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Post by trappnman on Mar 31, 2006 17:10:56 GMT -6
well put Rally- I agree.
At least I think I do.....
steven- small pockets are mainstay of a mink blind setting line. At least thats how I was taught.
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Post by JWarren on Mar 31, 2006 17:26:05 GMT -6
Tman-
If you make a blind set and then kick a hole in the bank over it (what you call a "resting spot"), in my opinion that is no longer a blind set. Just like a squirt of cat pee next to the dog on a trail set by your definition makes that set cease to be a blind set. A man made hole is a lure in my book.
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Post by trappnman on Mar 31, 2006 17:41:08 GMT -6
Under that definition- that if anything is added or removed from a blind set area- the set would then become "lured."
Then laying a log over a bank, cutting some grasses to make an opening, moving a snag from the bank, etc... even making a trap bed on a ledge-would all be considered lured sets. The act of placing guide sticks- since they are visual, then also must be classfied as lured.
Sure visuals are "lured"- and you are entitled to define sets as you may... I don't look at it that way, but an interesting viewpoint.....trappnman
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Post by JWarren on Mar 31, 2006 17:53:39 GMT -6
The difference is a fresh hole will pull animals off their line of travel. Even if a rat or mink wouldn't step in that trap in 10 years a fresh hole might pull them over to it. Its exactly like a stick with lure on it in function. Guide sticks aren't going to pull an animal off their line of travel unless the sticks are green and the animal is a hungry beaver.
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Post by trappnman on Mar 31, 2006 18:00:31 GMT -6
The difference is a fresh hole will pull animals off their line of travel. Even if a rat or mink wouldn't step in that trap in 10 years a fresh hole might pull them over to it.
yes, they will.
Now, make that depression or pocket- which works the same as a pocket- in the area they WILL be in on their return...and bang!
Actually- the proper use of a guide stick(s) does that very same thing- change their direction of travel.
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Post by lumberjack on Mar 31, 2006 20:18:43 GMT -6
Im wondering here now if mink would use regular pockets as resting areas. If that is the case,I wont be lugging around bait anymore or smelling like fish. I can honestly say Ive never made a pocket without putting bait in it. Someone give me some pros about an unlured pocket to make my mind up for next year as to skip the bait or not. I just feel if Im going to the bother of digging a deep pocket I may as well put some bait in it-BUT if it will do as WELL,I can see doing it without the bait.
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Post by trappnman on Apr 1, 2006 6:25:33 GMT -6
Im wondering here now if mink would use regular pockets as resting areas.
I am convinced thats exactly what happens in many cases- making a pocket out of a depression is just an extension of the "resting" area concept.
Fresh pockets are an attractanct- but fresh is relative. You make a set, you have 2 weeks of ice, then you catch a mink. In that case the pocket was new...but not "fresh".
I look at deprsssions/pockets as visuals.
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Post by Zagman on Apr 1, 2006 6:30:09 GMT -6
Why are these mink so tired?
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Post by trappnman on Apr 1, 2006 7:12:13 GMT -6
they carry the weight of the world on their little shoulders.....
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Post by MRussell on Apr 1, 2006 7:48:18 GMT -6
When I first became a part of this forum I was Green ,Green ,Green to the ways of the trapping world. It took me a little time to catch on to the way of thinking that causes ones catch % to go up. I am not a numbers guy by any means. However my catch % has shot way up from the things that I have learned here and put into practice. With that said, One of the most perplexing things for me during the first few seasons was this thing called the blind set. For beaver and rats it was easy to catch on. For Mink ?? 220's and coon kept me in a stupor too. Why ,well some places that looked good was not and vice versa .Well I started to understand a bit more and places(like Steve mentioned) that I would never have set became the obvious place for a trap. Still the time spent messing around with blind sets became unattractive to me. I found it quicker to put mostly baited sets in and a few blind sets in if they stood out like a beacon. Satisfaction rating.... well successful Blind sets require a better know how and give me a warmer fuzzy feeling when I connect with them.To me good blind sets are like a well placed deer stand. MR
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Post by trappnman on Apr 1, 2006 8:11:30 GMT -6
I think it truly does go back to that "comfort zone" oldmink was talking about.
After you blind set long enough- a lot more sets "become obvious"- that is, your eye sees many things, that it didn't see before.
I can't say, I've ever went to a crick to make mink sets- and didn't see dozs of good blind sets- free for the asking. It doesn't take as many people think- a lot of walking and looking- to find that "perfect" blind set.
And if you need to "make" a blind set, most blind sets can be improved in secs.
So to me, speed is ALL in the blind sets. I can make 5-6 blind sets in less time than ONE baited set- simply because for me, baited sets ARE drowning sets- I can have it no other way.
Not saying one is better-
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Post by SgtWal on Apr 1, 2006 10:22:17 GMT -6
To me a blind set with no bait or lure, is almost species specific. With no smell to attract them most coon walk on by. And those without good overhead cover rats are less likely to visit. They aren't taught as much and therefore many trappers don't think about them like we used to when I started.
wayne
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Post by trappnman on Apr 1, 2006 10:36:42 GMT -6
one thing to always rememberber about rats- they are not good swimmers in current. That is, due to their body shape and design, in current they are like little corks- going where the water directs them.
Making blind sets after fast water, in the quiet area they naturally would go to (toss a stick in fast water....see where it goes) is a perfect spot for a blind set, and no overhead cover is needed and indeed is often not present.
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