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#32032 - 01/10/07 09:54 PM Marten thread/archive
Top Jimmy Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 1678
Loc: Alaska, USA
I figured that after the 330 bucket set having its own thred, it might be a good idea to have Marten sets on its own thread, so they are easy to find. And seeing as many of us are spending a bunch of time on them, it would be good info for everyone.

Kusko, here are the pictures of that tip up I posted (I think on the 2nd thread):







I hope this helps someone.

For a coni, I have seen where the spring is set up to push the hook up off when it fires on the marten. That way you don't need to have the animal struggle to get the pole to swing up.

-TJ
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#32201 - 01/10/07 11:13 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: Top Jimmy]
martentrapper Online content
trapper


Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 479
Loc: Nome, Ak.
You didn't post an "after" pic.
mt
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#32250 - 01/11/07 12:25 AM Re: Marten Sets [Re: martentrapper]
trapperjoeAK Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 740
Loc: Chugiak, AK -- Currently detai...
Good Idea Top Jimmy. I think that it will help a lot to have the species specific info on its own threads. As long as we don't get too many threads that stuff starts getting lost. We can still do our chitchat on the Allmighty.


Here is my marten setup. I use the plant pots, but 120's. With the two springs the trap can just be held in the slots. I put one small nail through the bottom edge of the pot. And a big one down through the top at an angle. I leave an inch of this one hanging out, and I stick the wire from my prewired bait up through the center hole and wire it to this nail. I have the traps prepared with the springs cocked and a foot or so of 14 gauge on the end of the chain. Trap goes in pot, wire off to a limb, and put stick with the lure on top of the pot. Usually hang a piece of flagging too, but that is more for me finding the set. Super fast.

Checking sets, I have a 120 in one pocket and lure in the other pocket (scary, that is) jump out, and go to the set. If I have to use snowshoes it slows me down some though.











Lets see everyone else preferred marten set. I know we have seen most of them before, but it might be helpful for people if they are all in one spot.
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#32271 - 01/11/07 01:27 AM Re: Marten Sets [Re: trapperjoeAK]
martentrapper Online content
trapper


Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 479
Loc: Nome, Ak.
Joe, that looks like awfully warm country to be having dead marten hang around for long. You have any problem with green bellies on your marten? How often do you check?
mt
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#32272 - 01/11/07 01:29 AM Re: Marten Sets [Re: Top Jimmy]
Dusty Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/26/06
Posts: 113
Loc: North Pole, AK
I'll bite.

The clip made from galvanized strapping material with a punched (not drilled) hole, drywall screw installed at home:



Trap pre-wired and ready to go:



Trap on the clip:


Bucket on the trap/clip:


Spring helping to hold the bucket on:


Set and ready to go:


it works...
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#32281 - 01/11/07 02:33 AM Re: Marten Sets [Re: Dusty]
trapperjoeAK Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 740
Loc: Chugiak, AK -- Currently detai...
Has warm spells like any place martentrapper, but this season there hasn't ever been more than two or three days above freezing at a time. Most of my marten are froze solid, and I have never had any green belly. Run about a one week check on average. Those three were all from the beginning of the season when the weather was nicer. Here is a pic from last check. Don't look quite so nice and warm does it? \:\)




Dusty, I like your setup. If you run 110's, and can get the clip making down I think it is the way to go. I did get tired of wiring bait into the buckets though when I used to do it that way. I COMPLETELY agree that wiring buckets to trees is a HUGE waste of time. Nails or screws, either way but not wire.

The only thing I do not like about my way is that I have two sizes of nail, but that isn't that big of a deal. 120's take away the need for the clip, but the downfall is higher expense and I guess more weight might be an issue for some people. Plus 110s ARE a lot nicer to set.

I am sort of surprised that the buckets don't fall down when you make a catch??
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#32327 - 01/11/07 05:53 AM Re: Marten Sets [Re: trapperjoeAK]
RECONDO Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/28/06
Posts: 149
Loc: North Pole, Alaska
Never have used this trap model before, was sort of curious if any one here has and what they think of them. From the looks of em I imagine you'd be swapping em out like connis when you connect. The bait goes under the hood of the trap, which is sort of like a trap and cubbie in one. They are pretty pricey, for two of these you can almost buy a DZ 120's.







