It has been a slow freeze up and barely any snow. Pretty rough going any distance. We are finally getting the cold which is good. Hopefully we get some snow before too long. Made some sets closer to home and caught this light colored marten where a wolverine had passed by. My dad was along which was a bonus. He taught me how to trap and we trapped together in MN from the time I was ten until I got my license.
My wife set some snares and one trap and connected as well.
Was also able to take my dad spearing pike
and then my dad and two older daughters. They each got one. The older speared last year as well, but this was the second's first time.
and my wife was able to spear for the first time as well.
That is a pretty looking marten! Love the color! Looks like the wife might out do you trapping if she keeps catching like that! Glad to see you spending time with the family in the great outdoors! Thanks for sharing!
Conditions have been tough for traveling and getting out as much gear as I would like to or at least that is my excuse for why my wife is out-trapping me.
I caught a muskrat and a kit beaver. . .
while my wife caught these two beauties.
These are her first snare catches. She is also being much more cost effective on her line as she is never more than 2 miles from the house. I might have to rethink my strategy.
With all those Pike you can make fish ice cream, another food to use seal oil with !!. Did that last fox get caught around the body? Making the best of tough conditions, pats on the back for everyone!!
I have had some pretty good fish ice cream, but never with seal oil in it (that I know of). Yeah the fox got one and a half arms through. It is a little curious though. She has some very fresh bit marks on her back legs. I wonder if she wasn't running when she hit the snare.
Yeah the fox got one and a half arms through. It is a little curious though.
Might consider decreasing loop size or raising the loop height above ground. 8 in. loop. 8 in. above ground caught me a lot of fox when I lived in Nome.
Up to 8" above ground but keep loop size at 7". You miss the odd one but rather miss a few than hip catch. They get caught in the next snare or come back most times. Started doing that years ago and hip catches went to nil. There is a bit of an art too to put the snare right where their head will go. Expect you know what I am talking about. Really can not explain it.
Really good what you guys are up to especially having a Mrs. that is interested like that.
Well for her first time she is doing one heck of a job getting them! I wouldnt change anything, stuff happens. Now if it becomes a constant problem then an adjustment is warranted. I am hoping she gets a bunch more!
While the wife has caught three, I finally got my first.
Caught in a snare attached to a drag.
Put a trap on a drag on a side trail that the wolves used last time they came through and added a little bit of glands left over from last years wolves.
When I was pulling up, the wolf dropped down and curled up. I just caught a glimpse of it before I stopped the machine. It was completely still and quiet as I walked up. I noticed it was fairly small and even considered that it may be a coyote (very rare where I am). It had to be persuaded to even stand up. I think it thought I couldn't see it. Small 50lb female. Good long fur though!
Life has been really busy lately except out on the trapline. I am still hoping to get the rest of the line set up one of these days, but the way its going it will have to wait for Christmas "break." I had a few snares set for lynx but only two traps. I added two more today before I ran out of time. One of the places I had in mind that I set up last year had a lynx trotting off into the bush as I pulled up. I ran up the bank on a lake gun in hand and even followed his track for a ways. Not really sure what happened, but somehow I got the fresh track mixed up with an older set and gave up. It was pretty dark and thick in there anyway.
Picked up the first mink of the season. Up to this point I have only caught one of each species in the fur shed.
I told my wife if I get one of every furbearer species in our area with out catching two of any species, I will call that good and be done for the season. Well, we picked up two more marten so I guess I have to finish out the season.
It is interesting that the two lynx cubbies I had out both connected on marten. Catching them on the ground this year.
Good deal on the critters! Love seeing the youngsters out with you! Reminds me of when my daughter ran my line with me. Hope you connect with that lynx!
Some catches from the past couple checks. My wife is slaying the foxes this year. #4 for her!
Finally got enough lynx sets out to finally connect with one.
Marten #4
We finally got some snow. It was about a foot and I was thinking that is perfect for snaring to take off and then it warmed up to 35 above and rain. The snow is all dense and wet. Traps will have to be uncovered and snares deiced. I think when it freezes up it there will be a good crust. Lynx will easily be able to stay on top maybe even wolves. Here are some mitts my wife just finished up for herself.
That girl is on a roll!! Catching fur and making mitts! You got a keeper! Good deal on the catches! Yeah this weather is something else this year. Bites that you got rain that is a serious pain in the butt with snares. Hope things settle down and you connect with some more fur! You still got wolf gear out?
Yeah, the wolves haven't been to their normal haunts much this year. I may have to ride around and find them or they may just be on a kill and not made it back yet. I still am working on breaking trails open just to be where I was last year and have dreams about extending.
