Looking forward to setting a short line this year,no TM members coming up this year for a bucket list bobcat or marten.Yesterday and overnight we got 7 plus inches of really wet heavy snow.Woods roads were tough today trees and branches bent over the road or busted laying across the roads.I had to cut 3 trees laying across the roads this morning to get to a couple of fox,coyote traps I have out.Didn't see much for tracks today,a few days ago when I set the couple of sets I saw a fair amount of marten tracks even a couple of fisher tracks and two bobcat tracks.Merl and myself are planing on putting out 5,6 marten boxes and 3,4 bobcat locations.No plans to trap a limit of bobcats this year 2,maybe 3 and 4 marten if possible.Good luck to all the MN trappers hopefully you can take a kid along,have fun,hopefully we don't get dumped on with a bunch more snow....

Good luck to you also!! Hoping to get a few cat set out at home and catch my first one in about 10 years. Bought a few cage traps from a Tman member out in CO a few years back and gonna finally give them a whirl to experiment and learn with. Haven’t seen much for cat sign in recent years but had a nice one on a deer trail cam mid November. Happy trapping! ScottW

The rumor is that I will have company waiting for me when I get home to catch Otter, Cats, Fisher and Marten. Hopefully they remember the spots from years ago otherwise we can start on Sunday.

Might take a drive out south to see how many critters were on their feet.Hope a coyote or two came back to check out some baits,I'll head out shortly 12 above,with a major cold spell coming,ice making time on the big lake.3" to 8" from what I'm hearing,by next week the lake will have lots of pressure on it.Heck I might even get out there when there's 10" or more.Have a good winter day.

Rick, Thank You again for last Year!!!

I'll be out trying locally. I need some fresh beaver. set today I hope

Your welcome Scott,looking forward to see the tanned cat.I think it was one year ago to the day your 41 lbs first bobcat....

Won't beany people fishing LOW. Looks like they are all on red Lake lol.

I'm kinda looking forward to trapping some marten

Setting a few sets. Did have both cat and fisher sign a week and a half ago. Have not seen any sign since but will set on the old sign and hope for the best. Good luck everyone.

Looks to be a fair amount of marten out there,you coming up to the cabin to trap or closer to home?

Good luck

I agree Rick. The marten sign is encouraging. The partridge sign not so much lol. I got one Friday. I'm going to have to work hard to hit my goal on those

This is the first time in a long time I didn't shoot a ruffed grouse,if I had carried a gun this fall i could have shot a few.A friend of mine hunted a fair amount he shot around 25 to 30 this year.Good luck Steve I don't plan on getting more than 5 miles from home this year.

Muskeg hope you'll be out with your grand kids again,maybe we'll pass on the road,good luck.

Good luck and keep us updated

Season starts this weekend 9 day Marten Fisher season,bobcat season is around 34 days.

I won't be around for the fisher season or the first two weeks of bobcat this year. Will be heading south for a few weeks to trap coyote and bobcat in Kansas. I did find bobcat tracks last week so set up a bait pike close by. Hope it finds it by the time I get back.

Looks like you will be busy down there,have fun and bring sharp knives.....

Wish we didn’t have so many wolves and could make a reasonable bait pile without collecting every piece of roadkill known to man! They clean a pile up in a hurry.

Good luck down in Kansas! Hope the weather cooperates.

Hope this little snow continues to be able to identify tracks decent. Happy trapping! ScottW

Scott you can take about half of ours another inch or more today 8" to 9" up here!

Send it down after Thursday night so we can have a couple more days of good lake and swamp freezing! Happy trapping! ScottW

A foot of snow on the swamp right now would be a good thing

I would rather get some frost in them first. The Ash swamp still had open water in it yesterday and no frost at all. I will need to take the Tundra and run a track through it so we will have a sidewalk to walk on.

She's making some ice on the big lake here -8,next two days below zero for highs,warms up by the weekend.Getting closer to following drag marks in the snow and seeing marten hanging from leaning poles.....

No plans at this time for fisher since I have seen almost no sign the past year or so here but have managed to fill my 4 otter tags. in the past week Glad I am done with them since it is cold in the water on old hands.

Some of us are not as tough as you and wear rubber gloves with wool liners.

