Body grips for mink

[HappyPlumber]

On small creeks where the water level doesn't fluctuate like a river, the bottom edge sets have worked the best for me . When mink are traveling in bad weather they are checking out all the hiding places under water. Pools with minnows in them need a trap on each end of the pool. These sets produce better in all weather. HP

[BK]

Steve perhaps we may agree more than you think,........

I hope this doesn't sound like the other Bob, but I don't know how else to convey this.

When rats and mink were high during the boom (Ken Smythe hadn't written his book yet)

I spent a lot of time and miles on the ponds and marshes here during late season "cleaning up"on rats and the mink that were trying to live off them.
What I'm trying to say is I own more 120's than I can lift today, and I ran a lot of mink through them.

One of the up sides to this was there was almost always snow, so I could see what I did or didn't do that was right.

Talking about trigger wires is easy,........but for me trying to convey set locations and why is tough.

As to the differences of the effectiveness of coil springs or say Conibears,...........well I think it's most important who's hands they're in, and where you leave them.

[trappnman]

BK- I don't doubt your experience- but I've traveleld a similar path. First started using the 110s late 50s. My dad had ot set them both before I set thme, and after a catch.

And I too trapped snow- and didn't oyu, in trapping snow- find that there were mink that avoided the traps?

I'd guess so, or you wouldn't say that locations made a difference.

I'm fully able to agree with your thought then, if I'm summing it up fairly- that 110s set in some locations, will get avoidances.

[BK]

If you make my name show up RED like your's I'll answere that one.

(Maybee I should be happy my name shows up at all).

[trappnman]

I COULD give you both cutesy nicnames... remember when someone complained abotu having no stars.... LOL

[BK]

I know deep down you kinda like me Steve, ....... Even if I'm a lousy bartender.

[mountainman]

I've been having thoughts for a while about using some 120s again. The older Victors with the 2 way trigger did a good job for me. I started the trigger like trappnman mentioned earlier and had no problems that I could see. I figure a 4 way trigger helps on that, but havent tried that version on them. I have a number of trail set locations that a 120 would fit in just as easily as a 110.

It seems that some new things become very popular and often overshadow some of the older ones and I guess thats only natural. I believe there were a lot of good things back then that are still worth hanging on to and using. A long time ago when I started to do better on the lines My dad said to me: "Don't forget where you come from". I believe thats good advice.

[livefreeordie]

mountainman said:

Don't forget where you come from". I believe thats good advice.

We had a long conversation about just this last week at the rendezvous. I think in our quest to learn more and our admiration of others catches, we info overload to the point where we push away what really has been working for us, in favor of new techniques that aren't our own.

[BK]

If your out there you get to see the efforts of different trappers,.........at least on public land and it gives one something to muse about.
But a lot of it I just turn my head when walking by as I don't want to" learn" any of it.
I had a guy here I met selling fur at one of Groney's stops seemed like a nice fellow.
Well after that the dude followed me a lot when he cut my tracks on the ponds here,...never took anything, but it still made me kinda nervous.

I recall he once tried to cut me off on a trail I had set up in the snow where the mink were going in the cattails.
Well he stomped around so much making the set he made a better route around his set than the trail the mink was on.
I killed that mink 40 yards away.

[livefreeordie]

Don't get me wrong here BK, I enjoy seeing and learning how others catch the same critter, my point was, if something is working for you, don't abandon it in favor of some new surefire catch method...
Nittany Lion was the best mink instructor I ever had, as his methods work where I am trapping, which could be totally different from where you and Steve trap.

[BK]

Yup.

[trappnman]

actaully, the streams NL trapps, are very similar to mine here- more freestone than limestone creeks, but I'd be right at home trapping there.

[BK]

Steve you and I have a lot more mink to work with than Ninny does.
With luck he won't come to Minn. or Wisc. to retire.

[stickbowhntr]

BK ..and he is getting ready to do just that -retire...lol.....I doubt his wife woukld move so you are safe......that guy is just like the energizer bunny he just keeps going and going all day long....GREAT guy NL is.