Serious Mink "Snaring"

[primetime]

Now either hardly nobody does this, or it's taboo secret squirrel stuff. I've been reading forums for years, and there is just very little information on snaring Mink. I for one have very little success with 110's and Mink. I've put in some beauties, and to date I can't remember one mink coming from an above water 110. (Oh wait I do remember one - oh and one was caught in a half in half out 110) But anyway it's not a great set for me. I've found some great locations, and I've left traps in WAY to long - but my sets get avoided.

I think if it could be done a snare would be a great mink tool. With MN law you would need to check it every day so that alone would make them a pain, BUT it would still be a nice tool to have on hand for certain situations.

Steve just posted a pic of a Mink Snare on another thread and maybe he will post it hear also.

If this is like 98% of the other Mink snaring threads I've read it will get lost soon under a stack of other posts. But maybe we can get some people to post.

Does anyone do it?

Has anyone tried?

I figured it was worth a shot!

[trappnman]

I bought these for snow tunnels, but alas, last few winters haven't been that type of winter.

Markymark snares a lot of mink.

[SteveCraig]

Mink snaring works VERY well. I would be willing to bet that you can catch more mink in a snare than you can in a 110 set in a dry trail.
Eric Space used to snare alot of mink. I know that Marky does too.

[trappnman]

steve- I have no doubt...so- spill with some tips.

[primetime]

Exactly.

[JLDakota]

Primetime,
Yes, I do it, I like it, and you can learn it quickly. Steve Craig is right that Eric Space, the maker of Kwik Drop Snares is most probably your best source for knowledge. He has snared huge numbers of mink. He has a couple how to videos (cheap) that cover the topic from top to bottom. I would send you mine but they are loaned out to a guy in Ohio.

I have dabbled with mink snares and Eric's mink snares are the fastest I've ever used. Anyone who has coni'd mink can snare them once you understand the subtleties of it and use the proper equipment. Because Eric sells both instructions, videos and snares I feel its only appropriate for me to provide his address and phone number and advise that money spent on his video/s IMO was the cheapest mink snaring education one could ever expect to find. JL

Space Wildlife Control
Eric Space
48 Lusscroft Rd
Wantage, NJ 07461
973-702-1332

BTW, for those who choose to make your own mink snares, do yourself a favor and buy some of Eric's so you understand what the end result is supposed to "close" like and then try to duplicate them.

[robertw]

The unfortunate truth is that it is not legal in a LOT of states. With the adoption of Cable Restraint regulations in some states and or regulated "deer stops" mink snaring is fast becoming a lost art.

Lots of Iowa trappers use to mink snare until the mandatory deer stop regulation.

[primetime]

I've always felt there should be something in the regulations that reads. Mandatory deer stop on all snares over "X" diameter. Or something to that extent. If a deer gets it foot in a mink snare I think it's luck had already run out and if not the snare a Mac Truck or 12 slug would have taken it out either way.

But what do you do.

JL - thanks for the info!

[mac]

Both of Eric Space's videos on mink are great, plus unbelievably priced. Not to get off topic but he has an excellent snaring video for fox and coyote.

mac

[wcollinge2000]

my guess is a mink snare would just break on a deer. There could be some thing done that would open this if a certain size cable could be used that will break with a certain tensile strength . how ever I think you will get what I am getting at. I don't know how to start that suggestion or to whom I would even suggest it to. but its an Idea. would love to hear some Ideas on mink snaring can't wait to read . I think I could catch some with snares and when I was at Steve's house he showed me the snare . I am getting a big bug thinking about it so I guess I need to check it out to see if I can do this. I even looked at some things I thought would be good before Steve showed me the snare. I am If I can do this next season as I did see some sets that I could have used them in but used 160's in last season some walked around the set when they got to it and some were there waiting very patiently for me so they could give me there coat. but a snare would eliminate some of the walk arounds as the size of the frame is not there with the snare easier to hide would look more like the brush or grass . I am thinking that I would be able to increase the catch or just catch them faster . Just another tool that will be better than what was available for us before.

[thebeav2]

What about fur damage. I can see where a lot of your mink would be caught a way's back and I would assume that It would be hard to drown one with a snare set up.
we wouldn't be able to use them anyway do to the deer stop thing. And that came out before Cable restraints. It was all way's on our beaver snares.

[JLDakota]

Beav,
The cable diameter, size of the loop, position of the lock and the speed of Eric's snares usually takes them right behind the ears and there is usually little to no snare damage. JL

[SteveCraig]

The snare in Steve's picture would not close "fast" enough as set up. You really have to "overload" them. You want that snare opening looking more like a pumkin than a nice round or even a teardrop snare loop.
There is a huge learning curve with mink as opposed to using 110's. But when you figure it out, dang!, it is fun! Like JL said, right behing the ears!
Switch to slim locks and they become faster. The Micro is fast, but not as good as you need extra hardware for a mink snare.

[primetime]

Do we have any email or website for this Eric Space?
Can you buy his video's from a dealer?

[markymark]

That snare is pure junk. The first issue is the snare will wobble in that set up, you can add a tooth pic in that swivel but why bother, you'll get a few chew outs with 3/64th's, fur damage not to mention the mini lock needs to be worked over to get the speed out of it. As Steve said the mink snare has to be over loaded, so the second it is hit it fires. Sometimes in hard wind some of mine will fire, Gang set them just like a conibear. Your wasting time and giving up speed if you boil them. You'll catch mink in them shinny.

Plus they can be set with Wadells supports in seconds, his support works like a mini kill pole. He doesn't know this yet but he will be builing me 15 dozen more. Not sold with'n 200 miles of NYC.

[JLDakota]

Primetime-

Eric's Space's email: [e-mail]

I'm not aware of a website or any distributors that have his videos. JL

[SteveCraig]

"Plus they can be set with Wadells supports in seconds, his support works like a mini kill pole."

Amen to that Marky! I bought some off of Robert last year at the FTA in Indiana. Fantastic and well built and best of all they work!

Excellent post!

[primetime]

I hate things like this because I want to see a pic of that support, but I also understand that the guy deserves credit for his idea and by showing good pics it's easy to copy.

So lets post his contact info also. And if people want they can order some.

Marky - what snare do you use? Your own or a boughten one?

[markymark]

All Robert is going to do is add a washer inbetween the support wire and the anto spin. Place the loop of the end of the snare over the anti spin and pound it in for a killer mink set up. They can be set in seconds. So fast it's funny.

what snare do you use? my own now.

[frenchman]

awesome thread!

snared some rats years ago and man, was a blast!

Not for efficiency, but funfactor is much higher than 110ing!