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mink
Mar 10, 2007 7:59:16 GMT -6
Post by trappnman on Mar 10, 2007 7:59:16 GMT -6
I posted this somewhere else, and a new trapper on mink got very offended, in fact his comment was "quit being so high and mighhty with my advice" and "my advice meant a man would be stupid to follow mink tracks?"
heres my advice:
Yes- there is a boatload that can be learned by following tracks.
But its not what most people think on mink. If I've read or it heard once, I've heard or read it a 1000 times- mink follow the same tracks and a wise trapper follows the tracks and sets where they enter the water. In following this advice, I don't know if I've ever caught a mink.
Mink on land, on snow, are very random (unless working structure). I've followed mink tracks for many hours, and I've never yet found patterns that remain true on where they enter the water, etc. This same tracking has also shown me, that not only don't mink "investigate every hole" like we read, but the number of holes they actually do investigate, is very small.
What tracks do is show you what side of a waterway they primarily work and more importantly- WHERE they want to enter the water.
To become a good mink trapper, you need to understand the primary food sources, and how a mink will utilize your area to hunt that source. That determines where he will be on land, where he will be in water.
Going back to tracks. What following mink tracks along particular sections of creek over months and years will tell you, is where are the places that every mink will WANT to go to.
So if you see mink tracks going into a creek, and when you see mink tracks over a long period going into the creek at roughly the same spot, you need to focus on the creek to see WHY hes going to the water. Clay banks with crayfish? deep hole with fish? grassy banks for shrew and mice?
then set accordingly- a pocket where he expects to go into holes, a resting spot for eating fish, whatever. You can take a 50 foot wide hole, and I bleive that every mink coming through, no matter where or how he comes to it- will almost invaritably hit one or two spots every time through.
And Marky is right on about a small distance being a big deal. To add to his example, I had a location I trapped for 10 or more years. Shallow creek, clay banks. Caught coon there, a beaver occasionally- but in those 10 years never a rat or mink. One year maybe 9-10 years ago, I had time to explore a little, and moved downstream MAYBE 200 yards. I found a small portion of the creek had a bunch of concrete chunks put in to reduce erosion, and grasses had over grown them. Every year since, I take 10-15 rats and 5-6 mink. Had a triple there this year.
So following tracks is good, because it directs you to definitive locations- but as far as catching that individual mink, thats hit and miss.
Comments? from actual minkers?
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mink
Mar 10, 2007 9:07:14 GMT -6
Post by mac on Mar 10, 2007 9:07:14 GMT -6
I may not fit your definition of a minker as I certainly do not put up huge numbers nor do I trap as many as you each season. But I do have an opinion, that if nothing else may provide for some interesting discussion. I read your opinion on following tracks and found your ideas interesting. I will agree for sure that understanding the food source is often an overlooked factor to success.
One thing I would like to offer is this. I am willing to bet that the majority of new or nearly new or beginning trappers (and unfortunately some veterans such as they are) are much like todays high school students. They want every thing fast, they way they process information, they way they access information and they way they think about problem solving is vastly different than say when you I were in high school or college.
What in heck am I talking about or driving at? There are a great many trappers beating around that really have very little basic understanding of what they are doing on several species as their knowledge is not "their" knowledge but is based upon videos, books and or instruction of some sort. In no way am I saying that the aforementioned forms of instruction are not valuable. In deed they are. But down deep, you and I know that we can write about some things until we are blue in the face and there can be a missing link of understanding. A link of understanding that can not be bought. I have a friend that is a successful canine trapper that in my opinion is missing a lot of the understanding available that would make him better.
I would humbly suggest that following mink tracks or any fur bearers tracks will do something for the thinking trapper that no other type of instruction can or will do. I would suggest that one can develop a sense, a feel, or understanding of the animals travel patterns that can become transferable knowledge that is extremely valuable.
Just my thoughts, which I am quite certain may not be well received by true minkers.
Mac
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mink
Mar 10, 2007 9:18:32 GMT -6
Post by Steve Gappa on Mar 10, 2007 9:18:32 GMT -6
I would humbly suggest that following mink tracks or any fur bearers tracks will do something for the thinking trapper that no other type of instruction can or will do. I would suggest that one can develop a sense, a feel, or understanding of the animals travel patterns that can become transferable knowledge that is extremely valuable.
yes, I agree 100%. And you sound like a minker to me.