I've picked up 2 otter so far, it's definitely tough on the fingers some days. I do have shoulder length gloves, but I never remember to bring them, they've been under the back seat of my truck still brand new since like June or July lol

I do all of that and use heat pads inside of them and still freeze my hands. Poor circulation. Just wait until you get to be old.

Doug, I didn't realize you're old.

Good afternoon,it's BRISK today -15 this morning,high was -7,tonight there forecasting -19.By this weekend it will be in the teens which will be a nice temp for getting out a few marten boxes and a couple of bobcat sets out.The lake will be full of fisherman by next week,should be 8" to 12"of ice.

I think he is just pulling our leg and looking for sympathy.

Bobcat boxes are baited, going to load them in the trailer tomorrow or Friday.

This is good weather to get the bait to stick firmly into the back of the boxes too. I only plan to run a few sets and will focus on riding along with the "almost" non residents that are coming.

-23 glad the weather will be warmer for the opener,making good ice for the ice fishermen.Going back to sleep for a couple of hours.

Still cold,but it's warming up might get -5 for a high today,so still making ICE...

Down here in the banana belt are far south as you can get in Minnesota it’s 3 degrees right now. Pretty cold daytime high for this early. Our new cat season starts January 4.

Upland bird and pheasant season closes on the 1st so the hunters and dogs should be out of the woods.

It's almost Christmas. This isn't uncommon at least not up here.

I think the warmest I saw on the pickup was minus five. Sun is shining and little wind, had to put a hoodie on for awhile. Yesterday it was fairly windy and sub zero highs. It was a little brisk.

Yep, it is almost Long John weather.

Almost

Our trapping season closes on Jan. 1st for everything but beaver

Bait is the boxes,ready for the morning a couple of Jake's and Sterling's on drags.Good luck tomorrow..

Good morning,dark in the swamp for another hour and a half,start your engine's....Should be a fairly short day as we are only putting out 6 marten boxes with 155's and 3 bobcat location,which one spot will be 3 snares other two will have a Jake or Sterling at them.Good luck to all the trapper's heading out when the sun rises.

Had a good half day in the woods,set 8 marten boxes 155's 1 Jake,2 MJ 600 Sterlings and 7 fox,coyote and bobcat snare's.Now we wait and see when the critter's are making their loops,saw 3 cat tracks and 8 marten tracks...Hope everyone had a good day setting out a line.

Good luck.Can't wait to see the pictures.

My wife and I went out today. Tough going, more snow than I thought. I got seven boxes out for Marten. See what happens.

I got out 5 Coni box's and 3 leaning poles with #2 monti's

It was a struggle but we got a line out. I think I spent more time cutting trees out of the way then trapping. Might be the worst I can remember laying down from the heavy wet icy snow we got the other day.

That makes for a rough day!

Dark in the swamp,the wet heavy snow made a mess that's for sure.We'll head out at 9am and see what critters have moved,good luck trappers....

Good luck

Good luck guys, I’m missing out on the first half of the season, my 5 month old pup decided to eat something he shouldn’t have and we spent most of last week at the vet. All is good but it changed our strategy assuming he was going to have to have surgery. Dad will be heading up on Wednesday morning and the son and I are heading up Thursday around noon.

The roads you all talk about having to cut apart downed trees after heavy snow fall, are they gravel "township" roads or just various two-wheel tracked trails ("unimproved" roads) through the forests and maybe some of the drier bogs, although is there any bogs dry up there this year?

All gravel roads some are two track logging roads other are pretty good main forest roads.One marten out of 8 boxes now there's 7 155's boxes waiting for a marten to return,were allowed 2 per person so we didn't want to set too many out,no fresh bobcat tracks today.They'll be back through within a few days I'm guessing allowed 5,but this year I'm only planning on catching 1 to 3.Here's to a good check for all you trapper's out and about....

I thought you MN guys could catch 5 critter combo of marten and fisher or does it vary by management unit?

10 to 12 years ago it was 5,it should be more than 2,but we are not able to make the laws.3 to 4 would be fine,it's just like our bear season up here,now the last 10 years it takes 4 to 5 years to draw a tag.We are covered up in bears,this year we had 3 baits out,26 bears on three baits.sorry to say the DNR doesn't manage animals JUST PEOPLE it's sad....

