Not another Mink Thread

[primetime]

Well I've read the Archives about 50 times and have been trying to take in everything that has been posted in the past on Mink Trapping. Some posts continue to jump out at me like: "There isn't a Mink I Can't Catch"

I'm not so sure on that statement. Now take into consideration that I'm a Hunter, have been my whole life, just started trapping hard this year. So I've always been interested in Mink and have watched Mink while deer hunting and have followed Mink tracks while Rabbit Hunting. So I'm not dumb when it comes to Mink, but I also haven't trapped that many. Now how could one say that there isn't a Mink I can't catch. The way I see it Mink are very random.

Just because a Mink is supposed to follow the bank or edge, doesn't mean he has to. I find it hard to believe that on any given night a Mink wouldn't just swim down the middle of the creek or stream or what have you. Or for that matter run the grass 50 yards up on the shore.

I pose this Question: Does a good location draw nearly every Mink passing to it's location? Are there spots a Mink just can not resist?

Story: I'm guessing BK will like this one. I've had a portion of stream set up since November 12th. I set it up mostly for Mink. Set 8 traps in that location near a beaver dam. Gang setting a small portion of crick, because I didn't want ANY Mink to get through. First check I had a small male in a blind set, most likely YOY. A few weeks later I took another YOY male in a pocket set. The ice formed on the upper side of the Beaver damn, so I had to move some traps around last weekend. One such spot was a blind set along an undercut seamed like a perfect Mink Location. I had it set up with a foothold for 3+ weeks and nothing. While I was walking to it breaking Ice, my hand slipped down and I felt a shelf with an old root underwater that made a Bottom Edge type location. I had an extra Coni, so I set it up. Why Not! Didn't figure I'd catch anything, because I had a foothold there for weeks with nothing. Next check the trap was snapped with nothing. Yesterdays check - a female Mink. A FEMALE?? I'm guessing (totally guessing) that she has been around that area from day one, and it took me 3+ weeks and a new set to catch her. How many more Mink have I missed?

Then Question 2: Do the Big Males move to water for Food OR for mating?

The archives are full of comments like when times get tough the males move to the water... Now I've walked a lot of grassy areas along the banks heading to the water and it is not uncommon to see a few mice running away as I walk through. I find it hard to believe that water hunting would be easier then land hunting. Pheasant Hunting my father-in-law had a Brittney that would catch and eat Mice on the run while hunting. She would grab them and go - she was an eating machine. But my point is it would have to be easier to catch mice in the grass .vs trout in a stream. So do these Big males hit the water to find food or to find mates? I think they are hunting the edges for female Mink. Comments???

I'm not trying to state FACT! (Please don't think I am) I'm just wanting to start some interesting conversation.

Later - PT

[BK]

I'm off for the weekend primetime ( no computer where I'm headed),........I'll jump in if this thread warms up ;D,......... Steve?
I will say this before I take off,.... I find it very amusing how many trappers see a mink track and feel the mink has left for good or is on the far end of his "7-10 day route". LOL
Does it count if you catch him in 2 days?
Naw that must be a different mink?
I never could see tracks left underwater, I think if we could one would have a lot more to muse about.

[dj88ryr]

You are right about them being unpredictable, they go where they want, when they want.

As with most wild animals, there has to be greater benefit in the food they catch, than there is energy expended making the catch. I think this is why you have more mink IN the water after heavy snow and ice. They aren't just catching trout, they catch crayfish, shiners, frogs, muskrats, and mice, right at the waters edge. They also I believe relate to the edges of the stream more than the middle, as then they can use the bank for help in cornering prey, and a lot of prey relate to the edges.

[trappnman]

I think mink hunt a lot underwater- there are fish, there are frogs, crayfish, other crawly things. Many of those mice and shrews ( I see 10 shrews to 1 mouse) you see on the grassy banks- end up in the water. I spook several a day some days into the water. Mink hunt these edges and a main way of hunting is to spook and pounce.