One of my first runs this year I put out a few snares in a ridge of trees that I had never seen wolves run until this year. It paid off with this 88lb male! This is the first wolf sign on the line since I caught the first one. I was wondering when and where they would show up again. There is at least two more running the area after I caught this once. They seemed lost as they followed my trail all over the place. Taking my turn arounds and really checking out my marten poles (coming within inches of one).
Fortunately, they didn't mess with the one marten I caught as one passed a few feet from it.
I have never had a wolf follow my trail that closely. It seemed unguided. I am guessing a pup. It took my turn offs and then would return to the main trail. If it wanders back I put out a few more snares and a trap.
Been really busy with a lot of stuff and when I made it to the trapline everything was either snowed over and drifted in or froze from the rain. I know I am not the only one that had to deal with that. Here is what has been going on otherwise:
A lot of moose on the trail. They don't like the deep snow either especially with the frozen crust of ice about an inch thick under 6 inches of powder. I had two standoffs. One lasted a 1/2 hour as she blocked my portage. Another was a cow with a calf. After about 10 minutes the calf ran off the trail and the cow followed.
Had a lot of misses with buried traps not grabbing good enough, sets completely buried with fresh tracks walking by, and froze down traps with bait taken.
Saw some blood in the trail with a bunch of moose tracks. Looked all over the area but no wolf tracks. Bled along the trail for 100 yards and then wandered into the willows. Not a lot but noticeable. Wonder what caused it???
A problem I hear many of you talking about is having catches stolen by wolverine. I have never had that happen and don't see much wolverine sign on any given year and have never caught one. Well there is a first for everything. Wolverine stole my marten.
And now for the catches!
My wife's fox line has died down. Must only be smart ones left. She did get a marten in her only marten set.
That blood looks like what drips from a bull moose's head when it's antlers fall off, back track it to find the antlers. Have done that many times. Especially when it is beside the tracks on undisturbed snow, and not in them, like it fell off the side of it's head, and not from an injury to the leg.
Yeah I think the weather bit everyone! Good deal on getting some fur! Hope you connect with the wolverine! Agree with FL cracker, if you back track from where that moose came from you should find a shed or both. You did the right thing waiting those moose out on the trail. Good karma
The second oldest and I went out and enjoyed some nice weather on the line. It was right around zero with no wind. A good day to have a tag-a-long. Fortunately, there was a little action as well.
Right off the bat we ran into fresh wolverine tracks about 200 feet from a bait pile. However, they were going the wrong way. The wind must have not been right because he didn't mill around the area much. Just as well though otherwise he probably would have eaten the marten that was waiting for us.
There is a nice little ridge that the lynx always work that has willows on one side and spruce on the other. The small section of spruce is full of squirrels and I have had a marten pole there for a while, but never caught one there until this check.
After running the line we back tracked and worked on getting some firewood.
That blood looks like what drips from a bull moose's head when it's antlers fall off, back track it to find the antlers. Have done that many times. Especially when it is beside the tracks on undisturbed snow, and not in them, like it fell off the side of it's head, and not from an injury to the leg.
Fisch Watch out for those squirrels they love to line their nests with marten fur
I suppose if I was a squirrel and could safely have a nest of marten fur, I would too.
Originally Posted by HFT AK
Good deal on the fur and getting to spend time with your youngster! Hopefully the wolverine will eventually make a mistake in your favor!
I think so too. It is just a matter of how long. . .
I went down the willow line where I found the moose blood but didn't see anything. The other place where the blood was was just to thick and we had gotten more snow. I guess I will know for next time. Thanks!
One marten last check. Caught it at a makeshift pole set not one of my permanent ones. It is located in the bar willows right before I hit the river at one place.
Good deal on getting some fur! Better then getting skunk that is for sure! Any more sign of that wolverine or the wolves in your area?
Wolves are super sporadic and I can't figure them out. I guess another guy moved in pretty close to where I have sets. I guess he found a moose kill and got one wolf off of it. Lat wolverine tracks bypassed one of my bait sites and that was it.
Originally Posted by martentrapper
You seem to get an above average back foot catch on your marten.
Seems to be about 50/50. I don't know. Is there a way to target one foot over another?
Last time I was out the weather was nice and normal. Since then we had an 80 degree shift from 30 above to 50 below. Hopefully it stays below zero for awhile.
Picked up a BIG buck mink in a 220. Only the second one this season. I'm not sure where all the otter and mink went. I saw a fair amount of sign back in early November, but not since then.
Picked up a fox on the river in a wolf trap set in my snow machine trail.
