Salthunter -

I've trapped marten in many, many different locations and in a variety of habitats for well over 50 years. In my opinion, they are one of the easiest furbearers to trap. I don't know how many marten I've trapped over the years. I still get out every year and take a handful. In Idaho, it seems to me that fresh beaver or muskrat meat is a good bait, and an added dab of "Gusto" lure is beneficial. Elevate your Conibear box off the ground 4-6 feet and use a leaning pole up to the box entrance. The leaning pole, in my opinion, does two very valuable things; the pole itself is a visual attractor, as marten use the pole as an access to the subnivean (under snow) for hunting voles and mice. Two, elevating the boxes reduces the catch of females (your breeding population), as it seems to females don't like to climb as readily as males. You should be catching 75%+ males. Anchor your Conibear chain so the trap, once it springs, is hanging well above the ground/snow to reduce the chances of mice and squirrels clipping the hair, and where it hangs away from the bole of the tree to reduce the chances of pitch getting in the marten fur.

Best of luck to you sir! Let us know how the season goes.

Jack

I think they like some eye appeal too so I always use bait in addition to some lure. Meat is great but feathers work real well if they are legal for you. I caught one on a chocolate chip cookie once so they aren't real picky.

Don't overdo it on the skunk IMO