I set another 5 sets in a woods I had trail camera pictures of a bobcat in late October

here's hoping skunk junk catches it's nose and Spots lure on fresh Beaver meat pulls em close enough

One small skunk today in a coni.

I don't know where to draw the lines but I think a good part of more rural Minnesota should consider seceding from the metro Twin Cities counties and other other core locations of the nutty woke leftists of the state and return to common sense land. It might work out better than the last time secession was tried. Or maybe just wait out Tampon Tim and his ilk as they self implode in a next few years-- we can only hope

I would agree,maybe St.Cloud and north or just give the whole metro area their own state,they could name it whatever they want,I have a few names that come to mind,but I'll keep them to myself lol.

Mary and I went out this morning. With the short limit I like to check traps on the way in. Checked 7 boxes all empty on the way out had one in the first trap we checked on the way in. You never know what's next. That's the magic.

What did y
What was it?

I’m assuming a marten

Way to go

Missing out on the fisher season and the first part of cat this year. Decide to take up an offer from a T-man member and got to Kansas for two weeks to catch some high dollar coyotes and maybe a cat or two. Did put out a few bait stations before I left in hopes of picking up a cat when I get back home. Good luck everybody!

Heading out for check number 2 in about an hour,another 2" of snow fell overnight,Thursday another 4 to 5" of snow,so by Friday we could have 15 to 16" of snow on the level.T he one cat location I will pull this Wed,with that much snow I would have trouble getting back to the location.Have a good day everyone....

Another 3" of snow,saw one marten track today,caught one bobcat today.Was going to release her,but she didn't want to play nice 2,3 year old 21.5lbs wet angry cat doesn't look like a good belly oh well.Bobcat #103 another one for the MTA Tanned Fur Project,will try for one or two more,depends on the snow piling up 11"since last Sat with another 3 to 5" coming on Thursday...

Everyone must be checking tomorrow,good luck if that's the case.Cooling down tonight to 7 above the critters should be out making tracks.

Yeah pretty quiet page, glad you’re getting out and about!

Congrats on your bobcat

Mary and I checked traps today no luck. Broke out some more trail I'll put out a couple more boxes tomorrow.

Where do northern Minnesota bobcats usually fall in the hierarchy of North American bcats fur? I know they aren't western but a bit more coin than the ones in the Southeast or about the same?

I see that South Dakota GF&P people now admit there are more bobcats around the whole state nowadays. It used to be only a West River/Black Hills season, and then they opened up the counties along the Missouri River on the eastern side. Now, all of East River is open but the limit is one. The other standard rules about surrendering the carcass and hide within a time limit to the COs to do their thing. Obviously, the trapper gets a legally taken skin back and the carcass, by request [minus part of the lower jaw and anything else the state people want to take.]

The opening up of all East River came about 10-15 years too late for a local kid in eastern Minnehaha County that caught a bcat . His family had to buy back the hide the next spring at the annual GFP wildlife auction because the cat was taken where there was no season. Supposedly, the family had everyone willing not to raise their opening bid so they could get it for cheap but one hold out didn't go along so they paid handsomely to get the cat hide back.

I'm glad that wouldn't happen this year...

Most fall into Northern Cats,had a couple Central and 4 graded Western,but not the high end Western.When NAFA was going I had 6 Top Lot Northern cats and 1 Top lot Central,before cat prices went nuts my best Western cat grade Very Red HVY 1,2 belly $280 Top lot Western that year was $580.A couple years later that Mn cat would have brought $750 to $850 I bet.I know for 7 years I average over $200 on my cats with $370 being the highest,6 cats went for $300 or more in that 7 year time frame.

No martins today but I shot two more partridge for the stock pot

I saw one yesterday,but I didn't shoot it I guess I could have shot his head off with the 204.Seen a coyote two days ago and didn't have it along GRRRR.

Wow, much higher than I thought. No wonder you northern MN guys smile when you see a bcat in your set!!

In this market the average MN cat is worth all that much.

Take a special set to average over 100 -125

Agreed at this time,a real nice big cat with a good clear belly with the feet on could bring $200,but are average now would be in that $75 to $125.

Good morning,it didn't snow last night... Cooled down to 8 above with some wind,hopefully the snow dried a little and the bent over tree branches will get back to normal shortly wishful thinking..I've noticed the critter don't move around with these conditions,maybe it enter fears with there sight fall off the branches.Just like us walking in to check locations and getting snow going down our heck etc.We'll find out in a few hours,they need to hunt for food,they don't have a fridge etc. like us lol.Good luck to everyone that will checking their line today.