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mink
Mar 10, 2007 10:41:36 GMT -6
Post by thebeav2 on Mar 10, 2007 10:41:36 GMT -6
Number one factor = COVER. Cover = groceries and the two put together = MINK Log jams drift piles washed out root systems,under cut banks. Can all hold food for mink and they also provide over head cover and resting places for a hunting feeding mink. I think most good mink men just have that sixth sense when it comes to location. I can walk into a new area and look at a creek or river and just kind of know where to set that trap or traps. Maybe It's just because I've been doing It for 50 years. In another thread someone mentioned getting down and looking at things In the animals perspective. This Is good advice for even the mink trapper.That's why I like to wear waders, I can get right down on my knees and look things over.
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mink
Mar 10, 2007 10:45:34 GMT -6
Post by SteveCraig on Mar 10, 2007 10:45:34 GMT -6
EXCELLENT post Mac...........!
You put into words what I have been trying to get accross to many students over the las t several years. Your post applies to much more than just mink trapping. It can be applied to other forms of trapping AND predator calling. Heck it can be applied to ALL facets of life. Very profound. Thank you, Steve
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mink
Mar 10, 2007 11:04:13 GMT -6
Post by Wright Brothers on Mar 10, 2007 11:04:13 GMT -6
I saw that and made a reply. Some places it's so easy to piss someone off that after backspacing the reply to not make waves the reply made no sense so I axed it. ___________________________________________________ A point I had in mind was." Mink on land, on snow, are very random (unless working structure). "
BUT, By tracking, you can learn structure, and transplant that "learning" to other locations. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm not even close to being a minker but reading here and some Pa forum guys it's opened my mind, and stretchers. Thanks.
Mac your post is great and should be archived. The part about the push button, right now generation. I see complaining of extra clicking or scrolling being too much work. I often think of suggesting manual labor, the way we really learn things, but that would likely piss em off too.
Many things can not be learned by reading alone. I'm going to go build a counter top, by hand. No downloading involved.
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mink
Mar 10, 2007 11:21:07 GMT -6
Post by trappnman on Mar 10, 2007 11:21:07 GMT -6
don't misunderstand me- tracking anything is a learning experience.
And enjoyable.
but I see too often, that this endeavor should have an immediate reuslt...hers a mink track, he';s going here, he's going there...here he went into the water- so I'll set a trap and bingo.
Not for me. I've deliberately played that game many times to see what happens. I see where a mink enters the water, and make a blind set right there. Next time, the tracks are 5 feet away...so move the tap there..next time you see tracks, 10 feet other direction...so move trap there.
Its all to easy to to take some advice- such as mink follow edges or mink always uses the same "tracks"- and then be disappointed when you place your trap, he does not follow your expectations. So yes, mink follow edges- if the circumstances are right.
Mink investigates holes- if theres a reason.
Tracking shows shows you general patterns, not (unless you have a beaten down coon trail or a fence cut through for yotes as examples) specific ones.
The whole secret of mink trapping, is to figure out where the majority of mink go and WHY.
I think blind setting, for mink or anything, is like beav says, just experience, experience, experience.
I remember years ago, when I'd take 15-20 mink a year rat and coon trapping, and thought I was taking a good share of the mink I had to take. But when I made a real effort to follow mink tracks, to go out in the summer looking for mink, to get into the creeks and look for subtle hints- thats when I started catching mink.
