The Mink Resting Set

[lumberjack]

Steve,
I am interested in using some resting sets for mink this year,and think I know the basics,a place for him to eat,and rest with some overhead protection.
Ive caught some in similar places where they expired with a minnow or other fish in their mouths so I assume they were going there to eat it.
My question is;
Here in Pa,there are so many crevaces and overhangs,that I would like to know what is the 1st thing you look for in a resting set-say you had a overhanging bank,a nice crevice in an old bridge abutment,or a nice hollowed stump all near a nice pool of fish filled water,which would you choose.
I think I know the answer,all of them,but give me the lowdown on what you look for and what produces the best-say you had 2 traps to set at one 50 yard section of stream on each side?
Can they be made and if so,how do you do it?
Do you ever bait them?
Ive seen your pictures of sets,but every set looked somewhat different in a way.
I use just about every mink set in the book with decent success,but want to add this set to my bag of tricks.
Thanks in advance.

[trappnman]

yes- that would be my answer...LOL

To my mind, an undercut bank with a foot or so space betwen top on bank and water- is the perfect mink set. Smaller undercuts can be used- but I find most success with some headroom

Trap tight to the bank with a pencil sized stick next to outer jaw. Just fyi- every mink trap should be set so that the outer edge of the pan is closest to the line of travel- the tension on that part of the pan is often 2-3 lbs less than tight to the dog.

On these undercut banks- I'll use the ones that the rats are working. If you don't have rats, and mink are using them, they should be some sing of use...less grass if nothing else.

On many creeks- these sets make up the highest % of my sets.

Stumps- hit or miss. I have a couple of ...more root ststems than stumps but a little of both- that take 2-3 mink every year. Some setups never produce. I think that the key is does the stump/root ball OFFER the mink anything? I believe that one of the biggest fallicies around in mink trapping is that mink investigate every nook and cranny, hole on their route. The truth to this is- yes, I have no odubt the first time or two a mink comes threough and area he checks out stuff as time permits and the fullness of his belly- but on an established route- an area where the mink has lived, worked and played for many months- those dead spots are ignore. IMHO, of course.

So- the stumps that offer a possiblity of food, of real shelter where none is around, etc- seem to produce.

What do I look for? Well- the first thing I look for is muskrat sign. You simply cannot get a better mink set than where muskrats are. Muskrats are to mink like sheep/cows are to coyotes. They might not eat them every day, but they like being around them and they travel the same routes. So- set up any rat feedbeds.

Then- or if rat sign isn't present- I look for a couple of things- 1) logs or big branches on the bank that stick out over the water- a bank 2-4 feet high is best but not exclusive 2) logs or branchs leaning against the bank with a space between them or the bank

then 3) any rapids and where the water goes from the rapids...esp if it bends-where does "calm" occur...

Alsao look for any of these features that is in the middle of an open or bare strip....what could be a haven or sanctuary partway across.

If you have a nice habitat area...and an open bank then another nice stretch..... and no feature is present...I'll often place a log or a branch leaned against the bank. Make a depression with your gloved hand to "cup" thew bank and to hold a trap. I feel very important to place that one guidestick by outside jaw- the cupped feature of the bank...plus the stick...gives the set a sort of tunnel continuity look-

on features already there- look closely underneath then tight to bank. On many, you'll see a sight cupped depression...thats where they rest.

Also look for "landing spots". My first realisation of this type of setup was these little spots that looked like boat ramps going into the water...and not always or even commanly going anywhere....just a resting spot. I'll often make one on a sheer or almost vertical bank right in the middle.

I never use lure or bait at these sets- with the exception of extremely cold weather- sub zero, I will use some mink lure at some of the sets.

Also- I very, very seldom- read that as almost never ever- set on both sides of the creek. One side is simply going to be better. Better habitat, more grasses, deeper water, sunny side- whatever. THe mink will just about always be drawn over to one side or the other. Years of previously trapping both sides showed me that. On creeks that have equal habitat, etc on both sides- then set up more traps on both sides. If 2-4 traps- always on one side or the other.

[Furhandler]

Could you post some pics again Steve, I was doing some thinking on the last pics you posted just the other day and was going to bring it up again but LJ beat me to it.

[lumberjack]

Steve,
How about you get a chance make some fresh sets with close-ups of trap placement and the different types of rest spots one might encounter?
Thanks again

[trappnman]

THe previously posted pictures are probably in the archives- if I get time- I'll take a few pictures- but with gophers its hard to get to the creeks now.

