Bottom Edge Sets

[seldom]

WHAT I did say, that in good weather on the mink I observed, they didn't seem interested in WORKING THAT HARD to hunt underwater, that instead, they hunted the stream edge, in and out of the water at that edge.
And that of course is true- the mink I've SEEN in good weather, did just that.

Steve, it may be that we're assuming that for the mink it's hard work. From what our project's lab people told me is that the preponderance of prey remains in the stomachs of all of the mink, regardless of which river system they were caught in, was fish! Small mammals were below, but close to that of amphibians and crayfish which were about equal if I recall.

On one river at my best BE locations there's be so many Yellow Perch fry in the little eddy downstream of my set that when wading into set I'd cause them to beach themselves by the dozens and I've seen this with river chubs on my creeks as well, just not by the dozens. One or two maybe.

[lumberjack]

Steve its hard to explain, the current was pretty fast, the stream actually dropped a couple inches right there.. Im sure fish and such swim through there but the pool 20 yards upstream held large schools of minnows and such ( I caught 2 up at the pool in be sets also)..
It wasnt really a set until I pulled out some rocks to create the groove for the 110 so Im thinking he wasnt using it for travel beforehand. It was like he was drawn to it, it had to be for food.
Way easier hunting 20 yards upstream.
Not really the classic be picture perfect set.
I will try to get a picture for someone to post.
I dont know that they would expand any more energy swimming the bottom than on a chase through high weeds up and down banks.

[trappnman]

lumberjack- that sounds like classic resting area.

mink aren't a long chase hunt animal- they are a pounce and hunt. Here, I believe shrews are a top food item. They are very common, and I see many each day. Their action is to jump into the water when disturbed on stream edges. I don't know if it takes less energy of not- but for a land animal, I'd of thought that walking along and edge and pouncing on food, takes less energy that swimming around under water trying to catch a fish (and I know fish are but one).

The only observation I can make, is that the mink I've seen working (and I've seen quite a few over the years) in WARM weather- plenty of prey- worked the edges, not underwater.

Now since this is a 100% observation, the logical conclusion for me, on my streams in trout fishing type weather, is that mink are hunting the edges far more often.

This is always assuming prey is "equal" or at least present in these waters.

Seldom- do you mean to say, that even on creeks (I can't say rivers because I trap no rivers) where you never see a fish (my streams are almost 100% clear water) and I am assuming that yes, there are some fish there- that fish STILL make up the predominant food?

Lets look at it from another angle- we all seem to agree that male mink spend a lot of time away from the water, and at times many many miles away from water. We know what they are hunting, but lets ask why? Why would they leave the water for much of the year?

I have my own conclusion, but I'd like to hear any others.

Now, when these mink return- how do they return? And why?

Do they return to the water because of the time of the year? Perhaps, esp later during breeding season, when they travel to the females, who are on the water more than not (IMHO). But I don't find that its time of year related during Nov-Jan, but is almost 100% weather conditions related.

The why they move to me is simple- they move to better and easier hunting. A mink in a big brushpile, with plenty of prey might stay there all winter. But most mink I think move because of lack of food, and during winter, the creeks and their banks, provide some of the best hunting, if not the only real hunting.

So do these mink, used to feeding on land and seeps for the past many months, change their habits overnight? If they got close to the streams, wouldn't they continue to follow their earlier hunting activities until they were forced to change? By and large?

I've read that BE sets work better in cold weather, etc- and that for sure makes sense. As the food supply gets harder, the mink does what he has to do and works the water harder.

My cousin says that in 1 week, he will take all the mink there. And hes correct in how he traps. He traps the first month of the season, and at that time, I do think you can clean out family groups pretty well if on location.

When I get to the water, is after 99% are done. Those easy mink are gone. I might go a few weeks, without really nailing mink- until they are forced more into the water. A winter like last, with above freezing temps and no snow for almost all of the season, hurt my mink catch overall. But we had a week of 20 below weather, and in the traps I kept open, I slayed them.

I think any predator/scavenger will take what is easiest and expends less energy- first. They say a mink needs to eat everyday because of his body style and lack of fat.

I know that mink hunt underwater indeed, I even believe that they are adapted for this, and can smell underwater through the mouth sensory glands (name escapes me for now). On a local trout radio program, they lost a lot of chips by mink eaten fish. Guess what singular type of location they found the chips at? Which is why I don't worry about where they are hunting underwater- it might be a big pool- but, there will only be a couple logical places where that mink will take that fish, to to eat.

