I set a few cubbies on some fresh (3 day old) tracks.
How long before they usually come back by there?? on one set, I found where the lynx had bedded down, will they tend to do that in the same area??

If there are plenty of rabbits around, they might not go far. Of course they may not be too hungry either. Have some lure.
If rabbits are scarce they can do some travelling. Can't really predict what kind of time frame they might come back on.
mt

I did the area up good, I hung about 4 or 5 duck wings around, use rimrock for call, and I have a big hunk of beaver and a rabbit in the cubby. and a 750 wolf OS.

I'm having similar problems. Wayy too many rabbits. I also have some competition. I have a guy setting within a mile of my area.

I'll going all out this next check with ribbon, wings, lure, more beaver. I might even through in a extra trap or two.

I'll bet that if you order some of those, they'll draw the cats to your sets.

what are you using for lure??
I was thinking of getting some catnip at the store and putting that around..

Sometimes they just won't come to a cubby no matter what's in there. Hanging a few snares where they are in the first place will probably be more productive than looking for that perfect lure. But post it here if you DO find that lure....

Setting a trap about 4' in front of your cubby will get those cats that just peek in and don't commit.

I was just using that Marten Super All Call. I didn't want too much attention paid to it as we had high traffic with the K300 last weekend.

king and buseer put a WHOOPin on those others eh,
anyways, maybe I will put out some magnum marten there

the lure I was using Rimrock, is basically castor and catnip.

Do you have to set "on top" of their tracks, or in the area??
My last set is at a funnel, and there are 3 sets crossing there, BUT, it is also where the trail cuts through, so I set of about 50 yds, "downstream" of there because of the traffic.

I caught my lynx this year in a cubby baited with a rabbit and tainted beef scraps, used the Powder River Cat Call for lure, a grouse wing swingin' in the breeze. I heard that Dean Wilson used PRCC for canines as well, I haven't tried that application yet. I used Bridger #3's, seems to be a good trap for this.

Yah, they sure did. King has this race wired and it seems to be a good one to get because of the prize money $20000.

I put my cubbies in areas that the cats have been seen in the past.

I use Asa Lenon's Bobcat Allcall... With #4 DLS and MB 750 wolfer's... Steve loaned me a few duck wings this year and I used them! I caught a 25 lbs Tom this year in a walk through cubby, 2 weeks later I had a similar sized cat walk up to the cubby and turned and left... I don't know why. Hopefully next week I'll have him!

Lynx tracks on my trail...


My lynx set up, #4 DLS on 10 foot of chain with MB Crunch Proof swivels...


Walk through cubby, baited with a bunny...


- Clint

I like to use duck or spruce hen for bait in my cat sets. I use bridger #3s mostly.

Clint, your cats made it to my end of the road this week. lol

Loel,

Did you pick up an cats this weekend?

A lot can happen in 2 weeks... Hope you catch 'em before we do though, sounds like you're having a slow year so far!

- Clint

I've had my share of experience with picky cats. I found 2 thingsd that helped.
I quit making cubbies, sort of, and started making a big obvious dirt hole with some sticks, and spruce boughs as guiding. Make this set under a well furred spruce for weather protection. Bait, lure and sight attractor. The cats seemed more likely to approach to where they stepped on the trap. I put the bait on the ground, in the hole, which means the shrews/voles would be eating it, but vole activity at a set isn't all bad.
The other thing I did was walk, or snowshoe, off my snogo trail to the tree where the snowhole was made. Even in little snow, you can make an obvious trail. Hang snares on that trail. Sometimes I did one, sometimes 2. it appeard that from whatever direction the lynx approached my set, he would end up walking on my trail. If he didn't enjoy the pleasures of the bait and trap, me often ended up in the snare.
Of course, you have to consider weather, snow, wind, etc. when making these sets.
There's one other set that was a 100% catch rate set for me. Make a snowhole on an incline, like the side of a beaver house. Set your trap so he has to step up onto it to peer into the hole. I think the curiosity factor, to see what is in the hole(that he probably already smelled) always did him in.
mt

Ted, no I didn't connect on any. I missed one twice with snares. The extra 10" of snow since last week didn't help on that one. The other came in to a cubby and circled it and left. Another came in on another cubby and ate my duck. The snow that fell off of the tree covered the trap. The cat even layed on top of the trap and ate the duck. Go figure.

Clint it has been real slow year. Not my best year by any means. I am spending more time resetting then exploring this year.