[NittanyLion]

Screw the gophers, hit the creeks and show us something. ;D

[dj88ryr]

As much as I learned about minking from you Lion, if Steve would impart some of his wisdom, I am sure I could become a complete minker in a short time.

[BK]

A very common resting spot I've found for mink in daylight hours after November 1 is in the back of my F150.
Late in the season they tend to rest in the cab as their fur wants to stick to the box.

[NittanyLion]

BK....Why don't you show us some pictures where those mink riding the back of your truck come to their final resting spot?

[BK]

I don't have any Kids at home to post them for me Ninny. LOL
Remember Ninny I also have pics. of you looking for tracks, mink escaping from your bucket set, and how mink really fish in Wisconsin.

[kevind]

Something I keep an eye out for is a vertical bank with a overhanging small or medium bush. You can grab that and give it a pretty good tug, and quite a bit of dirt will fall into the water and the bush will overhang. There should be enough dirt fall in the water to stick up out of the water and give them a spot to crawl up on. The bush gives the overhead cover. If you look for these, there are quite a few possibilities to make resting spots along banks that might not naturally have many. They work well for me when I make them, only down side is they generally don't last past the next flood out.

[CoonDuke]

Steve,
How do you set up undercut banks where there is a foot or so of dry land between the waters edge and the vertical undercut? Where will the mink be?

****
**********
***************
***************
I
I
++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++=======================

* is the grassy bank
I is the vertical edge of the undercut
+ is the dry "shore"
= is the stream

[NittanyLion]

Now that is a piece of art CoonDuke. I can't wait to see how Steve sets it up.

[dj88ryr]

****
**********
***************
***************
I@@ ZZZZZ
I@@ ZZZZZZZZZ
++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++=======================

I am NOT a master minker, but the @ would be my trap and ZZ would be a rock or other blocker to force them either into the open and the water, or through my trap, I would bet they would go close to the verticle and stay out of sight.

[trappnman]

I wouldn't set it up.

One could stick a conibear there, and I have done so- but on a 3 day check- I hate having animals high and dry- eagles and owls, coyotes tend to get them. If I simply could not set up elsewhere- which I should be able to do- at the very least either end should hit water...I would either dig out that foot of dirt until the edge hits the water...and if that was impossible- I'd block off a section as DJ says and make him come to water.

Remember I'm trapping most times with a snow cover so stay off land.

I think on blind sets- this is very hard to put into words.... the location stands out because of its very location...if that makes sense.

so a mediocre location, while it can be made better, usually stays a medicre location.

The good locations are good locations because mink ae drawn to them AND you have a decent chance of taking him.

I seldom take mink in pockets because I am setting sepcifically for coon. While a tight trap mink pocket set would take coon- it really is a lower % coon set than one made for coon. Esp in wnter when ice up and keeping it open is a problem, Tight traps and guides freeze quicker, longer.

[CoonDuke]

So you are saying that the mink will run the vertical edge? Would a conibear placed along the edge WITHOUT the rock blocking like DJ said about also take the mink at this location? We have a 36 hr check in PA so loss would not be a problem.

If I was using a foothold, I would have a tendancy to want to set the ends, where the water meets the vertical edge bank...but conis are are easier to keep working for a guy setting a few mink sets along a fox line.

My problem is that I don't have much faith in conibears set dry. Not that I have had bad experience with them...but more so all the tales of trap avoidance with them.

[dj88ryr]

Steve,
Here we usually get at least 3-4 weeks of open water before ice becomes a problem. You may have some of the best dirt around, and your land trapping is second to none, but your water trapping sucks eggs, compared to here ;D But I will be in the same situation when I get back to NH, there if you get a few days of open water, it is unsual, mostly below ice, or dealing with it

[dj88ryr]

CD, When I posted that, I was thinking bodygripper, for the exact reason you mentioned, out in the open you might get some avoidance, but I think in that situation the body gripper would be less visible, but I would still use the blocker.

[CoonDuke]

DJ,
I think I would take Steve's stable spring creeks over our freestoners any day. Our darn rising and falling water levels is why I want to learn to use conis.

[dj88ryr]

I know the creeks you are talking about, I am in habitat that matches Ninny's type of creeks, yeah the water does flucuate some, but not as bad as those rocky mountain creeks, and I usually have some high pockets for when it floods, I run them using those drowning rods you made for me, works slicker than $hit. But I only caught a couple dozen mink last year, so I am not in Ninny or Steves League.