The Gabry Bionic can be ratcheted with a tool for
additional power to kill marten, mink and fishers
quickly. This trap is relatively safe, as the bait
must be pulled to activate the trap.
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#32533 - 01/11/07 08:55 AM Re: Marten Sets [Re: RECONDO]
Alaskacajun Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/26/06
Posts: 584
Loc: Alaska
Right now I'm useing #1 jumps on a leaning pole baited with muskrat!



I did catch one this year in a lynx cubby!





- Clint
_________________________


Pancho

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#32726 - 01/11/07 11:23 AM Re: Marten Sets [Re: Top Jimmy]
Rick Phillips Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/25/06
Posts: 393
Loc: SE Idaho
OK, here goes again. I use newspaper tubes. I cut slots in the front to hold the springs of my 120's and secure the tube vertically on a tree with three 8-penny double-headed nails: 2 on top and one on the bottom. The double-headed nails make it easy to pull them when I get ready to move. I tie the bait in the back of the tube by running a wire around/through it and out through a 1/2" hole I bore in the back of the tube, then just wrap it around a short stick to keep it from dropping back through. Makes it easy to re-bait if I have to. I bait them at home, put a trap with a wire wrapped around it in on top of the bait and stack the tubes together. Five of them fit lengthwise in my sled, so I can haul 30 pretty easy. When setting out I wear a carpenter's nail apron to hold all my junk: nails, lure, wire, ribbon, and a hammer. I like to wire the trap to an overhead limb and swing the captured animal out away from the tree trunk, if possible. This set is totally snowproof, in my experience, and I've yet to catch a bird of any kind.

I set up the coni trigger like this:

I find this arrangement gives me a "suitcase" catch most of the time, which kills them quick. It's not uncommon to have the springs bind in the slots a little and the marten doesn't even fall out of the box.

I use this same tube on the ground for mink along streams. Set this way, You'll catch a weasel or a skunk once in awhile, and I have caught several coons by the leg in the 120. They'll chew the snot out of the box! One of my friends uses this same system and has caught several red fox by the head.

Edited by Rick Phillips (01/11/07 11:42 AM)
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#32731 - 01/11/07 11:28 AM Re: Marten Sets [Re: Rick Phillips]
otterman Moderator Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/24/06
Posts: 1504
Loc: SW Alaska
Rick nice pictures cept we cant see the last 2 red fox in 120s must be fun to remove I got one in a 110 and ended up taking fox and trap home and having another person pull the head out while I opened up the trap what a pain of course this was the year we got a whopping $5 for all our fox
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#32753 - 01/11/07 11:53 AM Re: Marten Sets [Re: otterman]
Kusko Offline
"Mr. Mayor"
trapper


Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 2086
Loc: Bethel, AK
Here are some pictures of our sets. We built the boxes as we had scrap plywood and also had no idea if there were marten in the area. I'll be putting in newspaper boxes next year as they stack up a lot easier. We just made one side a little longer and they are nailed to the tree using double headed nails so we could pull them out easier.



Here is the results.
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"There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin." Linus Van Pelt

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#32772 - 01/11/07 12:10 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: Kusko]
trailblazersteve Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/26/06
Posts: 498
Loc: Eagle River,AK
I set up just like Rick except I mount onto leaning and horizontal trees held by a bunji cord(thanks for the tip Rick!).I also bait and load the tubes at home and I can CARRY 12 on my frame pack easily.I use 110's instead of 120's and have had only one alive this year but sure it was freshly caught.

Edited by trailblazersteve (01/11/07 12:15 PM)
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#32778 - 01/11/07 12:15 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: trailblazersteve]
trailblazersteve Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/26/06
Posts: 498
Loc: Eagle River,AK
Here's some old pics
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#33010 - 01/11/07 03:10 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: Top Jimmy]
Family Trapper Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 1484
Loc: Trapping the Yukon Delta, Ak
This was my usual set
Conibear held on 4 nails.


Wired on Branch to keep the marten from jumping over.


Combination Marten Wolverine set.
Trigger on 330 is set wide to allow marten to enter and get caught in the 110 further down the line. Keep marten set out of reach of the 330. 330 held with nails also. A wider leaning pole.



