midweek run through my line and tied with my best check this season. Well maybe my best if you count the ermine. Had some hope when I ran the river side where most of my sets are, got one catch in the middle and then it was dead again. This warm weather we've been getting for the past 5 days proves to drive the marten into the creek where my newer sets are. I set only 5 miles of the north side creek and I need to put more out for sure. 8 martens in that section, only 1 female. I'll probably snap traps a little earlier in the season to make sure I'm not eliminating them. It's looking good though with all these big males. No one that I know of has been trapping that area. I'm sure it's been decades since people have trapped marten over there. This weekend I'm going to plan on setting more boxes on the rest of that creek and few more alongside Egavik. I'll bring some 330's but probably not a whole lot. Looks like we're supposed to get some more snow after a lot of it has melted. Going to cool off also next week. Just uploaded the new video on YouTube. Here's the link:

New Trapping Video

Update Time:

I had a good trip on Saturday, got out nice and early and was able to make it back in the afternoon to take the family out for a nice ride. Put in a lot of miles that day! I brought 10 more marten boxes and a milk crate to extend my line into the next drainage. I had hopes to cross the river and make my loop back home but It was still quite bare and bumpy once I hit the valley there. It has been snowing pretty good the past couple days though. Hopefully It sticks good in that valley and doesn't blow away. First fur I picked up was from a box that I had about 1/4 mile away from a little wolf bait. I believe it's the same marten that has been helping himself to the bait the past few weeks. Last trip I noticed his tracks passing right by my box, so I made sure to put some fresh smelly bait. I didn't want to set close to the wolf bait and spook any wolves passing through there. Nothing on the main part of the line going along the first river. Ended up with 5 marten, seems to be a pretty steady catches in the second creek. Still catching big males. Have a good feeling about my milkcrate set that is on branchy old dead tree near the mouth of the creek. After I set it, I ran into some weathered wolverine sign about 200 yards down the trail. All in all a great day out in the country. I was glad to bring out the family after to enjoy the outdoors. I uploaded my video for this trip on YouTube, I'm trying different thumbnail/title formats to try and expand to more viewers. My goal is to reach more youth in the villages so they can be encouraged to go out and enjoy our beautiful country as my family and I do. Anyways, please watch if you have time and share with family and friends. Happy trapping to you all!

New Trapping Video

Way to go with the marten.Thanks for sharing the video.

Love the “How To” bits in the video! As a youngster I was lucky to have a few great trappers help me out along the way. But the YouTube sure has shown so much!

Thanks Bruce! Hope all is going well in your neck of the woods.

Thanks OJ! I too have learned some helpful stuff on youtube. But there's nothing like going out and learning the real deal from seasoned pros. I enjoy making videos and passing some knowledge along.

Thanks for the ride ! I did not get cold and enjoyed the ride on your line .smith Tally Ho

Haha glad you enjoyed there smith.

Update Time:

So we have a cold front hitting right now, about -30 now. It was -20 yesterday when I went to run the line, but it's supposed to warm up again it looks like. We have 20 degree temps coming in the next few days and then highs around 30 on Tuesday and Wednesday. With that said, I had a pretty slow check with just a couple marten. I'm thinking by next Wednesday the north side of the line might light up just based on how they're acting with the temps this season. I can be completely wrong though.
Yesterday was a nice rid, I ran all the gear. Finding plenty of places to start setting more 330's. I was able to complete the loop and boy did it save me some time. One of the marten was caught towards the mouth of the creek going into Egavik, probably biggest marten I've seen. I'll have to take his weight and measurements before and after skinning. I'll upload some pictures on here when I get to skinning. I crossed some fellow trapper's line and it looks like they're going further up Egavik. I had a chat with them a couple weeks ago and we don't mind each other's company in that area haha. Slowly but surely getting more gear out there anyway, and having a blast every step of the way. I just uploaded the video for this check on YouTube. Here it is.

New Trapping Video

Very nice marten.Perfect suitcase catch on it.Thats a big marten also.

Update Time:

So I skinned the big boy marten and he's a monster. I didn't get his weight because I didn't have a scale around. But I measured him before skinning and he was 21.5" nose to base of tail. I put him on a regular 4" male board and his tail was hanging off the end so I used a 4.5" board I had and he's about 26.5" on that board nose to base of tail.



Also I ran the line yesterday and set the rest of my marten boxes, now I can get more big gear out there. Really not a lot moving around, but at least I wasn't skunked. I'm figuring everything was kind of hunkering down during the storm we had a couple days prior. It was blowing 30+ gusting to almost 70, it sure left me some nice drifts along the line but fortunately my sets were well protected. I was able to make a loop around and made a quick snare pole for wolverine. Didn't really video that part because my camera was getting low on battery and I wanted to video the coast. Saw some muskox in the distance by my trapline and then on the way back on the main trail I saw a couple more small herds. I have a buddy that drew a tag so I may be helping him get one some time this winter.

In other news, I'll be heading into town (Anchorage) this Friday and on I'll be helping out the Iditarod trail breaker crew putting in the trail from Big Lake to Rohn. We call it the pre-trail trip and it takes a week. Most of the work is in Rainy Pass and the Dalzell putting in many bridges across the creeks, clearing brush and marking trail. I helped on this same trip a couple years back and it really is a lot of work. Just some amazing country over there though and I can't wait to be back. I was offered a spot on the crew a couple years back for the main break all the way to Nome but had to decline because I was transitioning jobs and had no time off. I won't be doing main break again this year but I'm aiming to do it next year.

Anyways long update. Here's the link to my video:


New Trapping Video

Nice video and nice shot.

I think the first 100 marten I sold went to Rhoda's dad, Martin? Another guy from Ruby area took his, and my fur at xmas time, 1979 Got a Quote from your uncle Frank when he was buying. When I would show up in Unk with Marten, folks said mine were bigger than around there.
26 and 1/2 is a big marten anywhere. Not too sure I've ever seen a 27.
Hoping you post a pic holding a hundred or so furs before you're done!

Well, now you've seen a 30"er MT......

Nice marten.