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mink
Mar 16, 2007 17:19:07 GMT -6
Post by thebeav2 on Mar 16, 2007 17:19:07 GMT -6
I once ran a mink line that consisted of 4 loops with at least 75 sets In each loop. It took 4 days or so to get the line out, we didn't have check laws In those day's. So once the line was out you started checking traps. I never set on sign, I just set traps at easy access. It's the only way I know of to put up big numbers. But with todays laws and mink prices and gas prices you would lose your butt. So I don't even set for mink anymore. Ya I catch a few incidental to rats and coon but no more long lines.
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mink
Mar 16, 2007 19:12:42 GMT -6
Post by mountainman on Mar 16, 2007 19:12:42 GMT -6
If I had to depend only on setting mink tracks I would lose far too much time and would set a much smaller number of mink sets in a day. I have been all but shut down for a while on my longlines for mink here because of the combination of the 1 day check for foothold traps and the loss of the NC trappers being allowed to use the right of ways. The higher gas prices and market crash figured in heavy on that too. Before that in two days of setting I could get out on the average of 150-180 sets mostly for mink with a couple dozen or so rat and beaver sets. After a while I got to where I could cold roll in some new areas at about the same speed. At least 95% of my sets are just made where I think a mink will go. I always figured if I saw fresh tracks I was behind the mink. I want a high number of good sets out quickly to get ahead of them, especially on those good days when there is a weather change. I consider those times to be the critical points in a season even though its the good average catch that makes the numbers. I was younger then and could push a little harder on it at one time running several hundred sets but most times less than that. I am looking more at setting the permissions that have larger numbers of mink 6-10 on the better ones and anything that will improve my efficiency there. Im taking a serious look at the BE set along with some other good coon resistant sets to both reduce some of the nontarget catch problems like the high numbers of coon that we havent got a season for yet as well as making more all weather sets. I have always felt that I didnt have enough strength on the mink line if I didnt have a good number of #1 1/2-#2 coilspring traps along with the stoploss, 110s and other small traps. In light of the loss in being able to cover as much ground quickly Im seriously considering going heavy on the underwater 110 sets to take advantage of the 3 day check law we have here for submerged conibears. I can skim the beavers and rats first on a line thats worth keeping out for late season mink and possibly switch over to running a split line later on. Its been a real pain in the butt at times being a trapper in NC, but maybe its taught me to be more resourceful or flexible in some ways. I dont know if I can reach the point I was at before, but I certainly believe I have a much better chance to do good enough thanks to the help of longliners who have shared sets and gave me good advice that will no doulbt shave years of work off of the time it would have taken me to really get it going again. Like The Beav says running big lines in loops with a split check and easy access is the only way I know to put up big numbers. For now I will do the best I can with what I have and make up the rest of the catch with beaver, rats and the occasional otter. I may go after the cats and fox again some too. When I do I always start missing the water pretty quick.
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mink
Mar 16, 2007 19:14:14 GMT -6
Post by trappnman on Mar 16, 2007 19:14:14 GMT -6
without a doubt, the biggest boon to a minker is a 3 day check.
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mink
Mar 16, 2007 20:46:56 GMT -6
Post by mountainman on Mar 16, 2007 20:46:56 GMT -6
No doulbt about it Trappnman. I may have to change systems for at least part of the season but the idea remains the same.
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mink
Mar 16, 2007 22:18:39 GMT -6
Post by mountainman on Mar 16, 2007 22:18:39 GMT -6
Beav, I have been meaning to thank you for something. I have seen the need for a quick to set up positive drowner rig. I went to your site and there it was. There are so many large water animals on my mink and rat lines now. I didnt relish the prospect of having to make so many cable and wire drowner setups to cover all the rat/beaver slides and otters that hit mink and rat sets. Those drowner rods are going to make a big difference on my lines. I enjoyed the great mink set pictures you have on there too. Thanks Beav
David
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mink
Mar 16, 2007 22:18:57 GMT -6
Post by Jeffrey on Mar 16, 2007 22:18:57 GMT -6
mm, with 10 days left in the season I put out 30 bottom edge sets and I caught 10 mink and 35-40 rats and this was the first time I've ever tried it. I plan on running 100 traps next year because it was so fun and easy, and only a three day check. We only have to check coni's every three day so I won't use any foot holds(24 hour check).
