Dont use coni holders much, but the lid from a tin can nailed to a tree, then bent up into a V works great, and their cheap. With the marten traps we have to use there is no need for a holder.... just bend both springs up and the trap is solid in the box, even in an inverted position.

I got about 10 more coffee cans yesterday, gonna make some more Folger Boxes tonight after work. I dried moose hide leggings as a lure holder. 1" wide strips X 6" long and drilled a hole on one corner. Gonna use a 1 foot long piece of wire to hang to a limb by set, but where marten can't get it. Jus smear lure onto the hair side of hide. Should work jus fine, bag up at end of year and reuse next year.

Finally, I have the first half of my marten line out. Fresh snow last night and was able to cut quite a few sets of tracks. Sure don't know what to expect as this being my first season. I'm sure the learning curve is going to be steep.
Here is a pic of my pack loaded and one of my sets. The beer is in tribute to all the info I have gathered on here!
[img:left][/img]
[img:left][/img]

Oh man do you have to use those boxes ? Can you leave them at the end of the season or do you have to pick them up ?

If you have tracks you'll have marten. The learmimg curve on marten is almost a flat line.

That is a good set up with the box vertical with the opening down.bend your trigger wires in L shape with one leg of L parallel to tree trunk.In the field tests conducted in north eastern ontario by 28 local trappers over 2 years in the 80's the vertical box opening down caught the most marten(even more than box on ground).You will also catch all the weasels with that configuration and if you use screen on top of box whiskeyjacks will feed off the top and wont get caught and attract fur.

What do you mean on "Flat-line"?

Boco, I like seeing the reference to whiskeyjacks, when I moved up here nobody knew what I was talking about. They are camp robbers up here.

White- we don't have to use them at all. I just figured they would work better at forcing the marten through my trap and keep the snow from burying them. Im trying to get my hands on some newspaper boxes to cut weight and bulk.

Boco- thanks for the info. Never knew what you all meant by whiskeyjacks, they are referred to as camprobbers here in Montana. They shouldn't be a problem where i'm trapping though. No screen on top, just solid plywood.

Can't you use foothold traps ? Much less to carry

Have any of you used snares much for marten? I was thinking of getting a few to use and see how they work to lighten my load. And, what are the thoughts on mini-rams or stingers??

I did that for a short while. The damage is not worth it.

Boxes work well here(registered lines).Once you get them set out they are very efficient.When opening your line for the year,you just carry bait and traps(some guys leave their traps out also and spray them with pam cooking oil at end of year)and set up is real quick.Some maitenance is needed but is very minimal.Stay away from plywood as rodents like the glue,and cut your bait wire when closing down to drop bait on ground or bears may wreck box in spring.If you have to pick everything up and reset every season boxes are probably not the best choice.Like White said stay away from snares for marten.

Official names Gray Jay, Canada Jay, or Whiskey Jack. We hunted with an older native fellow when we were in our 20's. He was so confused as to what to call them, that he called them "blue jack whiskeys". I have always called them Whiskey Jacks also. Camp robber is also a common term here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_Jay

Lot of boxes for back packing there Brent. Wish you luck with your marten trapping and hope you post some pictures of your success.

Yes sometimes critters dine on the plywood boxes:

Well, thank you for the input on snares. I will stay clear of using them for marten.

White- i can use footholds, but am worried about the snow here. Unfortunately I can't check my line everyday due to class. I may try some legholds over break. Any recommendations on size and placement? PM if you want.

Boco- I won't be leaving these out after the season. The bears will have a party with them. I may try to get some newspaper boxes and test leaving one or two out to see how they hold up against the critters.

Ron- I couldn't agree more. I can only run 6 boxes out at a time. I'm sure I will have things dialed in by the end of this season. Need to figure out what is working and what isn't.

A #zero long spring or a #1 jump on a leaning pole will work a long time. My check times run from 4-8 days depending on weather. Use a small pole that won't hold a lot of snow.

Check in the archives here for photos of different sets.

Well guys, just got back from checking my line. Had marten tracks within 30 yards north and south of one of my sets. Not sure what to make of that. Maybe more gusto will help?? I loaded it up more anyways. Also had tracks within about 40 yards of another set.Neither set of tracks came to my set though. Wondering if the subzero temps here are making it hard to pinpoint.

Gusto works. Don't lose faith. Perhaps the wind was blowing the "other" way. Don't rely on a single set. As a trapper I HIGHLY respect once said, "If your going to make a set, why not four?".
Without permission, I can't say who, but trust me, it is the real deal.

Brent,what are you using for bait?Here we have very good results with a good size chunk of beaver meat.When you seen the marten tracks what was the marten doing? Was he zig zagging(hunting) or travelling in a strait line?

The temperature couldn't have been low enough to suppress the Gusto if the marten was out & about. The wind was just wrong for where he was relative to the trap.