I just believe they take whats easiest first and most often.

Good discussion boys!

[lumberjack]

Can a resting set be submerged? My 110 was parallel to the stream in a groove I made under the clump.
I have to get a handle on this resting set-sounds pretty coon resistant too. Around here I see too many spots for a mink to hide.
I cant really say be sets get better as the weather here gets colder. Of course the population is knocked back a bit by cold weather here also.
The catch stays pretty much the same for me with or without ice.
I would much rather not mess with ice.
How do you explain the few big, pot bellied buck mink everyone gets once in awhile early on

in be sets?

Hes supposed to be up on a mountain hunting brushpiles.
I totally agree they are in the brush but not for very long periods of time like is what the consensus is.

[HappyPlumber]

I think there are a couple things we missed on the mink discussion. Mink don't always kill to eat. Sometimes I think they only kill for sport. They will kill and suck the blood out. They will go in a chicken coup and kill far more than they can eat. They will find a muskrat in a trap and kill it and leave. They claim that the female is more secretive then the male and usually stays away from roads when they are having their young. Very seldom do I catch a female at a bridge. They claim the males travel a 25 miles in about two weeks. One of my neighbors works for the DNR and has done mink studies. They supposedly travel more the end of January and February when the breeding season is. They also don't like streams that are polluted or sterile. I have some clear creeks that come bubbling out of the ground on the tops of hills and is clear cold water. These streams are so cold and clean that there isn't much in them for an animal to eat. We also have a river that is great for mink and otter untill it gets about three miles from lake Michigan and then it is devoid of mink and otter because of pollution. HP

[trappnman]

There are always males on the creeks. Just more at certain times.

We do disagree on the time spent away- I believe its most of the warm months. Not totally away, but more so than not. But thats all speculaiton, and all we can do is speculate on conclusions based on what we know from observations. And since we all have different observations, we all have different conclusions.

No, my definition of a resting/eating set is shallow water or dry land. A summerged 110 wouldn't be one. My thought is that with deep water all around, that mink needs both a stopping off point and a place to eat what he catches. A small island in the middle, would provide both.

Mink can't eat underwater- simple and obivous but important. Any fish, any clam, anything- needs to be taken on shore or in shallow water to eat. Places that provide cover, are preferred. Those places are limited in number- even with many to choose from, they can be eliminated rather easily- and if there are 3-4 or more good spots, set them all up. I only have a couple locations where I set less than 6 traps- if I have to walk a creek, might as well increase my odds.

I also feel that it makes a big difference in choosing the spot you set on. I've seen it several times, where moving your locations 100 yards or less, makes the difference between a mink or two or a hotspot.

[seldom]

Seldom- do you mean to say, that even on creeks (I can't say rivers because I trap no rivers) where you never see a fish (my streams are almost 100% clear water) and I am assuming that yes, there are some fish there- that fish STILL make up the predominant food?

I'm saying that the predominate prey found in our mink samples stomachs was fish. Now let me say that early in the study, when I was hired I was just getting ready to start my "after-deer season" line which was NOT on a river but was in the watershed of the Research Area (Research Area means upstream of the source of pollution). This watershed consisted of ditches, creeks, and beaver flowages. The Study Area consisted of that, that was below the origin of pollution. I cannot say that when I was given the stomach contents results that those mink (watershed as described) were included. The mink off the 3 rivers in both the Research and Study Areas were definitely included in the results given to me.

Lets look at it from another angle- we all seem to agree that male mink spend a lot of time away from the water, and at times many many miles away from water. We know what they are hunting, but lets ask why? Why would they leave the water for much of the year?

That's why I'm the odd duck out! Pertaining strictly to MY mink trapping area I've not seen or experienced evidence that supports this conclusion!! In addition, I think I've read a study (Mink Habitat Suitability Indexing???) that if I remember correctly sort of supports my observations. Also, in MY area, there's hardly any place where a male mink could travel without being within a mile of some sort of ditch, creek,etc. that doesn't have water in it for 9 months out of the year.