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mink
Mar 17, 2007 20:00:06 GMT -6
Post by mountainman on Mar 17, 2007 20:00:06 GMT -6
That does sound promising Jeffrey. The NC Trappers have got word that 2 out of the 3 western districts got the western coon season proposal passed. A large part of my lines are in the area that didnt make it so I guess for the mid-late season mink line its plan B with the BE set along with other underwater conibear sets for beaver, otter and rats on those lines. I like trying new systems anyway. This one sure looks like a winner. BE sets and blind trail or tunnel sets w/110s would ensure a high percentage of working sets in any weather throughout the season.
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mink
Mar 18, 2007 5:30:15 GMT -6
Post by BK on Mar 18, 2007 5:30:15 GMT -6
;D
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mink
Mar 18, 2007 10:07:49 GMT -6
Post by NittanyLion on Mar 18, 2007 10:07:49 GMT -6
Good post mountainman, I do not bother to look for tracks. I like to think I can look at a location and determine where to make my sets. I guess I should be out in the snow learning more about how a mink travels instead of setting at a computer. I am sure it would help to determine future locations and the population density. Maybe I just think I know the best spot to make a set. I guess the biggest benefit of a 3 day check is one could run 3 separate lines. I live in a state where we have a 36 hour check and that is how I have to trap.
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mink
Mar 18, 2007 12:37:57 GMT -6
Post by trappnman on Mar 18, 2007 12:37:57 GMT -6
running 3 lines is only one advantage.
another major beneift is not leaving tracks every day-
a third is just being able to HAVE a day off.
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mink
Mar 18, 2007 13:49:38 GMT -6
Post by mountainman on Mar 18, 2007 13:49:38 GMT -6
Knowing the minks habits leads to being able to quickly spot good set locations. The time saved there allows for many more locations to be set up in a day. Good easy to use anchoring systems really make a difference for any trapper.
Having time to use stealth at trapping locations or just not being there leaving sign, especially on easy access road lines is important and has along with hiding the sets well saved me a lot of problems. I have at times even unhooked the door buzzer on my vehicles.
Days off are important too. Burnout can quickly become reality for a hard charging longliner. A trapper that is not bone tired from hard running is much more likely to be sharp and focused towards keeping track of what is going on at each stop on the line and be able to better manage the line accordingly.
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mink
Mar 18, 2007 14:04:27 GMT -6
Post by NittanyLion on Mar 18, 2007 14:04:27 GMT -6
I don't need a day off when I am doing something I love to do.
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mink
Mar 18, 2007 14:36:32 GMT -6
Post by trappnman on Mar 18, 2007 14:36:32 GMT -6
If you have short seasons and limited time to trap, one would be wise to utilize everyday.
I have long seasons and all the time in the world. I can afford a day off.
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mink
Mar 18, 2007 14:49:03 GMT -6
Post by Steve Gappa on Mar 18, 2007 14:49:03 GMT -6
speaking of anchoring- tried a few coyote drags this year on rats and mink. Some spots are a bugger to anchor, and if you catch a coon...
I was using 7-8 feet of chain, and mink and rats never even moved the bottom part of the chain. Never did catch any coon in those sets...go figure.
My creeks have bottoms where I can usually push in a rebar. Lots of weight to carry, but I've gone to them more and more because they are coon proof. I use #11 wire about 3 feet, and push the stake flush with the bottom.
In non coon conditions nothing beats a fiberglass electric fence post. I drill a hole in them about 1/4 up, wire to that and push into bottom so wire is just under surface.
