Mink trapping production in relation to mink sign?

[ScottW]

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After a couple years of mink trapping, and especially this year I'm wondering how all of you feel about setting where it "looks good" or maybe "should be good" and what not when there is NO mink sign whatsoever....no tracks, no scat, no anything. In the past few years there was much less sign in my area than this year, and the mink catch went right on up with the sign. Not just the catch #'s, but the overall prodcution in terms of mink per trap nights. I just set up in some new area the past week or so and have had no mink production. Granted, I know the areas were probably trapped at least a little in the weeks since opener. I think you all get the jist of what I'm saying, so what do ya think? Is it worth setting on no sign, especially if year after year you get no production out of the areas? Or just search for new territory WITH sign?

On a side note, the new territory I'm in right now is "trout stream" type of territory and much of it is stained muddy clay water.

Happy trapping. ScottW

[lumberjack]

Just got in from the 1st day setting and got about 50 out, mostly bottom edges. Didnt see a track all day and didnt really look. With the amount of flooding we get here anymore a guy would be hard pressed to find sign in the way of tracks.
I guess in a way all tracks are are proof hes there, which is a good thing. I always assume theres at least one mink near where my traps are.

[billkasten]

I'm by no means a large # mink trapper but I seldom look for sign and catch several every year. It just makes it sweeter if theres sign but I've caught lots of mink off streams were no sign is present. Most of the streams here are rocky and very little mud .

[thorsmightyhammer]

Scott I personally dont worry much about finding or looking for sign. I dont have time.

Mostly its habitat that attracts me to set at an area. Here if theres water there will be a mink. Problem is if I stay at a location long enough for one ot come or if the weather allows me.

[dj88ryr]

I almost never see sign, and now that I know what type of stream to set, I know I will catch mink, not every stream here has them in trappable numbers, but once you have an eye for it, I just set like a madman, I probably am setting way too many traps in each section I trap, but my mink numbers climb every year, and I'm sticking to it.

[trappnman]

sign means nothing...

but experience with the streams does.

If a stream continues to not produce- then 1) either you aren't trapping it right 2) there are no mink.

Only you know the answer to that.

key factor for me- is it a dead stream or one with plenty of prey?

dead streams give you an occasional travelling mink- I set up several easy stops like that, that give me 0-2 mink a year.

Also- its very important to classify streams- in other words- if a certain type of stream (cover, prey, water condition, ice tendencies, etc) gives you mink- then its pretty likely that similar type streams in the same watersheds will also.

One thing I'll argue with any mink trapper, and that's that location on a stream can be (not always) critical. In other words- the punch in 2 pocket sets guys at the access point, can often take no mink from an area, where the same sets 100 yards away, will be hot spots.

Set a new creek up heavy- find out those hotspots...and sometimes you wil lfind it just doesn't matter. But you also will find, that the specific location DOES matter.

[braveheart]

Mink sign is good to see but I have had streams with no sign and I caught 4 mink in a 1 weekin one spot. period.Best day so far is 32 this year on the road.I learned from the best Bud Hall location I think is very important.

[dj88ryr]

trappnman said:

sign means nothing...

Set a new creek up heavy- find out those hotspots...and sometimes you wil lfind it just doesn't matter. But you also will find, that the specific location DOES matter.

I will always set up a new creek real heavy, I think I told you last year I got a new farm, with a good looking stream, I set up every possible spot, with pockets, BEs, Blind resting spots, and even dirt hole sets on the high banks, I had 25 sets in less than a half mile of stream, took a few rats and a few coon the first night, and my best one night take from one stream ever on mink, not sure if I would have made that catch, if I hadn't set so heavy. This year I know where I will set there, and probably cut back to maybe 10 sets in the same stretch, I know where they should be on that stream. But I also set up quicky spots where I can jump from the truck, throw 2-4 sets in and go, without walking back down the stream, I think as long as I leave these sets in, I will get them eventually, if access is easy, I will walk a ways to set prime looking locations. With our streams here, you may have miles of unproductive parts of a stream, and only small sections where habitat and prey are there together, finding these spots is the key., but I will set up every bridge I cross on my way anyways, these spots pick up those traveling mink, and don't cost you a thing to have in, as long as you have the traps and are going by on your way elsewhere.

[ScottW]

I must say, I expected different opinions than I have saw so far on this. It's definitely apparent ya'll pretty much agree that location can play a big part. I just find it hard to to believe that sign seems to be so unimportant. I mean, obviously you can't catch sign, but I think areas with more sign are more often than not, better locations for mink. In saying this you have to realize I'm primarily trapping close to roads and when I say location I mean a particular river and what not. I pretty much scout year round (especially close to home) just because it's interesting to see what seems to be there and where it goes. I usually set even places that I find little or no sign, but would anyone agree in saying it's probably a good idea to gang set heavier at locations their is large amounts of sign? Happy trapping. ScottW

[jim]

Its hard to see much mink sign in good weather let alone in all this rain we have had. Braveheart: 32 is more than most guys get around here in a season, what state are you in, how many traps do you run? Jim

[Steve Gappa]

most streams around here, you could look for days and not see any sign because of grassy banks, etc.

KNOW your streams is the ONLY way.

[fishadict]

Steve - To know your stream, I assume you have to learn it? They need food and cover as pointed out above. Then set them up and start learning. Some extra sets, as DJ points out, should speed the learning.

On streams that I know, or think I know, I set the sweet spots, but always like to try something different as well. ;D

fa

[BK]

Perhaps one would be wise to consider the type of mink sign your looking at?
For example I've set up places in the snow where mink were taking advantage of an easy food source,...... crippled ducks, pockets of frogs, or fish freezing out.
Lots of tracks and trails and blood on the ice, it looks quite impressive, but in truth it's often only two mink.
It's easy to get worked up looking under some of the bridges around here, but the water has been low here for a long time.

The mink I'm most interested in here aren't on the creeks yet so they're not leaving any tracks just yet.
It's real hard to see tracks where I make most of my sets.

[braveheart]

I live in Iowa.I had 150 traps on that line with a good front coming through in the road ditch.It was a great day.

[dj88ryr]

You caught 3/4s of my best season on them in one day. ;D

[trappnman]

fishaddict- of course you have to learn your streams.

which is why I said

Set a new creek up heavy- find out those hotspots...and sometimes you will find it just doesn't matter. But you also will find, that the specific location DOES matter.

There is no shortcut to getting a good mink line.

bk said a very important tip- re read his post.

[fishadict]

Steve - point was for ScottW to make his best sets and learn from them. You know your streams by spending time learning them.

I agree with BK 100%. The tick bites on the males I catch this time of the year tell me they are spending time away from the streams as well. Get the right sets in and be patient.

fa

[BK]

This is a fun thread,......... if nothing else to see the different takes on mink trapping.
Lots of things come into play here, one of the greatest I feel is the number of potential places you are free to set up.
Now that might involve distances between creeks and rivers, permission, or whether your riding a bicycle in the case of younger trappers.
I'm personally best of making a valid effort close to the road and moving on.
Sure you can out walk me and cut some of the traffic if you walk both directions.
But I'll be down the road setting up two more places in the same amount of time,..........now you got your work cut out.
Let alone the fact my sets are slow to freeze.
But here again that's just me.

[Steve Gappa]

the point to me was his asking if his streams had mink on them, after a couple of unproductive years.

The only answer- is to know your streams.
and one way of course to know your streams- is oversetting over a large area..

[BK]

Yup, everyone should do what works best for them,........I often miss the point Steve.
My take on over setting is when I have a hard time getting to all the places I have set. ;D