MT, I have been playing with a snow hole set this year. I put about a baseball sized hole in the snow bank on the side of my trail. I put bait and lure in the hole and put a #3 in front of it. Now all I need is some cats to walk by. lol

Rather than post twice, I'd appreciate it if you cat guys would critique some of my cubbies posted at:
http://www.trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=56031&page=0#Post56031

While targeting bobcats, I think your conditions are more similar to mine than most of the lower 48. Comments would be appreciated.

Your sets look fine. Alway remember 2 things. Cats hunt by sight and they don't like anything around their head. Make sure they will not tough any sticks or bush with their wiskers.

I am having the same problem with cats going by sets. I think MT idea of dirt holes and snares is best. I am setting snares in the trail where it narrows down. I will hang the snare and set a branch in the trail to block the other side funneling them into the snare. This works very well for me.

mmwb I think you could make your cubby's a little taller, maybe 5 feet tall, to give your cats a little more room... Mine were 4 feet when we started trapping this year, but they're pretty spacious now after the wind storm!

Also I hang my bait on the ceiling of the cubby and place the trap near the entrance with guide sticks and slightly snow covered.... Steve places his #3 DLS pretty much out in the open inside the cubby and does well! I don't think the #3's do well covered and I know they won't work when drifted over. Thats why I went with bigger traps...

Lure, lure, lure... I lure everytime I check and smile when I smell a cubby way before I see it! I also snare off my back trail, and the lynx do walk my trail as you can see in the pics above! Although I've only caught 1 Lynx this year, I am convinced that if a cat walks down my ridge he will be there when I check.....

Steve used to make sets under a spruce tree with wings hanging from a branch and bait wired to a tree. He had cats that would walk all around those sets and didn't connect until he tried the cubby set! I do a few different style cubby's, one that is a walk through. One that is a traditional style cubby and one that is butted up to a big spruce useing the over hanging branches as a roof and simply fencing off the sides about 5 feet away from the tree. This set tends to look more natural and I am excited to find out which one connects more often as I have all 3 on my line.....

If you can use foot traps I think you would have better success, with the trails snared off for good measure. Just my $.02!

- Clint

I never realized Clint that the cubbies had to be that big. I might have to call [I'madork] Proenneke and get some cabin making hints. I made mine big enough that the cat's whiskers wouldn't touch the sides, but not nearly that big. I might have to make my next one a little bit bigger. I'm pretty anxious to check tomorrow.

5ft tall, but how wide????
I try to make em around 15 in wide at the base. I like to use an alder that is forked and use it for the opening, which is about waste high...I might even get pictures developed thisweekend.

Lynx cubby should be big enough that a lynx can turn around in it. Dusty gave the best piece of advice, put your foothold way out front, anyone who traps lynx can relate to lynx approaching only so far without committing. Also lure up front of cubby as well as bait and lure back portion. Doesn't hurt to hang a few snares on the sides or back of cubbies either. When rabbits are plentiful and you know where lynx are hunting them put your snares right on the runs. The height of the snare allows a rabbit to run under but will catch a cat. You have to put out lots of snares though if you want big numbers.

I would not overlook martentrappers comments. A general rule is lynx become less interested in cubbies as the season progresses. I get way more walkby's in mid to late January than I do in December. Modified dirtholes, snares, and pee post's seem a little more effective late season. Make a visual mess (dig down into the dirt and spread it around), try something different to get their attention. Dusty is right too with bringing the trap out from the cubby, that can never hurt as long as you do not have rabbits everywhere. That still does not help with walk-bys though, you know, the ones where the lynx does not even stop.

Here is a pic of some trapped and snared lynx from earlier in the season.




It is all part of trapping.

GREAT photo Guloboy, where in AK are you at?

Different strokes for different folks I guess! Looks like guloboy has the lynx thing down this year.....

- Clint

guloboy,

WOW!!! Whats that 8-9 Lynx? One check? What part of the State you trapping in? If I had to guess your trapping Dillingham/Bristol Bay area. Also like the Wolverine pics on the 330 Bucket thread.

AT

I think there was 12 there (8 in front, 4 in back on the right hand side), It was 2 1/2 weeks (3 checks) worth. I just let them freeze for a week or two hanging like that to kill the fleas. I don't mess with raid and stuff like like.

Lynx are not all that common in the Dillingham/Bristol Bay area.
I'm trapping the Copper River Basin area.