Daylight in the Swamp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spoke to soon it started to snow again,never saw a track today.Below zero tonight and possible sun tomorrow that should help,tired of snow and flat light.We'll see what tomorrow brings,talked with one trapper friend he checked today 3 day check,they had about 2 dozen boxes out,they caught two marten today.I haven't talked with my other trapper friend they were checking today on a 2 day check,they had out a few more the 2 dozen boxes out,guessing they will have a couple also,my 7 boxes were all quite...

2 more partridge today. I hope like heck it doesn't snow Thursday but it's gonna lol.

I'm going to wear the tires off the pickup for the next 2 weeks.

Nothing like fresh Grouse

Nice bonus

Thursday is expected to be a Seattle Clipper with 12 inches of snow dumped along the boarder...good luck

were the grouse evening budding in the birch trees; those ones we call "pot grouse"

Male adult marten 22" the bobcat adult female 2,3 year old judging from the teeth 40" another poor belly.We use to get a lot more with decent bellies lately they have been 2,3 or 3 bellies,been a few year's since we've had a good 1,2 belly.This bobcat will end up at the MTA tanned fur project along with some other furs,coyote,fox,mink and muskrats for now.I talked with the other trapper about an hour ago,very little critter movement for them as well 26 boxes 1 marten.Before all this wet heavy snow there was quite a few marten tracks,hope they start hunting again other wise we might not get our 4.Going to be below zero for the next few nights so that might kick start them a little,have a good evening everyone.

As 330 would say dark in the swamp,-7 here in the northern swamp.We might see the sun today,that would be nice for a change,then more snow for tomorrow,hopefully the heavier snow amounts will be further south this time around.12" in the last 10 days,it's getting harder getting around out in the big woods,some roads they don't plow and I'm on 3 of them.Good luck everyone,heading out to recover a marten or two and maybe another bobcat and possibly a fox.Have a great day....

8 below warmed up to -3 now,not a marten track to be found,they'll have to get out hunting pretty soon,when they do the 7 boxes should get a couple.Caught a yearling bobcat today,frozen foot in the Jake,I wont release a cat with a frozen foot and for sure a smaller cat wouldn't have a chance with the snow we already have.Saw two coyote tracks today,first tracks in about a week it started down one trail towards a snare,but veered off 20 some feet from the snare.I hung another snare further back on one of his tracks.We'll see if he comes back not much left there for bait I need to bring another rib cage over there.

Another bobcat for the MTA Tanned fur project,guessing 34" put up 15 lbs.

Mary and I went out this morning. We caught a fisher haven't caught one for eight to ten years. So far one marten and one fisher. Supposed snow tomorrow 5 to 9 inches. See what happens.

Quite a few miles on the pickup today, more than a few on foot, seen two partridge.

Final score partridge 2, Steve zero.

It's about time to put the weasel line out

I put out 5 sets on Sunday and managed to get my limit today! Of course it was on the last trap so I had to go back through the line and pull everything. Awesome day!

Very nice congrats

Nice,I have arch opening doors on my marten boxes to avoid catching fishers.I'm hoping this snow slides further south this time,they need a white Christmas we've had 12" of snow over the last 10 days so we are good up here for awhile.Good luck tomorrow,we need the marten to be out hunting for food soon other wise I don't know if we will get our 4 marten still 4 nights for them to get out and about.

It has been tough going here with hardly any animal movement. We set on sign Sunday but haven't had a snapped trap since. Hopefully this snow and cold gets them moving.

Very nice.Congrats.

MnJag!! Awesome action on the double. I take the darker, larger one is a male?

Morning,looks like the snow is mostly missing us this time,just a dusting so far.Went to the lake last night to visit with some of the guides,they started to fish on Monday,fishing has been pretty good.Warmed up during the night,last evening it had dropped to -14 it's zero now.Getting ready to head out and see if any martens were out making tracks,we'll find out in the next couple of hours and maybe a coyote came back?

Daylight in the Swamp!!!

Snowed Here a cpl inches with snow coming down till midnight

Lucky night, picked up my 1st for the season last night. One of the biggest males I have ever caught.