Forget trapping mink on dry land. For sure, its possible and I've caught dozs of mink in dry sets- but over all, during the cold and snow- the mink are so random on land that I do not bother (with the exception of mink made snow tunnels). You can follow mink tracks n snow all your want- single sets are just that- most likely will not be reused. But when the go to the water- thats your key. The can enter and leave the water in numerous places- but while in the water, you can catch them 2 ways. I sometimes laugh because I say I don't use or have much success in BE sets- yet another trapper will claim they are best set going, and i in the years time I took 2-3 times as many mink in the BE set being unsuccessful as the successful ones did.

And let me make that clear- I am not talking about those few that really have made the BE set work for them- OldMink from PA, BK from WI, etc... that take a ton of mink from these sets.

My point is that 1) my minds eye is not looking for BE sets 2) I really feel that we do not have streams that lend themselves to BE sets- and I could be dead wrong on this- BK has generously offered to let me ride along- unfortunately have not had time to do so yet. Right now... have maybe 10 BE sets out, double that if you count 110s in an inch of water along vertical banks. I should set more- and I plan on doing so this year- once ice has stabilized and I can spend time setting rather than maintaining.

But the second way you can catch mink in water is to look for the resting places, the hunting places and the feeding places- oft all 3 in 1 location. Just as BK can look at a stream and "know" where to put his 100- I can look at a bank and "know" where that mink is going to, usually, go. If not today, next week, next month.

Heres how mink operate. Its my thoughts, based on observation, talking to those that do know (biologists) and reading about mink and their habits. Male mink, in my opinion- travel far from the creeks. They spend most of the late spring, summer and early fall far from water and in the meadows and fields acting like a weasel more than a mink. Life is good- bunnies, mice, shrews, birds, etc, etc. These mink stay i these ranges- traveling some, hitting water..but its easier living away from the water and male mink do like to wander.

Females on the other hand have another business to attend to and thats raising young. the best place for that is on the smaller streams, the seeps, the wet spots, etc. Lots of creepy crawly for the young mink to eat, she teaches them how to hunt, predators aren't as prevalent o the smaller, out of the way places.

These family groups start moving to the streams in late summer and early fall. When it become easier to make a living on the creeks- as the seeps dry up, freeze up. As the food sources get depleted, more territory is needed and they migrate to new areas- the winter ranges.

Male mink on the other hand- are still out there where life is good. Not directly tied to the water like the family's- he often does not move back to the creeks until major snows for him to.
Part of his coming back is also the faint stirrings of mating season- but an early big snow will do the same thing

People thing that mink have a regular, timed route. They don't. A mink finds a food source- he could stay put for a week or more. A moving mink is usually a hunting mink- mink have very little fat reserves- esp the YOY and females. They need to eat pretty much everyday and like any animal- they find a banquet hall- they stay put. If the table is empty- they move on. They got's no choice.

Back to trout- I don't feel a mink has any problem in the world catching a trout. Panic trout into shallow water or where they turn- easy pickings. I see a lot of fish in mink scat. To think that mink don't hunt the water as much or more than the land during winter would be wrong- and in my opinion, mink hunt the water- grassy undercuts, root systems, soft bottoms, fish- because that where prey can be found the easiest.

I've read many times- the secret to mink trapping is to remember the mink is a land animal. My advice is to forget that advice.

That female you got might have been there all along or might have been moving through. Its 50/50.

[trappnman]

and of course as dj says rats- by far, year after year- my best mink streams are my best rat streams.

[CoonDuke]

"110s in an inch of water along vertical banks"

Is that a high percentage set for you?

[BK]

You're no fun at all Steve,...........I can't argue much with what you posted.
I could take you on my line and show you a few things that would make you blink, and perhaps be of value when things get tough.
But the way you describe the creeks you trap I think you have it coved quite well,...........and one must remember, coon walk right past my sets.

[BK]

CD,......... I do well with that set if I have some over hanging grass to break up the trap, your trigger wires are more of an issue above water than underwater, I like mine off to one side.
I find muskrats harder to trick in that set than mink.

[trappnman]

LOL- I think so much of mink trapping is minds eye.

I have no doubt that I would indeed learn a lot about BE locations from you- I am sure things I pass up would be spots you would look at and smile.

CD- yes and no. On some creeks- on some vertical walls- I take a minok or 2 every year- one such location, I took my only true mink triple- 3 mink i na row- all from, bleieve it or not- 110s.