Dream a little dreammmm of meeeeee (LOL) Nice lynx!!! I was wondering if you guys up there ever used snow pads? It is a product made to go under and over a trap to keep it from freezing down. I have a large inventory of them. To Alaskacajun,...I saw a picture of your DLS. Do you NOT laminate your trap jaws???

Picked up some MB 650s for use on the cats, and they look smaller than my #3s I used. Hope they fire thru snow better, anyone have experience w/them? Also going to use the MB 750 for Lynx, but the beaver addition, NOT the wolfers.

I REALLY recommend the one handed setter for these if you have the old style. WAY easier!!!

victoria I think you will find that very few modifications happen to traps up here especailly things that add WEIGHT. Weight = $$$ lots and lots of $$$ sometimes. I have several hundred traps and the only laminated jaws among them are the ones that came that way some wolf traps.

Arctic trapper the lynx pop in Bristol Bay is very poor for the most part especailly when compared to elsewhere in the state. I have trapped 2 in 25 yrs and haven't seen a lynx track in something like 7 or 8 yrs. I have a friend who has grown up trapping here is about 45 yrs old and he has only ever gotten one and he shot it.

Here in the states, most of us modify our traps. Ask any real big fur trapper and I bet most would answer yes. Laminated jaws are a big part of that as they displace the power and add to the holding. However I've seen Wolves held in 1 and a half long springs, same with arctic fox,.... but that's a trap I'd use for muskrats. Personally I own over 700 traps and all my foot traps are laminated, even little # 1's. So to each their own I guess.

Awright just for clarification's sake I'll state for the record that the reason behind my large cubby size is the amount of snow we get up North. By the time we are pulling sets we have to crawl on our belly's to unhook the trap!

Here's one of mine that "was" pretty big when we started, but seems to be just about right, now!


Here's another one on my line....


Here's one of Steve's "rabbit" cubby's...


Here's Steve with a double, Ermine and Rabbit, you go Steve!


One rabbit stew comin' right up...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcxKIJTb3Hg
Run Away.........

These are my boys, they were wore out after a long day on the road and walking the line!


This is what it's all about right here!


Victoria Vixen, I barely rust 'em much less laminate 'em.... I pretty much set my traps off and reset every check as they tend to get blown over several inches each week anyway! My MB 750's are laminated from Minnesota Trapline Products...

Alaskan Steve has a few MB 650's and loves them! But I LOVE the 750's more!

- Clint

Thanks Clint, nice to see how others do it. Keep up the good work! I have trapped in Arctic conditions (mostly in northern Manitoba). They didn't do anything special to their traps either. They never even heard of dying or waxing traps. When I brought out my traps they just looked at me funny like I was from another planet. Down here (lower 48) they have the BMP's. They tell us a trap should have this or that...Canada's doing the same thing on their traps(who knows?). Anyway, nice to hear from you guys up north. Keep catchin' the GOOD stuff!

Thanks Clint, nice to see how others do it. Keep up the good work! I have trapped in Arctic conditions (mostly in northern Manitoba). They didn't do anything special to their traps either. They never even heard of dying or waxing traps. When I brought out my traps they just looked at me funny like I was from another planet. Downhere (lower 48) they have the BMP's. They tell us a trap should have this or that...Canada,s doing the same thing on their traps. (who knows?)Anyway, nice to hear from you guys up north. Keep catchin' the GOOD stuff!

Laminations slow traps down and freeze in. The only trap I run that NEEDS laminated is the Manning #9. It breaks more legs than I would like even with the laminated jaws, but it doesn't freeze in very often.

The only way thicker jaws hold better is by not breaking legs.

I'd sure like to see a picture of a wolf in a 1 1/2....

Hi Corey!

I think laminated is great. Less tearing of the skin. Less likely to break bones. I can see it might freeze in a little more.
Hard to debate whether traps NEED laminating. Probably they don't in most cases. It's a matter of preferance.

I suppose then, the trick is to learn how to keep traps from freezing down. I learned long ago from the Inuit people just how that's done in snow conditions that exceed minus 60F (Check out Re: HELP!!DONT KNOW HOW TO TRAP IN SNOW! in the Land Trapping Archive). I used the Manning #9 back before it was called the Alaskan #9. I found the jaws way too thin for my personal taste. It reminds me of the Victor #2 square jaw... too thin jaws that damage feet and legs of your target. Personally I laminated every foot trap I owned. Ask Craig O'Gorman, probably one if not the best coyote trappers in the lower 48, his view on laminating jaws. He stated he didn't have time for anybody who wouldn't do it. That speaks volumes to me. I can personally say I have never toed or footed an animal in my adult life (after modifying all my foot traps). That's over 10,000 fur bearers (red and grey fox, coyote, wolves, Arctic fox, beaver, otter, mink, badger, skunk, civet cat, possum, raccoon, and bobcat. Not to mention several thousand muskrats and a weasel or two). This of course, is just one person's opinion but if you ask most long line trappers here in the lower 48 you'll find almost all of them modify their traps to some degree.