Nice to have them hangingl


Dusty where do you get the galvanized strapping?
I looks like you must be setting your conis on the wider trigger slot. I have alway used the first but after making a few of your style holders I can see why you want to use the second. Allows the holder to be built wider and thus accomodate hammer head if you have to use a nai. I don't want to pack a screw gun.



Edited by Family Trapper (01/19/08 05:10 PM)
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#33886 - 01/11/07 09:10 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: Family Trapper]
Loel Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 74
Loc: Wasilla, Ak
I hang my tubes vertical like Rick does. I have been hanging them about three feet off of the ground.

After talking to Ted the other night, I was wondering if how high you hung your sets would determine if you cought a male or female? He said in his area the males are the only ones to climb.He also hangs his sets higher then I do. So far this year, I'm almost at 50% females. They are all juvies so far. So I was wondering if I put the sets up to say five feet off of the ground, if only the males would climb that high in a set?
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#34017 - 01/11/07 10:29 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: Loel]
Arctic Trapper Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 198
Loc: Los Anchorage
Ok,

Heres one of mine. Not anything different, although my flower pots were a bit larger than my 120 coni, so I mounted the coni just outside the pot. Fashioned a similar coni clip made from galvinized strapping like the one shown earlier. Ran Spruce boughs through the springs to keep the Marten from jumping over, a fish head for bait, GUSTO for Lure, flagging tape and also hung a CD for an attractor.

Here is before
[img][/img]

And the results
[img][/img]
_________________________
2007-2008 Critter Catch
Marten - 2
Otter - None Yet
Mink - 3
Ermine - 1
Wolverine - None Yet

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#34083 - 01/12/07 12:09 AM Re: Marten Sets [Re: Top Jimmy]
Dusty Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/26/06
Posts: 113
Loc: North Pole, AK
Dusty where do you get the galvanized strapping?

Holaday Park - any metal place should have it.

I looks like you must be setting your conis on the wider trigger slot.

I set em wherever it fits and see absolutely no difference.

I don't want to pack a screw gun.

I just use a screwdriver - takes about 10 seconds. A 1" screw is plenty - get the coarse single thread.
_________________________

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#41601 - 01/16/07 01:39 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: martentrapper]
Kusko Offline
"Mr. Mayor"
trapper


Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 2086
Loc: Bethel, AK
What do you think of this idea. Take a dozen 2x2's that are 8 feet long. Have your trap and bait already attached to the pole. When you get to the place where you want to make a set, nail the pole to a tree, hang a wing, apply lure and move on.

Would a 2x2 be big enough? When we check, it seems like we never have time to make new sets and I'm trying to come up with a fast way.
_________________________
"There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin." Linus Van Pelt

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#41662 - 01/16/07 02:13 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: Kusko]
takotna Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/22/06
Posts: 496
Loc: Takotna AK
Sounds like a nifty Idea Kusko, altough I would leave trap/bait off to keep everything from being an entangled mess, you could even put some flourescent paint on to mark your trail/trap.
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#41679 - 01/16/07 02:21 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: takotna]
Kusko Offline
"Mr. Mayor"
trapper


Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 2086
Loc: Bethel, AK
Originally Posted By: takotna
Sounds like a nifty Idea Kusko, altough I would leave trap/bait off to keep everything from being an entangled mess, you could even put some flourescent paint on to mark your trail/trap.


Good idea. You could maybe bait it, but the chain would get all wrapped up. Dusty's coni set with the flower pot looks quick and easy.
_________________________
"There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin." Linus Van Pelt

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#41916 - 01/16/07 05:06 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: Kusko]
Dusty Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/26/06
Posts: 113
Loc: North Pole, AK
Go out in March and install the clips and hang the traps. If the snow is deep, install a clip 6 feet above the ground and another 6 feet above the snow. Cut brush away, etc. The horizontal poles really make a difference because then you always have a good place to tie your trap off - not a big deal if you're setting in white spruce, but a big timesaver in scrawny black spruce.

About mid-October bait your buckets. Tie the bait in the middle of 3' of wire, run the wire out two holes in the bottom of the bucket (same side as your notch for the trap), fold the wire over and stick it back in the bucket. If the bait is bloody or greasy, throw some wax paper over it. Repeat. Shove second baited bucket into first one, smashing bait out. Repeat, repeat, repeat, .... Freeze the whole stack.

