Help With Marten

Im a new trapper in Alaska my first year have already had some success with beaver but this next week Marten opens in my area i have already scouted a are that seems to just be filled with tracks i have about 15 traps to put out thinking of all pole sets but wanted to hear other peoples thought and how far should my traps be spaced apart?

Are you in SE or interior Alaska? Whereabouts? What are you using for transportation? Using snowmachine or hiway vehicle, I always figured (loosely) that I wanted marten sets about 1/4 mile apart, but that depends largely on sign. Pole sets are encouraged. In my experience (27 years trapping in Alaska), elevated sets generally catch a higher proportion of males than ground cubbies (the females apparently don't like to climb as much as the males), so use leaning pole sets. Watch your ratios of total young marten per adult females. You approach 4:1 (or 3:1 or worse), shift locations or quit for the year, to try to "farm" your marten rather than "mine" them.

Jack

Depends on your territory and the holding capacity of marten. Depends on how your managing the trap line and how close is the next guy. Snowmobile line, foot or highway line? What is the ratio of male to female and YOY (young of the year). Many more issues to think about, because marten are easy to hurt if not careful. How close is the next trapper and are you two overlapping trap lines? Takes time to learn each line.

One of my lines is very remote through great habitat, lot's of marten, no neighbors, 100's of square miles around it, and is run on a snowmobile. I set a elevated box every 1/4 mile, and every water crossing or substantial feature I come across. I set lot's of traps, about 120 traps total for a 55 mile run, one way. Run out 55 miles and check the traps on the way back. Run this line all season, real hard, great ratios every year, never worried about over trapping them. Very few wolverine on this line, so a box now and then to protect the wolverine sets, but not very many.

Another line I run, I manage really hard, only 10 miles long, way less traps, leave big baits for them in the spring, try hard not to over trap and keep my ratio's where I want them, so I don't hurt the resource. I have nesting boxes and try to keep other predators off of them as much as I can. Not many in this area to begin with, not great habitat, other trappers nearby, only 10 miles off the road system, etc. So for this line I set 1/2 mile or further, usually just the big draws, creeks, river crossings etc. I have about 12 traps in 6 miles. I usually shut this line down early and first. I will set a marten box at some wolverine boxes or trap set, just to guard the wolverine trap. This line has lots of wolverine.

What your describing above, set all 15 traps, suspend all catches, good bait and lure, some attractor and keep a written record of the line all year. Watch your ratios and go get them! Just how I do it, doesn't mean you have to.

How much area did you scout out?

Our small marten line was located at the confluence of 2 small valleys. Sets in relatively protected areas did well while breezy or windy spots didn't. I think marten quickly traversed windy spots but actively hunted/explored calm, protected spots. Also, I would heartily recommend pole sets that suspend your catch out of reach of voles. Marten are precious, and it's a bummer having them chewed by voles. Just 2 cents from a small-line guy.

So it a acess road that leads to a gravel pit that branches off the highway in south central Alaska you can drive to a bridge but then must walk past the gate from there on I probably scouted a mile and a half mayber 2 and saw a abundance of marten and vole tracks there is a old marten box on a tree right next to the highway but I have found it not uncommon for people to just abandon them I am wary since just a couple weeks ago had a beaver taken out of a trap but believe with some well placed sets could keep my sets out of view I have never seen so many marten tracks in one area before but I found a chain attached to a tree leading me to believe that in recent history there may have been a bear bait station which would explain the spike in numbers it I have a marten lure that I picked up from Cabelas and a beaver carcass from a week ago i from my small amount of knowledge I believe I can harvest a lot of marten in this small area but with all the marten am wary of them being chewed have heard of putting to sets together to prevent this any thoughts?

It is only about a 2 mile are by a creek that I went looking for ptarmigan but all I found where marten and voles

I am in south central Alaska thanks for the ratios I have never seen thsi many in such a small area so I’m excited to see the results

Thank you so much for your feedback has made me aware of many new factors!

I have only trapped a limited number of marten in the south central area of the state and never had any issues with marten chewing or biting other marten. Voles or shrews on the other hand have chewed up a couple that were suspended off the ground a good ways.

One marten can make alot of track especially if it is on a food source, but then again I had a buddy pull 6 out of a 1/2 mile stretch. All you can do is your best The archives have alot of info on this forum. Also ATA has a meeting next Tuesday at the VFW in Eagle River @ 630pm, some very knowledgeable folks there. Also the AFTA has their meeting the following Tuesday at the VFW in Palmer at 6pm.

I rarely put in just one set for marten. Too many times, (when I did), I would catch an ermine, and find marten tracks all around.
And have taken multiple marten at one spot on the same check many times.

Gang set each location.Use big bait to attract multiple animals..Couple of marten sets,and a few snares inback for prowling lynx and fox.(and maybe sets for wolverine and wolves if there are sign present)
If you make your sets on fur funnells,routes where juvenile marten use for dispersal in late fall/early winter a few sets can produce a lot of fur.
The main dispersal routes where I trap are timbered drainages that run thru old burns or clearcuts,necks of land between lakes or the big timber along the better drained grouns along large rivers.
Also high ground eskers that run thru swampland is good too.
The main thing about all these corridors is that they connect with preferred marten habitat.Here that is older growth successional boreal forest with good overhead cover and lots of coarse woody debris on the ground.These are the areas that dispersing juvenile marten will be seeking out for a home range that will sustain them thru winter.

Could be different habitat requirements in your area,although there will be preferred habitat.

^^^^^
This.
And don't get discouraged if after setting on a bunch of tracks your sets don't produce right away.
Several years ago I snowshoed a half mile up a tight little valley that ended in a glacial cirque, there were marten tracks everywhere. I made eight sets. Three days later I checked the sets with much anticipation....nothing!! I couldn't figure it out. When I checked the sets again, three days later, I caught six marten in those eight sets. Mysterious little animal.

Marten country, lots of traps required and even more work


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I am all about the gang sets. The idea just plain works, for me.

With 2 miles and 15 traps I wouldn't worry about "farming" your marten. Put your sets out and see what you get. Several ways to decide where to set. Spaced every so often, set on sign, set where you think will work. Step off the trail/road a ways and make pole sets with footholds. Boxes, plastic jugs may be seen by others. How often will you check. Once you get a trail, car tracks, established you may find others checking the area. Did you say your limited to 2 miles? Why is that?
Good Luck.

I always set my traps 1/8 of a mile apart. What you are seeing is a lot of tracks in a small area. I would be surprised that by the time you get it set out they are still there. At least that was the way it always was for me. So I always had my trails well covered.