I would probably laminate the #4's if they didn't fire so slow when they get drifted over. Those 750's have absolutely no problem rising to the occasion though!

- Clint

Victoria I don't know if you should be putting those words that Craig O'Gorman said to you in a public forum. He may have said that to you privately, but I doubt he wants all trappers nationwide to read it.

Victoria, I don't claim to be an expert and maybe you can give me some tips; but in my experience trapping in snow in subzero temps is a snap compared to conditions where you get freeze, thaw, freeze, thaw, blow, snow, more freeze, thaw...... That's what I have to deal with here. If I can get a good cold snap that stays down around 20 below for a week or two, I grin ear to ear!

Rick : Amen. A whole lot of us in Ak. this year are dealing with heavy snow after heavy snow. Spending the whole time just digging out and resetting. Sounds like you will be wolf hunting soon.

They keep saying they're going to have a hunting season on them: the new governor even said he wants the first tag. They have also told us that there will be no wolf trapping....at least for a few years. IMHA there won't be very many wolves harvested by ground hunting, so they'll keep right on increasing and spreading out. Sometimes I think our government officials were absent the day brains were handed out.

Rick : Funny coincidence. My former trapping partner just retired as a game warden up here and hired on with your state as a conservation officer. Can't give up what he loves I guess. The poachers better watch out, this guy lives the job and made the most cases of any officer each year.

That's cool, piperniner! Do you know which region he is working out of? Ken was telling me about one of his friends who had moved down here and was going to be helping with F&G's wolf management section. Same guy? I was excited to hear there might be someone involved with that process who had some practical wolf experience.

Don't think it is the same guy. He will be south of Lewiston and has not moved yet. Was in enforcement and been trapping since 12. Good wolf trapper.

Are any of you Alaskan trappers saving your lynx, wolf or wolverine glands? I'm really interested if you're wanting to sell any.

Post deleted by otterman

this is what mine looks like. The lynx followed my trail for over 1/2 mile,(i drag beaver behind the machine) right to the set, came to within 20 yds, downwind of it and kept on going. so I added another HUGE hunk of beaver, a duck and more wings.
What am I doing wrong???

Have you ever thought of using pine bough's to keep the snow from blowing in? Or make it a "walk through", (open on both ends)? How about a bit larger and use vertical guide sticks on all 4 corners of the trap? Can you use a snowshoe hare or parts (head) as bait? I like a strip of fur with a huge glass eye glued on. The kind they sell at hobby shops or taxidermist use. That way when a cat sees that, he has to have it! Just a few thoughts. I've never trapped for lynx but I've caught plenty of bobcats that way!

Hup - that looks a whole lot like my cubbies. Anything more substantial and I catch bunnies.

What you're doing wrong is asking them to walk 20 yards. Cats are lazy when it comes to a hunk of frozen bait. If I don't have to duck a little to miss my trap with a ski, it's too far off the trail. Some of them won't take the extra one step either - that's where snares come in.

Hey Lynx trapper
If it keeps coming back with in the 20 yd,s why not put a blind set down ther thats down wind or do like some one else said plant a snare down ther oand if it is on the ICe spud a pole hole and plant a tree to hook the snare to the pole will freeze in and your good to go . Hope that help you Good luck

I dont have lynx nor alot of reabbits but do use alot of spruce branches for cubbies for various things. I also do not have many rabbits but have found that most spruce trees have alot of dead branches that would accomplish the same thing. Is it the cover or the green branches that attracs the rabbits? If it is the green branches maybe using dead branches that have just dropped their needles would slove the issue rabbit issue maybe?? If it is the cover thing no matter what you do the rabbits are probably going to use the cubbie I believe. Tell me if my assumptions are worng

I've got a request for you guys, sure would appreciate it if one of you would post a closeup picture of a Lynx foot, top and bottom. Just for comparison with a bobcat's. I've always heard that the bottoms are covered with fur.