Yet other creeks- in similar type situations, I' take few mink in such sets. Thats like 110s under bridges along the walls. I've set a gazillion of them over the years- and never took a mink in them- underwater, out of water, by themselves- with a rock next to them.

We just got our waterlines out and have checked them 2x. 1X was an all day check over entire line- 2 checkwas split in 2 and was maintaining with a lot of ice to move. I had some shelf ice 5-6 inches thick. As I run the lines over next 2 months- I'll add more 110s - one here, a couple there.

[primetime]

Mink after a catch seem to and I guess must head to some location to consume it's prey. They are not like a dog or coyote that can down a mouse with one gulp. They have actually small mouths and would have to go to a location that presents cover and the right depth water or lack there of to eat there prey. I'm guessing a mink would not or could not eat underwater? So after hunting pool A for trout, frogs, or whatever they must head someplace to eat.

Is this area the area you talk about Steve in your resting spot?

Even my dog if you give her something to eat will usually head to a more isolated location to consume it. Must be an animals nature or something. Possession in 9/10th of the law type thing.

Now are these areas used time after time by every Mink, or do different mink use different places.? Do some head to undercuts while others take it to an extreme and go deep into root balls? A new Male Mink to an area what will he do? Will he choose the quickest and most obvious cover?

One Mink I caught earlier this year was in a Muskrat set. It was a small stream with Grass on both side. My set was on an area were Muskrats were crawling up on the bank. A 1 1/2 just under the water was my trap and placement. Anyway one day as I was wading the stream I saw a mouse floating in the water near my set. The trap was gone. I pulled it up and sure enough a Mink. Now I'm guessing that this mink was taking it's supper to a known safe location to eat it, and found my trap on the way through.

So the statement: There isn't a Mink I cant' catch while it's hunting near my location. Could maybe be true. BUT, There isn't a Mink I can't catch while it's traveling. Would be very very tough.

[trappnman]

a travelling mink IS a hunting mink- assuming there is food there.

A mink needs 1 thing when resting and/or eating. Protection. Side cover, overhead cover.

The chicken and the egg parable comes to mind.....

[primetime]

Sooooo Is the Mink Rut and the Whitetail Rut anything alike?

Is the Mink Rut more of a when the opportunity presents itself type thing or an all out hunt like whitetails?

Eating is not a major concern for a Whitetail during the rut.

Also on a Mink Feeding. Do they eat while still in the water, or will they go to dry land? Most of our sets are in the water. 1" plus of water. Would it not be easier to feed out of the water?

I'm just posting these questions to generate discussion. It's an interesting animal that is fun to try and figure out.

Like BK said if only we could see tracks underwater!

[psb1011]

Ive caught most of my few mink in dryland conibears,including this one a couple days ago.

[CoonDuke]

Phil,
Did you use any type of guiding on those dry bridge wall sets?

[trappnman]

haven't seen a bridge like that for 25 years. All our bridges are new bridges and most of tem have boulders the size of bushel baskets as rip rap from one end to the other. Or- the water comes right to the walls.

A set like that could never be done on a 3 day check or you would have a lot of damaged mink. Coyotes, owls, hawks and other mink are the most common eaters of land caught mink. I even have 2-3 a year that coyotes pull from the water to eat.

[fishadict]

Looks to me like Phil just stuck a stick through the spring, CD. Steve, that is the "top edge" set.

fa

[trappnman]

ah come on fa...that just an old simple trail set like Frank Conibear showed us..... LOL

[primetime]

Oh come on someone has got to have something else to say. Just today... Sure I may have been able to catch this mink that ran both banks near my sets. If he wasn't running the SHELF ICE. He would enter and exit the water about 18" - 24" away from the shore on the ice.

Bottom Edge Sets MAY have worked if he was diving down. I think it was hunting the edge, just the NEW ice edge. Actually he would stay away from the edge most of the time and then just run up into the grass every once in while.

Spent a half hour busting shelf ice and putting in some new sets.

[trappnman]

you will find mink love to run that ice that is only 4-10 inches wide. It can be set- but you have to know where it will form and anticipate it ahead of time.

[billkasten]

Had a mink yesterday come right up to a set like Phil's set only difference we got snow .Darn mink came right up to it and walked around it . I was useing a stabilizer thou. I set two more foot traps today were the mink entered the water.