If you were trapping primarily for fisher, no marten in my area, would you go with the 4x4 diamond opening or the bigger size with a baffle? May occasionally go further north for marten. I havent heard much on the bigger boxes with the baffle and refusals.

4x4 for sure, they want to see where they're going IMO.

How To Build a LYNX Proof Pine Marten and Fisher Box Trap
by Joe Holland. Youtube video.

Pretty good video. This is the second season of trapping off grid. Good and entertaining stuff.

I have no real experience with the boxes but will this year.
From what I have been told the diamond shaped holes like Joe shows work best.


I have trapped fisher in foot holds back in the old days and lots in cubby boxes on the ground with 120s and 5x5s. The only fisher I have trapped lately has been incidentals in cat or canine sets. I guess I have been stubborn long enough. LOL
A friend I met at Zagger's in PA (Butch) that has trapped a lot of fisher and marten using the diamonds shaped holes.

Tom Miranda recently put out a good video in. you tube. Check it out. He also uses the diamonds shaped holes.

Mac

Will only trap fisher again if and when exclusion cages are no longer needed.

Bruce I'm with ya, haven't trapped them since the exclusion device but I'm really getting the itch again. I have no experience with the exclusion devices.

Bruce did your catch rate go significantly down when you had to use these boxes?

Just to give you an idea of how trapping was effected by the exclusion box. the season that was implemented the harvest was less than 150 fisher!!!!!!!!!!!

I am breaking down and have built some boxes. I do not believe those exclusion boxes will ever go away. Ever. Talking with a biologist a few. years ago, that was his opinion as well.

They are easy to ground trap with foot holds but you have a 24 hour check law for foot holds. If you are working that means a lot of in the dark trapping.

The Lynx is protected. Not one soul in the state Inlands fisheries and game can even give an educated guess as to how many Lynx there are in Maine.

Mac