Thanks, Bill

It was on its trail from last week, but this week he, she , it went a little off. It has been using the area, and numerous tracks, seems to be every 3 or 4 days, but not one defined trail. the other problem I have is the amount of people using the area, I would love to have it more on the edge and flagging tape etc, but would rather not catch one than have it stolen.

Billcat - Our fox have fur covered bottoms of their feet.

there is also the arctic salmon that is covered with hair too.

Hupurest, you might try a single feather on fishing line (a couple of split-shot sinkers to keep it from blowing too much and wrapping around other twigs). If you put it just above "eye level", you might find it may attract the lynx without too much people problem. Are you using a scent (LDC) as well?

Post deleted by otterman

I have a wings, half wings, single feathers, hanging around from right in front of the cubbie, to 30 yds out, and I used them so it would not attract the people.
I do not have asplit shot on them, that is a good idea.

I had a guy tell me today that he used catnip and the lynx went crazy. It rolled in it, pissed on it, clawed it and never stepped in the trap....he forgot his guide sticks. I think I'll try some this weekend.

I was always meaning to get it, and I was going to also try and mix up a bait with ground castors and catnip..
cat probably got all doped up and forgot what he was doing...

Curious where you get your catnip. True catnip is very expensive. Most chemical plants run it (steam distilled) at several hundred dollar per ounce. Artificial catnip is worthless (in my opinion) as a cat lure. So, I just though maybe you had a inside on some thing the rest of us didn't know about. Is it in a liquid form and do you have a problem with the odor getting out? Down here catnip grows wild but dies at summers end.

I'm going to get mine at the Pet Store tonight.

That's funny hupurest! We have drunken marten on the Yukon and doped up cats in the Kilbucks.

Ethically, is cat nip an unfair advantage if the cats are doped up when they step in the trap??? J/K!!

If any of you need catnip, it wont happen this winter, but try to remember to ask me next summer... It grows like crazy around my house. I used to dry it in the shed for the cats.

I might be able to extract the oil usin some fancy science stuff (steam distillation, as victoria pointed out...if you have access to fresh catnip, i can give you a LOT easier method using liquid butane), but I've never tried (i have however tried with other herbs).

It'd be an interesting addition to a lure.

interesting:

catnip oil


Yuo may want to add a couple extra swivels to that trap if they are rollin round a lot And a little extra bait for when they get the munchies.

hey guys I really appreaciate the pictures of the sets.. they help out allot

Seen a neat idea in the NTA mag, American Trapper. Tom Krause, in Wy. showed a pic from his bobcat line where he uses small bells hung from string near his set. The sound arouses the cats curiosity. He buys the bells at hobby/craft stores. I'd say that idea would work on lynx.
I'm a firm believer in getting as much good info on trapping as possible. Any of you guys relying solely on these internet sites to learn about trapping are missing some good stuff!
mt

MT raises a good point there are several good magazines out there along with the internet. I have never tried it but I have read that a couple CDs hanging so the can click each other along with the sun bouncing off the shiney side helps draw cats too like I said no experince with it but read it someplace who knows where

I can't believe this lynx thread has so little interest, but it is doing a little better than the wolverine thread (which also seems odd to me). Lynx numbers are definitely increasing in the Copper Basin. Are they not abundant on anyone elses line this year?

Just to throw in my two cents worth, I do not put much weight in cubby size. Mine are typically rudimentary, consisting of a few leaning sticks against a tree (sometimes just a little brush)and some well placed guide sticks. Essentially, I place my trap in the path of least resistance to the bait (i.e., the lynx can get to the bait from the side, but it typically comes in the easiest, clearest way, and steps on the trap).

I also like to use snare sets. I typically put some bait off the trail, make a trail going to the bait, and hang a snare in the trail. I try to make a big disturbance on the snowmachine trail to make sure the lynx stops and investigates. Making two paths from this disturbance point to the bait works well with a snare in each path. This set is way easier to make than a leghold cubby. It is my feeling that this set works better than a cubby like set this time of year.

When I was a kid, my uncle was a government trapper here in this area. He trapped a lot of bobcats in the wintertime, and one of his favorite sets was to cut the side out of a Prince Albert tobacco can; the flat ones that fit in your shirt pocket. This gave a shiny side and the painted side with the picture of Prince Albert on it. He would hang it from a light wire under a limb or rock overhang, and set his trap where the cat would step while investigating. He also used rabbitskin flags, and the way I remember it caught about equal numbers on both attractors. I've never tried using CD's, but I'd think they'd be every bit as good as the tobacco can.

