Marten trapping in deep snow

I have a really great opportunity to trap some good marten country this year. A road that previously is deep snow all winter is being plowed all winter because they are thinning some trees in spots, this opens up about 20 miles of pristine marten country that hasn’t been trapped in years. I got permission to take a 4wheeler up there and I’m pumped up. I plan on using foothold(it’s what I have) on leaning pole sets. I was wondering what you guys do to keep these working? I’m nervous that 5 inches of snow every other night will ruin them. If I could maybe see a photo example that would be great. Thanks!!

Mine is too. Thanks!!

How do you secure your footholds to the pole? A lot of mine are coil springs

I used to use foot-holds for marten in the cascade mountains in Washington, very similar snow where you are I imagine; Cascades?

We got four feet of snow just this last week, the kind of snow we get makes it very frustrating trying to keep leaning poles operable; I gave up on them in the late 70's. Before I started using 120's in boxes (late 80's) I would seek out big old growth hemlock or other conifers with hollow catfaces, it was really good if there was a lot of rotten dry wood inside the catface, they make perfect natural cubbies that will protect a foothold well. Cubbies under overturned trees or big root-wads are great locations also, marten naturally hunt those places, they offer protection from the snow, and they are natural hunting areas for marten; if you have any marten tracks near such location you are guaranteed to connect.

If at all possible get yourself some 120's and make some boxes, you'll be glad you did.

I am in the eaglecaps so it’s not as bad as cascades, more inter mountain west type mountain range. I think just looking for natural cubbies on the grounds a good idea though.

Tons of snow though, just dryer.

Find small creeks and gullies that cross the roads and go to the uphill side and find where overturned trees are bridging the ravine, build cubbies under the overturned trees. If you find a set of marten tracks crossing the road find a suitable site for a cubby as close to the tracks as possible; the marten is almost sure to come back to the same location on it's next rounds. Use beaver or bird for bait; grouse, duck or maybe chicken feathers and scraps. Where you are, beaver would be my first choice if you have access to some. Any decent lure will help also, but location is key.

I have fooled around with leg holds, but much prefer coins. I use 110's as well which some people frown upon but I never had any problems and had plenty top lots when that was still a thing. This is a light set up because most all of the marten trapping i do is on skis to get away from the competition. If I'm going big I can take 20 sets, though Ill usually start with a dozen and add on previous checks. I take a 1X and cut it to 3/4" x 1 1/2". I put a coni stabilizer on the bottom and a little brass key hook on the top. Make the set and slide a 1 gallon pot over it. Lure goes on a stick and shove it in the holes at the top. Ill staple the trap to the tree usually. I filed a notch in my Nordlund hatchet so it can pull them out for retrieval when picking up. If the tree is sappy ill try to wire it out and away.

The pots stack on each other. The wood is light. 110s don't take up much room. I usually use a skunk lure and a secret concoction i got from somebody here. I like duck and grouse parts the best.

Polly Rosborough who famously trapped the Cascades for over 50 years used to hammer a couple of spikes into a tree and secure a #1 long spring with a one and half twist of thin copper wire then bait it above. That was his favorite set. The very slight twist of the wire was so that after a small struggle the marten would dislodge the trap and hang until dead.
The et is easily adjusted higher as the snow rises.

Make sure you set it up on the north-east side of the trees.

This is very interesting. Not sure how it would work with coil springs

Marten on the ground is not the way. Leaning poles, horizontal poles, that is how you do it.
I use Belisle 120's only, though I used about every other 110 and 120 made for a couple decades, before switching completely.
If yo go to the Wilderness archives, you will find information over-load on marten, and I suggest you do that.

^^^^^
I agree, but the OP seems to be set on using foothold. I was just trying to give him some advice for using foothold in heavy snow country. I never experienced vole clipped marten if I checked the traps often.
I also agree though that he would have a better experience using 120's in some sort of box, flowerpot, etc..

21 years old and need to try to save some money, I’m sure I will already be in the hole when this is all said and done due to gas prices.

I get a little snow I pretty much run all 120 flowerpot sets now but have used footholds in the past like this.

Tack a piece of lathe to the tree loose enough that a flowerpot will slip over it. I like flowerpots because you can pre bait them and stack them. I leave the lathe there at the end of the season just pulling the pot and next year's set up is even quicker.



I take a 6 inch piece of 2x4 and cut a line in both ends big enough for a set long spring, bottom portion of the sping to slid in and hold the trap.



If you plan on using coil springs take the piece of 2x4 and screw 2 3inch screws into the 2x4 to create a base for the trap to set on.

The marten will climb up and stand on the trap to work the bait. With the flowerpot over the trap the set is pretty much bomb proof no matter how much snow you get. The only thing I will caution you about is if you set on a spruce/pine tree try to do so with a ig branch that you can secure the trap to so the marten swings away from the tree when caught, helps keep pitch out of the fur.

Sounds like you might need snowshoes to keep them working. I have visions of a plowed road and somebody having to climb tall berms on the side of this road to step off off the firm berms and be wallowing in waist deep snow to get to a set.

At least that is how a plowed road in deep snow works here. Probably should cut your poles ahead of time and drag them in with you.

^^^
Good advice right there.
And get the rubber bindings that you can slip on and off quickly.
Did you ever ride the bravo with your snowshoes on Dirt?

Yes. Not very much as the brush catches the shoes. The brush catches everything including me.

Ingenious set-up, I like it. Good idea with the swivel and cable anchoring too.

After experimenting and learning over the years, we settled on 120's and flower pots. Some were on leaning poles, some on vertical trunks. Regardless, I liked attaching the chain to the end of the pole, or a big branch in such a way that the caught marten would swing out away from the tree trunk while remaining suspended above the ground. DT and HFT's sets look very efficient.

My recommendation is to space marten set’s ½ mile apart within suitable habitat. Suitable habitat being relatively dense overhead tree cover and shrubs with “coarse woody debris” (downed logs, stumps, snags, litter) which provides protective cover for both marten and their primary prey.

Super Thread

I never used anything but # zero longsprings on poles so can't help you with coil springs.

But I would NEVER make a set on the ground for marten unless you like your fur dirty and chewed up. What is your trap check time in that area ?

One other thing you might consider is snares on a horizontal pole.........especially if you can get the pole under the canopy of a couple large trees.

It’s 48 hours so they wouldn’t be laying too long.

Well you may have ti hustle to keep up with the snow in that country.

I still wouldn't set on the ground. If your critter is dead it can't defend itself against shrews or voles. Keep 'em elevated

Sounds like you might need snowshoes to keep them working. I have visions of a plowed road and somebody having to climb tall berms on the side of this road to step off off the firm berms and be wallowing in waist deep snow to get to a set.

At least that is how a plowed road in deep snow works here. Probably should cut your poles ahead of time and drag them in with you.[/quote]

Plowing a road into this area would give you the opportunity to shovel out a parking spot for your vehicle and either snowshoe or snowmachine a trail and go for it!

Good thing your young.

If for no other reason, locating your sets after a big snow is much easier. I have trapped them on the ground in 120's but I will always elevate if I can.

Good advice, all. Again, I urge you to scroll down to the Wilderness Trapping archives, and read the marten threads. You will find a treasure trove of information from experts.
And as an aside, pay attention to anything shared from Trapped4ever! He is the genuine article, and puts up more marten in a year than you are likely to encounter in a lifetime. Really.