Picking up brand new Belisles for marten trapping. Do you go with the 4", 5", or 6" squares??? I was thinking of going with the 160s that way if a wolverine comes past there's a better chance. Plus trap shy critters will be more willing to go into a bigger newspaper tube?

Thanks

I'd go with the 160's. I have a bunch of 220's that I use and love them. I have not had any refusals from a critter when they came to the bucket set. Might be overkill but I'm hoping one day a gulo happens to come by.

I'd go with the 120's. I don't see any point in increasing the cost of each set. You can always take the wolverine in a specific set if he's in the area.

I used some 160 bridgers in boxes this year I believe they were. I liked the looks of them. For me the refusal thing is something I have to deal with and felt that they helped. Although I still had a number of refusals. But when I put a 120 in the box after catching a marten they looked a lot smaller. I think the belise is overkill on a marten. The 160 bridger was a strong trap.

I'm okay with overkill as long as its not doing damage. I seen a pic on here this winter of a wolverine killed in one and I was sold, lol. I do know what you mean about the 160s just looking better in general. I run newspaper tubes with the 120s and 4 gal rubbermaid trash cans with the 160s, they work really good in them. I had a cat come really close this season to sticking his head in a vertical 120, if it would have been a 160 I think it would have been a different story.

I'm with FT, 120 works just fine but the 160's look a lot more open and I'm assuming would get less refusals.

I ran 150's this year and they looked good sitting in a box.

you want marten trap go with 120 for fast strike and no damage on back hair fur. I'm use LDL 120 mag and i'm enjoy of this cadillac trap

X2 what Fergus said.

120s all the way for marten. Savageus are the best 120s made.

My marten like 120's. It seems the 160 would hit too hard for a marten. I had several with broken necks with the 120's. I wish I could claim to want to be fast and light, but I'm using newspaper rolls. Keep eyeing those flower pots though. Anyone got a lowdown on flower pots that fit the 120's? I just like the newpaper rolls.

Haven't tried it but wondering about plastic sap buckets.They are tapered.

http://www.embeeplastics.com/sapiteminfo.html

This is what I am talking about

OOoooohhh, those look nifty... Thanks Frogman.

any idea of cost? I've also been using tubes and its been really hard to top!

The Bridger 120's and 155's work great for me with Marten and Fisher but we don't have the Gulo's to deal with.

My trap of choice for marten is a 120 LDL with a pan trigger. Makes a better opening for those trap shy marten. The larger traps like a 160 do not selective position the animal for the best kill strike. Many times only making a chest catch. Also a marten can go in and out of a 160 bypassing the triggers with the extra space.

Like others I would suggest a separate set for wolverine. Our better wolverine trappers here have best success with a 280.

I also prefer a 120 mag trap with a pan trigger. When set in the box about 4" in front of the bait the marten is standing on the trigger when it fires resulting in a perfect humane catch virtually every time.

So,I have caught maybe a couple thousand marten, but have never used any of the recommended traps above. However, I agree with every trap recommendation above and any future recommendations in this thread.

Just cause some people haven't caught as many marten doesn't make them "dumber than dirt"......lol

I agree nobody is "dumber than dirt". Just saying that makes me feel better about my progress today.

While you're in such an agreeable mood, would you agree to tell us what trap(s) did you use to catch those thousands of marten in?