My lynx experience is limited compared to bobcats. I caught a few back in the "good old days" about 40 years ago when they were still legal here. I remember selling a great big tom for the princely sum of $12 and thinking I'd really done great because bobcats were bringing about $8 then. My father-in-law had shot that one with a 30-06 while he was deer hunting and gave it to me. I put in most of the afternoon sewing him back together. LOL.

As far as I know about the only laminated traps used much here in Maine are the smaller traps used for coyote, such as #1 3/4 & #2 coil springs. Alot of guys like the smaller traps for dirt hole sets before the snows come. After that any good quality #3 works.

Here is my season to date pic. I had to take it now because with the current fur prices, I felt it necessary to diversify my buyers sooner than later. I do not need Pappa's or NAFA deciding whether or not I get a septic system put in this summer if you know what I mean.

Anyways, as you can tell, I concentrated on lynx this year, and had a blast doing it. Already cannot wait till next year, and hope I can find time to try and entice some gulo gulos into sticking their heads into a 330.

guloboy-
Cool picture. That's impressive. We don't have cats around here, but they really interest me. The only cat I trapped was a wildy kitten that had a cool bobcat-lookin' hide and he's yowlin at the door to be let out right now.
I was wondering, not to pry or anything, but why was it you didn't go for any gluttons this year? From the other thread you seem to be pretty proficient at that too.

Guloboy, that's a great pic! Lots of nice cats, and great put-up on all of the fur! Boy, that's a pretty cross fox! Congratulations, and good luck on the fickle market.

We took a break because we caught 8 gulos last year, five of which were females. We thought we would "rest" the line. It is also a grind to run the gulo line we do; it is a long ways from the house, a long way on snogo to the traps, and there is consistently inclemental weather on that that line (lots of snow and wind). I have some photos of us digging out traps that would make you laugh.

Makes sense. What do you guys typically consider a 'safe' harvest ratio for your personal areas? I've never caught one(made a few sets)but it is interesting. On the islands here they are few and far between. I actually found a wolf-killed one this year as well as saw a live one on the beach. Accordingly to F and G I probably saw half the population of the island! The mainland, a short distance away, is actually one of the top producers down here. In fact FandG is doing a wolvy study right now over there and alot of specimens from the state are being sent here. Last count they had caught four but three chewed their way out of the box. They were using too soft of wood. It is an interesting study and I'm looking forward to reading the results. They have bait stations set up with cameras hoping to get one on film feeding. They haven't succeeded yet, but I guess they got some good footage of other stuff eating. Apparently there was an eagle hanging off the bait upside down like a bat chewing away.

Oh yeah, Audrey Magaoun and her husband Pat Valkenburg are involved with that. Last I heard they were going to switch to a PVC culvert trap, one with no sides for a skunkbear to chew on.

I have no rules with the wolverine sex ratio. Biologically, males are more dispensable than females, and we thought five females in one season was a bit much. Who knows though, the area we trap might be teaming with wolverine right now. We had planned on checking it out this winter, but have yet to find the time to do it.

Yeah, you are right. I was just in there getting a wolf sealed and I noticed the "new" trap they had sitting there. It was a tube of some sort, I don't know, I got to telling wolf stories and completely forgot to go over and check out the trap. I think the study is on some kind of suspention right now due to the bay freezing in. I don't know, I talked to the guy for a minute, but it sounded like the wife was the one heading up the operation. I haven't got to talk to her yet. They have a lot of help from local guys too so they should eventually be able to get some jewelry on more than just the one female.

Nice pic guloboy, hope you get your septic in.

nice pic, corey. i like your beard

nice catch guloboy

gulo : Glad to see you had another good year. Also glad you mentioned letting the line rest in regards to the female take. I hope others realize how important that is ( imo ) .

S.E.W : You ought to chat with the husband / wife team - they know their stuff.

OK, Piper, why is it important to let the line rest?
Gulo took 8 wolverine, just over half being female.
Gulo, were those all adult females? How about the males?
Adult female wolverine are pregnant when they enter the trapping season. Younger ones would not be.
How many miles of line did those 8 wolverine come from? Were there other trappers, other wolverine taken, near you? How about sign at the end of the season? Were there still tracks of wolverine you didn't catch?
What sort of prey is in the area? Small game? Large game?

I think there are many factors to consider when considering letting a line rest. Just because a certain number of females were taken doesn't necessarily mean you over harvested your area.

