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So the family went out with me today to get some sets out. I started the day hoping to get 20 marten sets and some coyote snares set. However, it wasn't until noon that we were heading into the woods. I also forgot how much work it is to carry a 3 yr old, boxes, traps and bait while walking at your wife that's prego's pace. In the end I only got 7 marten sets and 2 coyote snares set, but I really enjoyed having the family there though so it was worth it. I have high expectations for my marten sets. All but 1 of them had tracks near by. The snares, let's just say I have not connected using them yet, but there are tracks everywhere.

This is going to be a great thread!

Man, your scenery is so much nicer than mine! Do people ever use buckets for marten? Seems like it'd be easier to carry in a stack of buckets than those wooden boxes.

assateague wrote:Man, your scenery is so much nicer than mine! Do people ever use buckets for marten? Seems like it'd be easier to carry in a stack of buckets than those wooden boxes.

Some folks use flower pots and some use newspaper tubes. Everything has it's positive and negatives. I would like some of this newspaper tubes, I think they would be sweet for my long haul stuff. The boxes out of plywood are rigid and have good air flow but yes they're bulky. But I get all kinds of plywood for free.

quackhead wrote:

assateague wrote:Man, your scenery is so much nicer than mine! Do people ever use buckets for marten? Seems like it'd be easier to carry in a stack of buckets than those wooden boxes.

.............................. But I get all kinds of plywood for free.

This part of your statement just got cheap Assa's attention for sure.
By the time I get over there, in a couple weeks, you should have another pile of Marten.
Check the river for ducks for me when you make your rounds too.
Are the Goldeneye in yet?

Never thought about the paper boxes- those seem like they would darn near be perfect. The sets are hollow, right? Do you only put a trap on the "downhill" side of the box, or do both ends get one?

Assa if you want free wood just go dumpster diving at a construction site. It's amazing at the shit they throw away.

I've got way more than enough of that. And I carpentered for 13 years or so- I've seen what I've thrown away

I'm shocked you didn't fill the back of your truck.

It usually was. It pained me when I just didn't have any more room for shit, and had to throw away half sheets of plywood and 16 foot 2x4s.

That is painful

assateague wrote:Never thought about the paper boxes- those seem like they would darn near be perfect. The sets are hollow, right? Do you only put a trap on the "downhill" side of the box, or do both ends get one?

Yes I only put a trap on the downhill side and I use mesh on the uphill side. If I put them on the ground I would make a double ended box. Prob is you have to check them more frequently due to mice and snow. I think the only prob with the newspaper box is they don't fit dukes very well. Bridgers are fine.
When you set a snare for yotes what size loop do you put and how high of the ground?

10" loop, 10" high to the bottom.

And use BMI locks, not SlimLoks or minis. Those suck, and will tend to loosen just a little if they get some slack in there.

assateague wrote:10" loop, 10" high to the bottom.

Thats about what i used last year. my loops tended to be more 12" (10-12" diameter and 10-12" from the ground)
I had one spot where they were sneaking under a leaning log that i couldnt set that high, put one there anyway and caught one, and ended up losing one there later on.

I caught my fox last year in a yote snare that was about 10" up. When they are in the area, both catches are not uncommon.
snaring is fun, especially when you get one with a hair up its ass and is flailing around when you show up!

I'm using dakotaline dispatch snares, they don't seem to relax

quackhead wrote:I'm using dakotaline dispatch snares, they don't seem to relax

Lucky, ours have to have the stupid deer stops on them so they can't close any more than 4.25 inches(or some stupid #).

Just read the latest Trapper Predator that showed up. They're predicting a minimum of $100 for all martens and fishers. Get more boxes out, now, quack!

assateague wrote:Just read the latest Trapper Predator that showed up. They're predicting a minimum of $100 for all martens and fishers. Get more boxes out, now, quack!

Gonna get some more out on thanksgiving. I'm hoping the 100+ averages hold up. Gotta the critters that bring 100+ and take little time to put up and you don't have to worry about scent control or well hid traps

Fleshed a blanket beaver in 15 min tonight! I'm pumped to see it getting quicker. Last one took 45 min

You put them on a board or a hoop? I don't really know much about them, when it comes right down to it.

Fleshed brown and black bears. The amount of grease that comes off them is amazing.

So what is a blanket beaver? Is it where they are cut in the oval shape?

I googled it but the urban dictionary was less than helpful.

3legged_lab wrote:So what is a blanket beaver? Is it where they are cut in the oval shape?

I googled it but the urban dictionary was less than helpful.

Chuckled

AKPirate wrote:

3legged_lab wrote:So what is a blanket beaver? Is it where they are cut in the oval shape?

I googled it but the urban dictionary was less than helpful.

Chuckled

It was educational, but not the answer I was looking for.

I do board them. A blanket beaver is just referring to the size of the beaver. Meaning big.

THANKSGIVING DAY
Well the family loaded up and headed out to check the line today. Out of the 7 marten sets we got 1 red squirrel, 1 flying squirrel and a male marten. Neither of my coyote snares connected but neither one missed either. Then we loaded up the sled and headed out to set some more traps. On the way my wife shot a grouse. We came across a deer kill that had k9 tracks all around. I deployed 2 snares and gutted my wife's grouse there. We ended up setting 5 marten boxes, all on good sign. On the way home I saw a beaver eating on the ice and ended up shooting it with the shotgun. All in all it was a good day on the line.
HAPPY TURKEY DAY ALL

Nicely done! Its always fun to get the family out in the woods like that. I remember when we were expecting our first daughter, I had her up to her knees in snow, eight months pregnant setting and checking rabbit snares. Those were good times.

flight control wrote:Nicely done! Its always fun to get the family out in the woods like that. I remember when we were expecting our first daughter, I had her up to her knees in snow, eight months pregnant setting and checking rabbit snares. Those were good times.

Did your wife ever find out about your girlfriend?

AKPirate wrote:

flight control wrote:Nicely done! Its always fun to get the family out in the woods like that. I remember when we were expecting our first daughter, I had her up to her knees in snow, eight months pregnant setting and checking rabbit snares. Those were good times.

Did your wife ever find out about your girlfriend?

We never got married. Before we knew it, we had two kids, a house to raise them in and not enough left over for a wedding. Just as well I guess, all the other couples we used to hang out with are divorced now.