In this episode, Cole Porter and I talk marten and fisher trapping as we head out to set boxes out on my line. We discuss plans for the upcoming season, marten/fisher interactions, and habitat types we look for when setting traps. Enjoy!
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During the beginning you mention intraguild predation (IGP).
During the end you express frustration trying to appeal to marten/fisher that have fed well, and consequently are not as interested in the formula, i.e. a slab of beaver meat. Don’t you see you’ve already provided the solution?
Predators drive for IGP surpasses simple hunger drive, as it should, because IGP gets 2 birds with 1 stone. It’s a combination of predation and the reduction of competition for prey. The beaver chunk is not going anywhere as long as I kill anything else that might eat it before I become hungry again.
So, if/when our traplines ever cross, I do hope you will stick to the formula. Keep on using that beaver and quill. All of the Legends do.
Thanks for the comments Joe! It was that line of thinking, along with some comments from you and others that got me thinking more about using gland lure, and mustelid carcasses in the boxes. Small sample size thus far, but the gland lure is producing very well this season. Haven’t tried the carcasses yet.