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mink
Mar 10, 2007 11:53:18 GMT -6
Post by Wright Brothers on Mar 10, 2007 11:53:18 GMT -6
"The whole secret of mink trapping, is to figure out where the majority of mink go and WHY" As a kid I spent a lot of time in the creeks. A real "minnower" with soft shells on the list too. One "spot" held minnows when all others that should, did not. Why?? Warm, mineral spring seep I say, or WHY? I caught critters there in all seasons. It's posted horse pasture now. Another slogan you can use for freebie jobs "if she likes it, I love it"
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mink
Mar 10, 2007 17:49:57 GMT -6
Post by jmchitekrednek on Mar 10, 2007 17:49:57 GMT -6
Ok, I am not a minker either, but I will share what I have observed. A lot of what I have seen depends on the size and kind of stream you are on. On larger streams, the structure constantly changes after large amounts of rain. The smaller feeder streams dump water into the bigger stream and lots of debris flows in the larger streams. The debris washes out in some places and stacks up in new places, thus changing the habitat. So, I don' t believe that a mink will consistently run the same routes on the larger streams. He will alter his paths of travel to where the new structure is located. The only tendencies that seem to have is to investigate the structure in search of groceries. I have seen them swim across open water in larger creeks to investigate a log jam on the other side. Also on the larger streams, I have noticed that more times than not they will head to where the smaller feeder streams meet the main stream. They don't always go up the feeder streams, but seem to hit where the two streams meet. When larger streams may have a finger of land jutting out into the stream (a minature peninsula if you will) the mink like to hit the down stream side of the fingers. I think the water on the downstream side of the finger is a bit calmer, thus providing a place for the water creatures to find a place of rest out of the current................thus creating a shelf in the minks grocery store. I have also seen mink in the middle of the hard woods on top of a mountain with no water aruond for a mile and they will still climb in and out of brush piles. And if you were to try and follow his tracks to find his path to a creek, it has no patter to it. So, I think investigating cover is the most common tendency they have. Pick the openings where it looks like they will enter the structure and set there. And no matter how good I think a location may look for a blind set, I still add a couple drops of mink gland lure, I never found it to hurt. Just my 2 cents worth.
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mink
Mar 10, 2007 17:56:56 GMT -6
Post by Steve Gappa on Mar 10, 2007 17:56:56 GMT -6
good posts!
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mink
Mar 10, 2007 21:00:33 GMT -6
Post by lumberjack on Mar 10, 2007 21:00:33 GMT -6
One place where mink tracks never did me a damn bit of good was on shelf ice. You cant prepare for it, and setting it up after the fact is an effort in futility, at least for me. In Pa here for me, they seem to love running it when it first happens, then the activity on the shelf ice seems to slow down abrubtly.
I cant tell you how many times ive had sets underneath and beside shelf ice (before it happened) only to have him motor right on down it instead of through my traps. For the most part I dont worry in the least about tracks, they are fun to see in the off season but dont seem to do me alot of good while setting.
I have caught a handfull of mink with help from tracks, in the mud, not in the snow. One thing is certain, a lack of tracks does not stop me from setting up a place.
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mink
Mar 10, 2007 21:13:05 GMT -6
Post by Steve Gappa on Mar 10, 2007 21:13:05 GMT -6
lumberjack- I too pondered the shelf ice problem. I've noticed exactly what yo uman- 12 or so inches of shelf ice, and the mink run right down the center. Try to set it up, and you mess up the ice. But I've found there is one set that you can prepare for ahead of time for shelf ice.
Pound a rebar stake (or I guess any lathe type stake would work) into the water about a foot from shore where you know shelf ice reliably forms. Leave it in place until the ice forms- then its easy to place a 110 on the stake, and position it right on top of the shelf, with the bottom just of to avoid freezeups. A little grass clump can be added on the sides if ice too wide.
Doing it this way, you don't disturb a thing. I've never used a snare in such a setup, but after talking to marky would think it would work real well.
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mink
Mar 10, 2007 21:39:57 GMT -6
Post by wcollinge2000 on Mar 10, 2007 21:39:57 GMT -6
Are ya sure its not those mink magnets on your traps steve. ;D I have been watching one the last 5 days and there is just one spot that it is entering the water almost religiously . but it is in a location that is nearest to access from a cover point and entry point . A point a to point b location. I know this is the only place That it does this. all other spots it goes to is for din din. very eratic and no trail like where it first enters this location. It is actually going through a culvert and cutting a line twards the marsh. its also a good spot to go in as the water has less current . Where it comes out of the water is different every time . I know what it is going for so i can see why it is going there besides it being the closest route to that spot. This post is very informative. It is also somthing that I looked for earlier this season. This may be more than one mink but it has gone the same route going into the water 5 days straight. I also had caught three mink in the same exact location this season. If my trap would have still been there I would have had 4. I am sure that all locations are not like this. Structure and location I think is also factor too. I may try to make a set in this location next season but not a blind set as I do believe I could get doubles or better in a very short distance from each set . alot of tracks did not follow the same route as I stated some went 15 feet out further or even hugged the bank for 20 feet or more then went in. This particular mink seems to like where it is comming through. . I know what you are saying and know you are right. so I am not taking what I see in just one mink and using it for all other reasoning about them. They are like people they are the same but they are different .and will generally do generally the same thing but alittle different from each other.
