The marten is a small animal whose habitat is a forest. The body length of this mammal belonging to the family of marten, on average, is about fifty centimeters. The animal has quite valuable fluffy fur, which is slightly second only to sable.
Martens are able to move quickly through trees. In this they are helped by five-fingered paws, on the end of which there are sharp claws. These motile animals have well-developed motor skills, which allows them to spend a lot of time hunting and playing games. The life expectancy of these mammals is 15-20 years.
The basis of the diet of martens are rodents (these include rats). They feed on small birds, as well as eggs of not only wild, but also domestic birds. The marten is able to crush several layers, laying them at the scene of the "crime" is unlikely. During its hunt, the predator breaks the neck vertebrae of the victims, and then drinks their still warm blood, curling its tongue into a tube.
The marten is very cunning. It’s not easy to catch her. She can escape from the hunter not only along the ground, but also along the branches of nearby trees. That is why the most effective way is hunting for a marten with traps. I catch animals begin in the late autumn. Set traps on the marten and all winter. Why is predator hunting conducted in these seasons? The fact is that the marten shedding begins in early spring. Her hair is getting enough sleep, and then begins to grow unevenly. As the cold weather approaches, by the end of October, the animal dresses in a luxurious winter outfit that attracts people.
During fishing, the forest is literally littered with snow. This contributes to the fact that the marten hunt with traps is very popular.
Preparation for fishing
The marten is a very careful animal. As a rule, she is awake at night, which makes hunting for this predator with a gun very difficult. Going to catch the animal, it is worth remembering that he does not arrange houses. That is why the marten is not attached to any one place. She moves throughout the forest, stopping only when she finds food or a convenient place for a day's rest. In case of danger, the marten easily leaves his pursuer.
The daytime shelter for the animal, as a rule, are hollow trees. For a long time only a female can stay in them, which must take care of the offspring.
Despite the fact that the hunt for the marten with traps begins in late October, until then you should not sit around. Since the beginning of autumn, you should look for places that will be convenient for the animal to live. Having found them, hunters make nicks. In addition, they feed the predator, periodically laying out the bait in the same places.
It should be borne in mind that, choosing a refuge, the marten stops in coniferous, broad-leaved and mixed forests. Especially a lot of animals where there are a large number of trees with hollows. It is in them that it is best for a predator to organize a shelter for himself. If there are few such trees, then the marten may well be located in the windfall blockages or in the well.
Fishing tactics
The marten hunt with traps begins after the place of future actions is determined, the territory is examined and the animal is baited. If you go into the area where fishing will take place after snow falls, then the ability to read traces is useful. Remember that if there are no old trees with hollows in this territory, then the predator can rest in the plexus of fallen trunks. Traces of the marten can be found on the banks of streams or rivers. In these places, the predator prefers to hunt. Particular attention should be paid to already found trails. There is a great chance that the animal will once again pass through them.
After discovering the territory where the marten lives, you need to figure out what to lure it into. The entrails of animals, as well as the meat of rodents or birds, may be suitable for this. It is recommended to keep the bait warm for several days. In this case, the smell from her will be stronger. To attract the animal, a feather of birds is well suited. It is either added to the bait, or scattered near it.
Variety of traps
For hunting fur animals, including the marten, iron devices are used that pinch the body of the animal that got into them when the spring is triggered. These are various traps and unauthorized devices. Moreover, such devices are of various types.
Traps on the marten, as a rule, put plate or frame. These two types of products are somewhat different from each other in their design.
Plate traps
The basis of these devices is a metal strip. Its ends are bent up. In the middle of the base is attached one end of the transverse strip. At its second end, which is also bent upward, is the latch of the gatehouse, which drives the entire mechanism into action.
Traps on the marten in the main strip have a couple of holes in which two arcs are inserted. These parts are compressed by springs, which are elastic metal strips, bent as necessary. The arcs end with two rings. One of them is put on the rack of the base of the device. The second ring is located on the lateral parts of the arcs.
The installation of plate-type traps is a compression of the springs almost to the contact of the rings and the arcing to the side. The tongue of the gatehouse should be thrown over one of the two arcs and fixed to the end of the trigger lever.
Going to the trap, the marten will take the bait. After this, the plate will move and the gatehouse will exit from under the trigger trigger hook. The arcs at the same time will firmly grasp the prey.
Frame traps
The basis of this device is a round or rectangular frame. On this detail is a stretched piece of canvas. Sometimes, instead of fabric, a large number of thin ropes are tied from the edges of the frame. They converge to the so-called gatehouse. On the opposite side of the frame are two racks. They have holes in which the ends of the arcs are inserted. Such traps are slammed onto the marten with the help of steel springs bent in the middle. These devices have a metal or wooden gatehouse of small sizes. It is mounted at an equal distance from existing racks. In addition, a hook or a small strip is sewn to the canvas, which is pulled onto the frame.