Congrats,we might get an inch up here,no tracks anywhere today.All that means is we are in front of their return,hopefully the return will be before Sunday,the two cats I'm waiting for should be back within a week.

Congratulations on the catches every one! I'm kidding out on this year's fisher season in exchange for a trappingvtrip to Kansas. No fishers here but the cat sign looks promising. Only been here a few days but having a great time. No snow with the weather being low 60's during the day and down to mid 20's at night. Fur looks good right and hope to pile more up. Meanwhile I'll just have to live vicariously through T-man! Good luck everyone!

Looks like the movement has been slow state wide,I know last year when 330 was up here,same wet heavy snow shut down the marten movement then the last 3 days of the season they were really out and about.Hoping they do that again this year 3 more checks, same 7 marten boxes set on fresh tracks from 7,8 days ago...Hope the season ends with a flurry of movement for everyone.

Bobcats are drying a little smaller now,first cat 39" 2,3 year old 21.5 lbs,second cat a yearling or and early kitten 14.5 lbs 33".The size doesn't really matter this year as both will be donated to our tanned fur project,I need to get another fox or coyote to add to the collection.Have a great rest of the day....

Finally made it to the cabin, dad got 9 sets out today. The kid and I hope to get 10-12 sets out tomorrow and see if dad has any fur hanging. Feels great to be back on the line,

K9 look forward to your family outing,trapline fires with your kids and set making pictures,hope your two checks go well.Fun time for your family,look forward to your pictures.

I woke up to the wolves howling outside the house at 4 am so hopefully that means the critters moved last night.

Not Quite Daylight in the Swamp

-12 here this morning. That will make some more ice.

I've been hearing varying reports of success.

Yes,good ice making weather 11 to 15" of ice on the lake and fishing has been pretty good.I'm planning on getting out next week.

What a great Winter wonderland day,cold but the sun was out no wind,warmed up to 1 above.No catches,but the martens were making tracks saw 4 tracks nothing real close to our boxes.There's a good chance there are marten in the traps from this afternoon since our morning check.3 fox were running around on two different woods road and 3 wolf pups and 1 adult made there round.Didn't see a cat track today,there due back fairly soon,thought for sure the one coyote was going to be waiting for me today,it was a no show there's new bait there so he/she should be back the ravens are making lots of noise.Set 2 MB 450's on drags along a woods road,we'll see if they come by and get caught for the tanned fur project.Tomorrow should be a good check!

Good luck tomorrow

How big an area are you running Rick? I am guessing you are covering some ground. It is snowing and blowing here again. The snow is flying sideways out of the south.

Really a short line this year,5 to 5.5 miles from home with back tracking.Probably 35 miles loop,south,southwest and northeast.With no catches 2 hour loop.

35 miles and four sets of marten tracks. It sounds like slim pickings to me. I have checked plenty of empty traps before, but little to no track is never a good sign.

About 17 miles are in the big woods,tomorrow I'm betting we will see 7 to 10 marten tracks,they just started to move today.I would be really surprised if we don't catch our last 3 in the next two checks,season ends Sunday at 11:59pm.7 boxes with 155's waiting for the marten to return.Back a few years ago I would run a 35 miles line out in the big woods running about 20 boxes most year we would have our four marten on the first or second check.The last few years I've been running 8 to 12 boxes on a shorter line.

Your only allowed 4 marten?

2 per trapper Fisher or marten,10,12 years ago we could get 5 per person,It's been 2 for too many years it should go up to 4 per person,but we can't make the laws.DNR have some of our seasons and quota's really screwed up,for example it takes 4 to 5 years to draw a bear tag,we are covered up in bears lots of ag damage getting into bird feeders trash cans and bee hives.

Why bother.
The only way I would set for marten with those kind of restrictions is if I was already running a beaver/all fur line.

We trap what we can

We don't do it for the money,we do it because we enjoy trapping them.Yes,it would be nice to have a higher limit like it was or have a 10 to 20 limit like some states have,but that's not going to happen anytime soon in MN.Why do you always post about our government when your government is just as messed up as ours or even worse Mr.Ms T is a poor excuse for a human being just like some of ours.You always want to stir the pot.....Your a good trapper and great at fur put up etc.your a good asset to T man,but you would be way better if you wouldn't stir the pot all the time.