In addition and speaking of mink habitat, when does prey habitat change? The fall, with the leaf drop! Not only does leaf drop effect prey, it makes easier prey of the mink itself! Speaking of rivers such as I trapped on, the canopy is at least 40' high of cottonwood, ash, oak,etc. meaning there isn't crap for ground cover that's knee-high. In the fall I could easily see a squirrel on the ground 75yds away. It's been proven by previous mink studies that the first 100m from the water/bank interface is the important consideration when establishing mink habitat suitability and that really translates to prey habitat! So, lets say that the floodplain averages 150m wide. The next type of habitat is out of the floodplain and is either residential or crop land interspersed every mile by ditches.

Now, when these mink return- how do they return? And why?

You've assumed that they were someplace else. If they were, IMO it was very far from water.

Do they return to the water because of the time of the year? Perhaps, esp later during breeding season, when they travel to the females, who are on the water more than not (IMHO). But I don't find that its time of year related during Nov-Jan, but is almost 100% weather conditions related.

The why they move to me is simple- they move to better and easier hunting. A mink in a big brush pile, with plenty of prey might stay there all winter. But most mink I think move because of lack of food, and during winter, the creeks and their banks, provide some of the best hunting, if not the only real hunting.

So do these mink, used to feeding on land and seeps for the past many months, change their habits overnight? If they got close to the streams, wouldn't they continue to follow their earlier hunting activities until they were forced to change? By and large?

I've read that BE sets work better in cold weather, etc- and that for sure makes sense. As the food supply gets harder, the mink does what he has to do and works the water harder.

The mink study started each year on 11/1 which is opening day of season and except for those damn boxes stooped when the rivers became too dangerous to be on which in general terms was early to mid-December. Each year the professor would start getting real concerned that I wasn't catching any females for the quotas! Each year though, I'd catch one or two and he's be happy.

How do you explain the few big, pot bellied buck mink everyone gets once in awhile early on

in be sets?

I can't remember how many of the males throughout the span of the study were determined to be YOY but I caught more large males then what I'd describe as average-sized males (not necessarily YOY). Every time I'd catch one of those "5lb'ers" with the worn off canines and incisors wore to just about the gum line they'd turn out to be short of 4lbs without the pelt!!!

I cant really say be sets get better as the weather here gets colder.

I agree. I just have to use them more.

We do disagree on the time spent away- I believe its most of the warm months. Not totally away, but more so than not. But thats all speculation, and all we can do is speculate on conclusions based on what we know from observations. And since we all have different observations, we all have different conclusions.

LOL Yup, I have to say we disagree on that point. ;D We (the project) had partial funding for me to live-trap mink for a satellite mink tracking study that would have told us how often, how far, how long mink would be off the river floodplain. Testing and prototyping down at the lab with caged mink proved the study to be way too risky and complicated. They found that because mink aren't wrapped too tight, that a vet would have to surgically implant the transmitter and the mink released back at the spot of capture within one hour. If not, the mink would blow a gasket. That study would have proved to be very interesting at least for my area.

I've got to quit! I'm getting lost here!

Oop, found where I was. ;D

They also don't like streams that are polluted or sterile.

I agree with that. Only because I can compare observations from a piece of property north of me about 100 miles that I owned for close to 30 years to the type of habitat I have here where I trap mink. Up there I had a little trout stream crossing my property for several hundred yards and dumping into a larger trout stream. An old boy trapped mink from the road for years. His wife who could hardly see over the steering wheel of the 70's something Buick would drive and he'd eyeball his sets. He was then and is today a 100 mink/yr trapper! Yet though I was on my property every weekend except for maybe 3-4 a year, I always saw fresh mink sign!! Every darn weekend through out the year. At the time I couldn't figure out why, with him trapping. I believe I do know why now. My little creek started from artesian springs in the hills so it was clean water so as it flowed through the cedars and tag alders it was supplemented by plenty of prey habitat! Folks speaking with the old boy as to how a man in his 80's could trap 100 mink a year , each and every year he said he believed it was clean water!

[trappnman]

the only thing I can say is this- when I trapped early, in good weather, my females were equal to males. When I trap later winter, its always 80% males or more- even in creeks that know get no minkers there before me

When you get males with lots of ticks on them late season, where do you concur they were running?

diagree on the leaf drop mattering, why would it. Nothing to eat in trees since nesting. Its the cover drop- weeds and grasses-and that doesn't occur until snow. Lots of hills and valleys here with no water for miles yet I've caught several mink in coon sets in such locations, and I'd catch more I beleive except for trap placement.

I suspected your study was done after the migration occurred. but interesting none the less.