When installing frame traps, the springs are compressed. The arcs are bred to the side. Then, through one of them, the gatehouse is thrown, fixing its free end under a hook or a stitch sewn to the canvas. How does this device work? At that moment, when the marten touches one of the tightened ropes or steps on the canvas, the gatehouse is released from under the bar. At the same time, arcs converge, which infringe the animal, slamming with great force.
The frame trap (see photo below) is a universal device. With it, you can hunt almost all animals - from a small ferret to a bear. Its positive side is the large area of the guard.
Therefore, these devices have a high catchability. Traps have their numbers. When catching the marten, set No. 0 or No. 1. Making traps at home is not an easy task. Easier to purchase factory products.
Additional devices
Any type of trap is equipped with a chain, at the end of which there is a ring. This is necessary for attaching it to a bush or to a tree. Only in this case, the captured beast will not be able to leave, dragging a trap behind it (see the photo of this installation below).
When catching a marten, since it is a small animal, a cable or wire can be used instead of a chain.
Storage
In the summer, fishing gear must be placed in well-ventilated areas. You can not store traps in the garage, as the smells of gasoline and metal subsequently scare away the animal. The best storage place is the attic. Here the traps are best placed in a box, shifting them with branches of spruce or hay. But even if all the necessary conditions for proper storage were met, before proceeding with fishing, all devices must be carefully examined. Traps are cleaned of the rust present on them, and then boiled in water with the addition of fir or spruce resin. Only in this case they will get the smell of the forest and will not scare away the animal. The trap can also be coated with a thin layer of cow oil or lard. This will also save him from unnecessary smell.
Portable devices
For the marten, traps and traps are used. The last ones are snares and loops. These portable devices cover the body, neck or limb of the marten with a loop. It is made from a belt, twine or wire.
The loop, trap and snare are designed to catch a wide variety of animals - from gopher to bear. Using these self-propelled devices, various birds can also be caught - hazel grouse, capercaillie, etc.
The hinges can be installed vertically or horizontally. In the first embodiment, the animal will fall into the device with the body or head. In the second case, the marten will step on a loop that will cover her limb.
For the manufacture of such a device, a soft iron wire with a cross section from 0.6 to 1.1 mm, the length of which is 1-1.5 m, is required. One end of this workpiece is twisted into a small ring having a diameter of 5-8 mm. The short end of the wire is wrapped around a long one. The opposite end of the workpiece is threaded into the ring. The clearance of the loop should be about twenty centimeters.
When installing this device for fishing, it is necessary to ensure that it is at a distance of ten to fifteen centimeters from the snow cover. A twine is attached to a loop over a ring, with which the device is attached to a tree.
Set traps
Devices designed for catching animals are located near trees with a hollow, in the clearing, as well as in places where the border of two forests is located. Set traps on the marten can be made in places of past successful attacks on the predator. In this case, the hunter will have confidence in his abilities.
When traps are installed on the marten, the main focus is not only on their disguise. We need the right guard. The spring should be deployed in the direction opposite to the arrival of the animal. In this case, the trap should be firmly attached to the tree or to the bush with a thin chain or wire. Only then will the marten not drag him along. However, the best option is to fix the device so that the animal that has got into it does not have the opportunity to get out, while hanging in the air.
When installing a trap, the bait should be located 25-30 centimeters above the plate. You can place it on a knot near the device. It is recommended to check the traps twice a week.
Installation Rules
How to ensure that the marten that has fallen into the trap goes only to the hunter, and not to any predators or rodents? To do this, traps must be placed on piece-crafted or natural elevations. Only in this case the caught animal will freeze in the air and other animals will not be able to get it.
How to set traps on the marten to comply with these conditions? The optimal height of the device above the ground should be one to two meters. In order to prevent snow from falling into the trap, spruce branches or other improvised natural materials are installed above it.
The location of the trap in the nest
This method is considered the most effective when hunting for animals. How to put traps on the marten in this case? Even before the onset of frost, you need to look for a suitable tree. Three pegs having a length of about twenty-five centimeters are driven into the slit of its trunk. Two of them are mounted on the same level. The third is between them forty to fifty centimeters lower. On the bottom of these pegs set a trap. The upper ones are needed in order to build a roof from snow.
Deck usage
You may have been carving a moose. Then the deck, which was used in this case, can be used to catch the animal. How to put traps on the marten in this case? The device for catching a predator should be located directly on the snow near the deck. The animal necessarily smells the smell of entrails. The trap should be attached with a solid wire. Otherwise, the marten will drag him along.