Now, when you go to set, all you need to carry is a bucket and some lure. Set trap, put bucket on, smear lure, go to next one.

If you find anything even close to as fast, let me know and I'll start doing that.
_________________________

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#59001 - 01/26/07 06:58 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: Dusty]
Bushman Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/28/06
Posts: 314
Loc: Alberta
IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v220/Bushman22/martenhanging.jpg[/IMG]




Prefer horizontal pole sets but have about 20% vertical just to mix it up. Horizontal sets are more productive in my area

Edited by Bushman (01/26/07 07:00 PM)
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#59609 - 01/27/07 12:34 AM Re: Marten Sets [Re: Bushman]
Rick Phillips Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/25/06
Posts: 393
Loc: SE Idaho
Nice Pic, Bushman. Did you tell me the plastic boxes were collapsible? Is that feathers or a fish I see hanging under your pole? Hope you're having a good season. Mine is now over except for a few coyotes.

I just cleaned out most of the remaining fur from my fur shed this AM and took it to our Association sale. Guess I'll know tomorrow whether I should have sent it all to NAFA or not. Dang, but it looks EMPTY out there now! \:\(
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#61226 - 01/28/07 08:31 AM Re: Marten Sets [Re: Rick Phillips]
wolfcrazy Offline
trapper


Registered: 01/27/07
Posts: 28
Loc: Northern Alberta, Canada
Hello

I'm new here and noticed that some of you use swing poles. I have never made them and was hoping someone could explain how they are set up.

Jason
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#62981 - 01/29/07 12:28 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: wolfcrazy]
Hupurest Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/26/06
Posts: 3905
Loc: Las anchorage
ok, so here is what we have going on with the marten. beaver for bait and magnum marten scent
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#67531 - 02/01/07 12:48 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: Hupurest]
Hupurest Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/26/06
Posts: 3905
Loc: Las anchorage
friend of a freind in kaltag
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Beaver for everyone
VOTE

DOBBINS in -08

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#67709 - 02/01/07 02:36 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: Hupurest]
trapperjoeAK Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 740
Loc: Chugiak, AK -- Currently detai...
After this year, I have officially decided that I do not like horizontal or even sloped poles on my line. With all the snow they are out of comission in a day or two. And, since I have never observed a refusal on a vertical pot, I am just going to stick with them. I never cut poles, but if I found a naturally occurring spot I would set them. No more. Something to keep in mind if you have very heavy snowfall.
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#67720 - 02/01/07 02:41 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: trapperjoeAK]
bearbait Offline
trapper


Registered: 01/03/07
Posts: 370
Loc: North Pole Alaska
Hi Jason, welcome. There is a post titled Swing Poles where they are discussed.

Edited by bearbait (02/01/07 02:55 PM)
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#67761 - 02/01/07 03:20 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: bearbait]
Hupurest Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/26/06
Posts: 3905
Loc: Las anchorage
we ahve not had a problem with the horizontal poles, and that is why we built the boxes, never had a trp in operble in all the snow. the good thing is that it seems to limit the female catch as out of over 40 only 3 have been females.
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Beaver for everyone
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#68051 - 02/01/07 05:32 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: Hupurest]
trapperjoeAK Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 740
Loc: Chugiak, AK -- Currently detai...
The problem that I have had with nonvertical sets is that they straightup drift in. It is crazy. Even ones at an angle. And if for some reason the wind is not blowing then it builds up on the pole. Not a big problem if pole is small, but I had sets on naturally occurring sloped trees and six inches of snow pretty much blocks out the pot. But, as Ted pointed out on the swing pole thread, my situation is pretty unique. Not too many places are cursed with 30 feet of snowfall in a winter.
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#87560 - 02/12/07 12:56 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: trapperjoeAK]
Hupurest Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/26/06
Posts: 3905
Loc: Las anchorage


_________________________
Beaver for everyone
VOTE

DOBBINS in -08

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#90144 - 02/13/07 09:46 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: Hupurest]
Chisholm Trapper Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/25/06
Posts: 869
Loc: Northern On. CANADA
Hey nice pics guys cant wait till next season when im trageting marten...i have already started making my boxes..even though i will probebly have a quota of only 4..lol.