Letting a line rest assumes that the animal species your "resting" will repopulate in your absense. Not always the case. There is much more at play in our trapping country than just us trappers.
mt

Martentrapper : Many of the points you mention are all considerations when determining whether to let a line rest. I am no expert/authority on anything. I simply choose to err on the conservative side when taking a large number in a given season - especially if several are female. I have the advantage of being able to survey my area by air, thereby determining population numbers to a degree. After once taking nine in a season , I definitely saw less tracks the following year. Did that mean anything, or would others have moved in from adjacent areas - dammed if I know. It's just my personal belief based on my experience and I'm not trying to convince anyone else. However, I strongly believe it doesn't take a lot to hurt them.

Marten: The line is being rested for numerous reasons. You obviously know a fair bit about wolverine management, and your questions are all pertinent when it comes to deciding how much trapping power one should exhibit on wolverine. We considered all of your points (and a couple others), when we decided to lay off the line for a year.

Refugia is the major key, and is always a good thing. Yes, we do have lots of refugia around us. We have spatial refugias as the adjacent areas have little trapping pressure. There is no doubt, we could of gone out there and caught wolverine this year, but we were unsure if it would of been worth the time, gas and effort to trap it again. When we decided not to trap the line this year, a second type of refugia was created: a temporal refugia. I am willing to bet the decision not to trap this year will benefit us next year.

Nice catch and great picture.

Great bunch of fur. Quick though...sell the fur before the sled and traps have to go with it; I know how those septic systems can climb in importance.

That's the first time I've heard the word 'refugia' before. I better go find a dictionary.

plural for refugium. It has been used frequently in some recent scientific papers on managing furbearer populations. I stole the word from the scientists. I plan on using it in front of the Board of Game this weekend. Unit 11 wolverine season should go into February.

When does it end now, gulo? Don't have a reg book handy tonite?

I would have a hard time believing that anyone using strictly coni's can put a serious dent in their wolverine pop. There's just too many that won't go in one, in my experience.

Refugia is any area that isn't hunted or trapped by humans. Without refugia, us greedy humans kill every critter in the area.......or at least some would say so.
mt

Martentrapper : Your experience appears to be similar to Whites. He wont use buckets with coni's due to his experience with them. With foot holds, he feels if they are near his bait he will get them. My experience with elevated bucket sets is the same as with his foot holds. If they are near the bucket ( I am usually setting on their tracks ) you will almost always get them. That is why I am very careful in not wanting to hurt them. Not a lot of extensive info on wolverine, although the couple doing the study in Petersburg have done some good stuff. I have found some of the research is subject to different variables. With big drainages and abundant feed, there are sometimes more animals in a given area they some would think and their travel distances appear to be a lot less than some of the research suggests. Feed appears to be the factor in these cases. Time of year might also influence travel distances. Fun to be able to observe their habits and learn more about them. Great topic- keep it up.

Well this is supposed to be a "lynx" thread.
For most of us, weasther, snow conditions, etc, etc, limit just how much time and effort we can put into our trapline. I'm skeptical that just catching a certain number of wolverine means you may have overharvested your country. Your example of seeing less tracks after catching nine isn't very relavent in my mind, as seeing tracks from an airplane is so dependant on several variables. Since I'm familiar with what an airplane can and can't do, I'm also skeptical that an airplane trapper can really cover his area well, with sets. An airplane trapper is limited to where he can safely land. Even if you catch every wolverine that hits your sets, your just not going to get enough sets out to overharvest your wolverine pop.
Even if a guy does overharvest at some level, sooner or later, other factors that effect our lives will most likely cause that trapper to do something different on his line, such as Gulo concentrating on lynx this year.
A "healthy" ecosystem is constantly changing. The idea that there should always be X number of every species, or a "minimum" number is not natural in my view. Sure, I'd want to be able to get a certain number of every species if I could, and if I trapped the same area every year. But what we want, and what nature provides, are rarely the same.

Martentrapper : Like I said - not an authority and not trying to convince anyone. So, is anybody besides Gulo catching lynx ?

piperniner,

I ended up with 16 cats for the season. I was happy with that considering my season was only six weeks long and I had out only 30 sets.

Gulo,

Very nice put up on your fur, great job!

Gator jr. : Good for you. You and Gulo sure did well. We are all jealous.