I put in a new lynx set last year and got 2 out of the deal. It is on the edge of a lake and the set gets drifted in super easy, but when conditions are right it is productive. After two misses and catching two bunnies I finally got what I was after.
Good deal! That is a pretty colored kitty! I love those dark colored reds Nice mink as well! I have only caught one this year and only seen 2 sets of track. On a normal year I avg between 8 and 12 they just aint around this year. Hope the weather holds for you and you have more tight chains!
Can you move the Lake set farther off the lake? Add some flagging to catch their attention. Get it a little more out of the wind, or make a second set somewhat off the lake as a backup?
Well its been pretty rough going on and off the line. First it was blowing snow that buried traps or made them ineffective. Then the whole family got sick. Finally had a good run though!
I came home empty handed two checks in a row other than three ptarmigan on one trip. I couldn't decide if it was a bad day or a good day when the following happened. . .
lynx tracks going by, but the trap is drifted in. Bait is gone.
wolverine came by my bait site and made himself at home. He set off the trap, but it didn't grab him at all as it was still in the trap bed.
he even made a nice snow tunnel next to the bait and spent some time in there. I have seen marten and weasels do this several times, but first time seeing a wolverine do it.
missed another lynx do to a buried trap. If a lynx had a foot like an ax instead of a snowshoe, I would have had him.
set a fox trap in my trail near a marten pole he had been checking out. I guess a 1 1/2 long spring isn't big enough to get but a couple hairs off a wolverine.
Third check didn't have nearly the critter movement, but what I did catch made up for the lack of sign and previous skunks.
The particular set is on the edge of a lake and as I mentioned before it can be difficult to keep it working because of blowing snow. I had caught a lynx here earlier this season, but I could see from a distance something dark bouncing around. I got my .22 ready before I got close in case things headed south. I didn't want to lose the wolverine. Especially it being my first! I flew up to the set. My eyes were watering, but I don't know if it was from the wind and cold in my face or the adrenaline steadily increasing in my bloodstream. After confirming a good catch I proceeded to admire the animal and take some pictures. This wolverine was not very photogenic and just would not hold still.
Beautiful female.
Wolverine was the only furbearer I had yet to catch it our area. I was finally able to cross it off this season. After coming close the last two seasons and only seeing tracks once or twice the whole winter I am excited to have one in the bag and headed for the wall. I am pretty sure there were two sets of tracks out on the line. So who knows?
What an exciting catch! Congratulations on your wolverine.
That other check on your line with all the near misses will sure get your blood going and either make you determined to keep at it or to just throw the towel in.
Well its been pretty rough going on and off the line. First it was blowing snow that buried traps or made them ineffective. Then the whole family got sick. Finally had a good run though!
I came home empty handed two checks in a row other than three ptarmigan on one trip. I couldn't decide if it was a bad day or a good day when the following happened. . .
lynx tracks going by, but the trap is drifted in. Bait is gone.
wolverine came by my bait site and made himself at home. He set off the trap, but it didn't grab him at all as it was still in the trap bed.
he even made a nice snow tunnel next to the bait and spent some time in there. I have seen marten and weasels do this several times, but first time seeing a wolverine do it.
missed another lynx do to a buried trap. If a lynx had a foot like an ax instead of a snowshoe, I would have had him.
set a fox trap in my trail near a marten pole he had been checking out. I guess a 1 1/2 long spring isn't big enough to get but a couple hairs off a wolverine.
Third check didn't have nearly the critter movement, but what I did catch made up for the lack of sign and previous skunks.
The particular set is on the edge of a lake and as I mentioned before it can be difficult to keep it working because of blowing snow. I had caught a lynx here earlier this season, but I could see from a distance something dark bouncing around. I got my .22 ready before I got close in case things headed south. I didn't want to lose the wolverine. Especially it being my first! I flew up to the set. My eyes were watering, but I don't know if it was from the wind and cold in my face or the adrenaline steadily increasing in my bloodstream. After confirming a good catch I proceeded to admire the animal and take some pictures. This wolverine was not very photogenic and just would not hold still.
Beautiful female.
Wolverine was the only furbearer I had yet to catch it our area. I was finally able to cross it off this season. After coming close the last two seasons and only seeing tracks once or twice the whole winter I am excited to have one in the bag and headed for the wall. I am pretty sure there were two sets of tracks out on the line. So who knows?
Why is the front foot bloody and appears torn up? Ruffs on your and the wifes parka and maybe a kid or 2 would make for acceptable bragging!! Congrats.
Why is the front foot bloody and appears torn up? Ruffs on your and the wifes parka and maybe a kid or 2 would make for acceptable bragging!! Congrats.