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mink
Mar 18, 2007 23:24:23 GMT -6
Post by mountainman on Mar 18, 2007 23:24:23 GMT -6
I have tried using a few grapples in the water on small creeks. They work fine for mink and rats. I just hooked the drag into roots and laid a heavy rock on the chain in deeper water. Like you Steve I never got a coon in those sets. That setup would work where large predators are a possibility. I can legally trap coons on some of my high mountain cat and yote lines now.
I have been using a number of long chain with a box swivel and spring hook rigs on stoploss like Bogmaster uses. Its a real easy to use setup that goes in super fast. I could carry some coyote drags and just snap em on. They snap on staples real quick too.
On mud bottom creeks I have been using either wooden stakes or rebar. I do like rebar stakes and T-bars better. Im going to using more #11 wire. I switched to #14 when the beaver moved in and still got some broken wires. I looked at some fiberglass posts like those recently. They look tough enough for mink and rats and are very light.
I brought back some 6ft. drowner rods from the NC Spring Fling to test. They look good and will go in super fast. They are heavy enough to handle beaver but not that much to carry, especially when I use the kiyak for a toolbox and pull it behind me on long sections of creeks and canals.
When I trapped a lot of culverts and easy access places on the small-medium size creeks I used a good number of 10 lb steel weights with long chain rigs. They work very well and its not hard to carry a few in a bucket. Coons never went far with them. If there was a waterfall on the lower side of the culvert I would often see the chain hanging down where a mink or coon went over the fall and drowned quick.
Im going to try using parachute cord on the 110s. Big rolls can be found at army surplus stores. Im trying to get away from using so much wire.
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mink
Mar 19, 2007 15:20:21 GMT -6
Post by mountainman on Mar 19, 2007 15:20:21 GMT -6
NittanyLion, how is that 36 hour check law set up in your state? Mine is for submerged conibears only. I came in so wore out the other night from a trip to do a demo and hanging out with the NC boys that I didnt really give you a reply. I picked up some good beaver and otter otter tips from Claudie Taylor to do more with the 330s.
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mink
Mar 19, 2007 15:30:32 GMT -6
Post by psb1011 on Mar 19, 2007 15:30:32 GMT -6
mm,36 hours on all traps,submerdged or not,,,land,and water.Even cage traps
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mink
Mar 19, 2007 18:06:09 GMT -6
Post by mountainman on Mar 19, 2007 18:06:09 GMT -6
PSB1011, Thats awesome. Im glad you guys have enough lattitude on the regs to run with different trapping systems. The NCTA is gaining ground on getting some things back or new equipment like stop shocks approved through the hard work of our president Jimmy Pierce and a lot of other great guys in our outfit. Claudie Taylor sets the 330s on his knee like they were 110s and runs hundreds of them. My hands are too worn out and messed up from work related injuries for that. Im gonna try one of those new trapsets that look like a caulking gun. They look safe and real easy to use.
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mink
Mar 19, 2007 18:06:27 GMT -6
Post by NittanyLion on Mar 19, 2007 18:06:27 GMT -6
mountainman, PSB answered the question before I saw your post. I think the idea of the 36 hour law is to cover the trappers butt for a 24 hour check. I am not here to argue and 3 day check or a 1 day check. We each have to live with what our state regulations stipulate. I have often caught animals 2 and 3 days in a row in the same trap, if I were on a 3 day check that would add up to only one critter. On the other hand a 3 day check and I could run 3 times as many sets checking a third each day.
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mink
Mar 19, 2007 18:56:38 GMT -6
Post by Steve Gappa on Mar 19, 2007 18:56:38 GMT -6
thats why you gang set locations. You think if you don't catch him in consecutive nights, you missed him. Only in freeze up conditions.
I had 2 triples this year on a 3 day check, and a few more doubles. One creek with 7 mink this year- and my mink numbers were down by 25%.
I ran over 250 traps at full set up- plus coon and plus a town route that is a daily check.
Why check every day the full line everyday- same amount of animals taken, 1/3 the gas.
I've run 24 hour, I've run 3 loops, I've run combined loops- it all comes out the same.
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