Well, the cat took a look at my set, but didn't commit. I had a 330 set in a bucket. His track went right in front of the bucket but he did not stick his head in. I wish the heck I would have put a foothold in there (let's just say there is one there now). I found he or she was working the bank pretty hard and was in a spot for a long time just upriver from this set. I was very excited to say the least when the tracks were leading right to my bucket. So....MT, I haven't caught the only lynx on the lower Kuskokwim yet. And FYI, our local pro just upriver from me has caught more than 10 lynx this year already.

I made a couple of pocket sets last night for mink and one for ermine.

Kusko : I think foot holds and snares are the best for lynx. Gulo and Gator jr. are far more qualified to comment on that . However, have Mike R. tell you how he showed a novice the bucket sets for wolverine, only to have the guy get a nice lynx. At least thats the story Denny told me recently. The buckets are always interesting, got a coyote yesterday.

Yeah, I have bunch of footholds and snares out, but naturally, it came to my only bucket set.

I need to chat with Mike about his lucky horseshoe.... he drew a goat tag and a Delta sheep tag.

Well Kusko, since the guy upriver caught 10, you have to quit so they don't get overharvested!!!!!!!!!!

Was that bucket for lynx, or wolverine? You know..........if you use the "official" western alaska version of the white 17 pole set, I bet a lynx would be more likely to get caught in that. The wolverine like them too.
I'd say it's even harder to get a lynx into a bucket, than a wolverine. There was an article in the trap and pred caller about a Kanuck that used coni's for lynx. Traps and snares for me, and generally both at any set.
mt

It was intentionally for lynx. We don't have too many wolverine roaming the lower river.

Don't worry, I still have a month to catch that sucker!!

From Alaskacajun


Here's a Lynx cubby using a #3 DLS and baited with a bunny. Asa also provided the lure as well, and man does it smell good! If you look close you can see the marten that I caught, this is what you would call a walk through cubby! I also have duck wings hanging nearby and flagging!

Posted by Gator

AKCajun, Congrats on your first Lynx, don't forget the RAID.

I have to be a proud dad for a second, Carolyn was nice enough to put my daughters picture on the cover of this months Trappers Magazine, she was definitely excited. Wayne also had a nice article in there as well, well written.

I asked about using Otter carcasses for bait a couple weeks back, and didn't get too favorable of a response. It seemed to work for me, I picked up four cats this weekend and two of them were in the sets I used my Otter carcass on. On one set the Lynx almost completely ate the half of carcass I used. I don't know about everyone else, but it seems like my lynx this year have had a lot more brown on them than usual for this time of year.

question asked by Kusko
Question for all of you Lynx and Wolverine guys. Would it pay for me to make a few sets even if we haven't cut any tracks yet. We know there are some in the area, but with the blowing snow conditions, finding tracks has been hard.

Reply from Trialblazersteve
will know their travel routs and they are pretty good about sticking to them.Somtimes it takes a week or two to come back thru but like the wolverine,they will come back.Look for sign along ridge lines and or on the edges of thick rabbit sign.If you make cubby's,make them right next to these area's but not right in the middle or you will be catching "mega tons" of rabbits.I like to make the cubby's more in an open area next to the rabbit sign and hang wings and tape a few yards around the cubby.Use your marten lure's to bring them in and I have found that rotten bird works the best for bait.

Question from Alaskan
What do you guys use for lynx lure. Not bait (I'll be using beaver) but some added "foo-foo" juice to entice them in. Just trying to figure out if I should bring up some smell good for them.

Reply from Trailblazersteve
Alaskan,I have been fooling around with lure's on cats for years and found that the skunky based ones work the best.I use the same lure's as I do for marten,both sweet and skunk.Cats seem to go crazy for strong castor lures like Pacific Call but It's not strong enough to bring them in when it's -20.Thats why I use both sweet and skunky lure's.Remember though that if a cat is full and satisified there is NOTHING that will bring them to your cubby.Seen them walk right by my sets before including this weekend!

Reply from Gator Jr
We've always used Pacific Call. I save my moose hide from each year and cut it into six inch squares, attach a piece of wire to them and hang one in each of my cubbies. I put my lure on them, and at the end of each season I bundle them all up and reuse them the next year. I even use PC on my marten sets.

Reply piperniner
Gator Jr. : I'm with you on the hide/lure thing. Wolverine rip it off the tree every time. Castor/ fish oil/ skunk has always worked the best for me.

reply Piperneiner

Sorry - I put my lynx bit on a "new topic" If those in charge can move it to the lynx topic - I'd thank them

Posted by Pete in Frbks

MT,

I use "dirt holes" under spruces pretty extensively for lynx. Works well here in Interior.