Not sure. She had not been biting the trap or chewing on her toes, but she did have little red snowballs of blood on three of her feet. No foot damage of any kind.
After how many years not catching a wolverine and then scoring two within a week!
Male caught about 800 yards from the last one. A bit bigger and he has three white toes. Had a duke #3 on the front and a bridger #3 on the rear.
Next I caught a lynx in a set where I had missed one earlier this year due to a buried trap.
Topped off the day with a red caught perfectly around the neck in a wolf snare. He had ducked under it twice already. So I put a fox snare about twenty feet away, but he didn't make it that far this time.
Here is the throat/chest patch on the first wolverine. I think it is so cool!
That is totally awesome!! Happy for you! That joker wasnt going anyplace Good looking kitty and red! Hope you connect with a few more kitties and the wolves come back through!
Not a lot of action on the line, but did end up getting a lynx and one weasel. Nice to have the sun shining even if it is cold out.
Had lynx tracks in the yard a couple times so I put out a trap. That night it came by and ate the bait and left the bone, but I missed. I told the wife she should reset it and make another set as well. She did and didn't get it the first night, but 3 in the afternoon the next day it came by and got caught!
Good deal on the fur! I wish it were cold here! Our snow is deep and wet, not fun stuff right now. Congrats to the wife on getting her first lynx! I think your keeping her tied up at the house so she dont get more then you She did pretty good this year! Hope the weather holds for you and you get some more tight chains!
Good deal on the fur! I wish it were cold here! Our snow is deep and wet, not fun stuff right now. Congrats to the wife on getting her first lynx! I think your keeping her tied up at the house so she dont get more then you She did pretty good this year! Hope the weather holds for you and you get some more tight chains!
Shhh! don't give her any ideas! I think she did quite well with what she had to work with and when the younger ones get a bit older I plan to have her spend more time on the longer line.
Originally Posted by smalltimetrapper
Nice when they come to you!
I suppose, but I sure wouldn't want a pack wolves being that comfortable around the house.
Shut down all of my line yesterday. I had snapped most of my marten sets a while ago, but one of the two I had still set nabbed a weasel. We had a warm few days and there was a good number of fresh marten tracks. I also came across a fresh set of wolverine tracks and then there was some lynx tracks that were just a day or two old. Nice to see there are still plenty around. I still can't figure out what happened to the otter and mink this year.
A little over a week ago I set up a 4 miles section in another area. Last year I pulled a real nice male wolf out of the same area. I have some wolf snares, wolf traps, and a few sets for wolverine in the spot. I got this 76lb female yesterday.
To go from a weasel to a wolf, smallest to biggest! Quite the contast!
Put out a few beaver sets until the weather starts warming up some more and the geese come back. It was -35 this morning! Anyway, I was slow to make any beaver sets as we got some real cold last fall before we got any snow and therefore more ice. Well, I chose three houses that had big snow drifts and although I had to dig through four feet of snow there was only an inch of ice. I will take four feet of snow over three feet of ice any day when it comes to beaver trapping. Nabbed one so far.
The caribou are further away this year, but my wife's parents came to visit and watched the kids for a day and a half so the wife and I took off. The first forty miles were smooth sailing. The next 120 miles were pretty rough with the drifts. The bou were 100 miles away, but we found them and put two on the ground. and headed back to a shelter cabin for the night. It was a 165 miles day. The wife did awesome and was up more making us a hot meal 10:30 at night when we got to the cabin. We slept in the next morning.
Going through the pass.
Got the caribou loaded up.
The cabin we stayed in.
Made it home by 2pm on day two for a total of 201 miles.
Good deal on the beaver! I would have to agree on it being easier shoveling snow then chopping through the ice Hope you connect with a few more! Awesome on the bou! Sounds like the whole family will have some full bellies
Did you have bait wired to the triggers or were they set in a run? Either way that bites! I never caught anything under ice beaver trapping, not from a lack of trying but probably a lack of experience on my part. Your determined so I know you will connect with a few more! Any luck with the wolves?
Bait was wired to the jaw. Tried it for the first time last year and I caught four that way. No wolf sign lately. Might pull the wolf snares sooner than later.
Didn't you go through the Hot Springs trail? I don't recognise that cabin, is that at the hot springs? Congrats on the bou. Not quite as good eating as the fall ones but still good.
Pretty awesome, Brandon.......and wife. With all the duties you have I think you did very well. Did you sell everything you wanted to here at the ATA auction? Hope it went well! Your wife needs her own snogo if she doesn't have one already!!!