marten boxes: up/down/horizontal?

[musher]

Most of my trapping is done for the year. I used to have all my marten boxes on pole sets. This worked well and I caught a few mink/lynx this way. The down side was the bird issue and the time to construct the sets.

I then went to vertical with the box opening facing down. No birds and no lynx. A lot fewer red squirrels, too. The flying squirrel situation is slightly better than horizontal.

The down side is that fisher sometimes rip off the top screen to get the bait, no lynx, and the occasional trap fallen out with no catch.

I know that some trappers vertical with the opening facing up. It's fast to bait and they get a few lynx. I'd be afraid of the catch not swinging free of the box, snow in the box and jays.

Any thoughts?

[musher]

Here's what has got me to ask the question.



Check out the position of the marten to the jaws. I believe that the marten come down the tree and entered the trap from the side of the box.

[RdFx]

I put boxes like you do up out of reach of suburban dogs and catch coon in that position ...

[musher]

Do you ever find traps hanging sprung or unsprung?

[northof50]

trail comera video time.
I watched for 5 minutes the antics around a box...till commentment
the movement through and around the tree is real fast, now I know why their claws are so sharp hanging upside and every angle

[Gibb]

[TrapperRon]

My preference is horizontal boxes. A 1" x 1" screen is on one end for the birds to feed and boughs cover the business end which helps tremendously to deter birds from getting caught. In my opinion two Canada Jays (whiskey jacks) squabbling over the free meal is the best attractor there is. I use the 120 LDL with a pan trigger.

[RdFx]

No with them climing up in they get a good neck catch , sometimes one leg and neck.

[timb]

Awesome pics, Ron!