Luke
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#124527 - 03/06/07 07:44 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: Chisholm Trapper]
Sitkatrapper Offline
trapper


Registered: 01/21/07
Posts: 12
Were do you guys get your beaver? do you trap the or buy it? and if you buy it were can i get it?
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#125028 - 03/07/07 12:03 AM Re: Marten Sets [Re: Sitkatrapper]
Rick McC Offline
trapper


Registered: 02/03/07
Posts: 8
Loc: Northern Alberta
We had lots of marten this year and I set out everything I had - including a few Bionic traps. They are probably the most humane trap and practically fool-proof because of the position the marten has to have its head to pull the bait on the trigger. Their disadvantages outweigh this though. They are expensive, bulky and you have to carry another tool to set them. You can only get a small piece of bait on the trigger which the mice can clean off in a hurry and dries out quick ( I used squirrel legs - the right size and tough so easy to hook on the trigger)I mounted them on a piece of 2X4. My main use in the past was to carry a couple that I could tack to a tree where I was snaring squirrels - if I had a marten stealing from the snare poles.
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#125483 - 03/07/07 11:58 AM Re: Marten Sets [Re: Rick McC]
quebectrapper Offline
trapper


Registered: 02/04/07
Posts: 7
Loc: eastren townships quebec
nice
i notic alot of ur marten are really dark
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#143670 - 03/20/07 12:42 AM Re: Marten Sets [Re: quebectrapper]
white17 Moderator Offline
"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
trapper


Registered: 03/17/07
Posts: 5070
Loc: McGrath, AK
Here's my old stand-by. Wing hanging for bait with a smear of lure.



another view of same set;
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#146359 - 03/21/07 05:02 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: white17]
Kusko Offline
"Mr. Mayor"
trapper


Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 2086
Loc: Bethel, AK
White, I can't remember? Is that a #0 or a #1? That is exactly how I caught mine this year....I'm still pumped.
_________________________
"There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin." Linus Van Pelt

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#146725 - 03/21/07 07:35 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: Kusko]
fishermann222 Moderator Online content
"OX"
trapper


Registered: 12/22/06
Posts: 3036
Loc: Bethel, Alaska
from Alaskacajun


Here's a pic of a leaning pole with a chunk of muskrat for bait and using a #1 jump on the pole.... Asa Lenon provided the lure it's pretty strong and if the wind is right I smell the set before I see it!
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#146767 - 03/21/07 07:51 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: fishermann222]
fishermann222 Moderator Online content
"OX"
trapper


Registered: 12/22/06
Posts: 3036
Loc: Bethel, Alaska
From Top Jimmy

Here is a set that works on the ground and then swings the marten up off the ground when he gets caught.







It is good for those marten that won't climb to a bucket.

-TJ
_________________________
I survived the Tman crash of '06

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#146782 - 03/21/07 08:01 PM Re: Marten Sets [Re: fishermann222]
fishermann222 Moderator Online content
"OX"
trapper


Registered: 12/22/06
Posts: 3036
Loc: Bethel, Alaska
Question from SE_ALASKAN
TJ- how did you attach that pecker pole to the tree with loosly tied wire? and is it attached to the tree in the middle or 3/4 of the way down for a pivot point? have you ever tried attaching your bait to the triggers of a 120 ?

Answer from Top Jimmy
Loose wire is how it was done there, as it is faster to set up. That set takes a lot of work to get up compaired to a lean to pole or box/pot set, and any time you can save is great. I have heard of guys drilling out a hole and then using a nail in there as well for a swivel point. The swivel point is about 1/3 to 1/4 from the tip of the pole (I haven't heard the term "pecker pole" since I left Wrangell by the way!) with the heavy end of the pole in the air. You want all the weight at the back end so it will swing up the marten. And like Recondo said, you will take more females with this set, so be careful not to over do it.

I have not tied anything to the coni triggers. Takes to much time when making sets and I would rather have them focus on the bait past the trap so that they shoot in and get suit cased instead of just one bar getting them. I want them D.. E.. A.. D.. Dead! I don't want them struggling the trap at all.
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