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mink
Mar 10, 2007 22:02:19 GMT -6
Post by thebeav2 on Mar 10, 2007 22:02:19 GMT -6
Big baits and mink?
I ran into a situation once where a deer carcass had washed down stream and hung up on a low limb that hung out In the water. Now i never paid much attention to It until we had a snow fall. Then I noticed how every mink on the creek was feeding on that deer. They would run down the bank jump up on the limb and travel out on that limb and then jump down on the deer. The limb was about 6" above the water. Well I added a coni clip to that limb and placed a 120 and took 6 mink. The set stopped working after the creek froze over and then the mink traveled the Ice to the carcass. I never recreated that situation but I bet It would be effective.
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mink
Mar 10, 2007 23:38:22 GMT -6
Post by fishadict on Mar 10, 2007 23:38:22 GMT -6
I want to add one thing to Beav's first post. Cover = food and protection. I like to see tracks in a location that I am trapping, but my traps are set at undercuts, root wads, and debris, not necessarily where the tracks are that I observe. They will connect when mink are in the area.
fa
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mink
Mar 11, 2007 6:50:43 GMT -6
Post by trappnman on Mar 11, 2007 6:50:43 GMT -6
wc makes a good point about marshes. While I don't trap marshes anymore, I did a lot of walking them for the otter project. Mink do, because of the structure of the lflatter, lesss features areas, tend to reuse and follow the structure points. I've seen some good mink trials going from one pool to another up and over dikes and culverts. You will also see that mink (and esp otter) will follow those same little creases all year - whether containing a trickle of water or snow covered. In areas where the majority of water is froze, one will of course also see tracks concentrating at waters dege.
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mink
Mar 11, 2007 10:54:03 GMT -6
Post by trappnman on Mar 11, 2007 10:54:03 GMT -6
wright brother- thanking for pointing out perhaps the most important part of my post:
Mink on land, on snow, are very random (unless working structure).
Structure like snow tunnels, culverts, bridge edges, singleton water access, etc of ocurse have more prescise tracks.
My statement was not that you couldn't catch mink ON TRAILS.....
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mink
Mar 11, 2007 23:17:36 GMT -6
Post by mountainman on Mar 11, 2007 23:17:36 GMT -6
I have been mink trapping since 1980. I looked around on two very good mink creeks today and saw some interesting things. Ever since I learned what a mink was I have been burned up with the desire to learn all I can about mink trapping. I re read mink articles in FFG and The Trapper until the covers fell off them and listened to what advice I could get from the occasional experienced mink trapper I had the opportunity to talk to. The advice I got 27 years ago is still burned in my memory like a CD. I didnt tell the guy he was conceited and that his advice was ludicrous. In the movie Kill Bill the blond chick listened to her teacher, had discipline and later she killed Bill. Im sure there are some new trappers that wont listen and would be more likely to kill a mink by running over one with a car.
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mink
Mar 12, 2007 4:43:18 GMT -6
Post by mac on Mar 12, 2007 4:43:18 GMT -6
There was an old character that I met years ago and he was pretty good on mink. He had a saying that always made me chuckle and I have used it before. When I used the saying I uttered the words more as a sarcastic joke and in remembrance.
He would say "You show me a mink track and I'll show you a mink."
The old guy was a pretty good mink and fox man but he spent most of free time chasing the opposite sex until he passed on in his late 80's. He was a real character. Mac
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mink
Mar 12, 2007 9:56:09 GMT -6
Post by Wright Brothers on Mar 12, 2007 9:56:09 GMT -6
Steve, did you read the part I wrote under that?
"BUT, By tracking, you can learn structure, and transplant that "learning" to other locations"
Thought I'd mention that for comment since your a speed reader and I'm a slow typer, you may have missed it. lol
Saw tracks on the frozen pond yesterday, hope it's a prego female. I have one great set location there and looking for another. In you guys opinion would a piece of flex drain pipe, bent into an elbow and placed months ahead of time be worth fooling with?
Another one I might make is a plank, buried into the bank that runs out into the water. My uncle liked that set.
That area is getting finish landscaping this year anyways. I have some other ideas too. Hopefully will have catch pics next season.
Oh yea, I'm in the process of buying the book bottom edge set that some of you recommended, thanks.
To me, mink trapping seems to not be about, if the price is up or not, but just for the want to learn something new.
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