Mink Trappers ? on Location.

[Stanley]

I will be traveling past many spots like this in Dec. While Trapping in the UP. Mink trapping is my Achilles' heel. I've set a few mink traps. But the few Mink that I've caught have been incidentails, in beaver sets. So where would you mink men place your sets? Pic #1, North side of bridge. #2 Southside of bridge and one creek dumping into a bigger one. #3 under the bridge looking north.




I will be traveling over quite a few bridges like this.
Thank You for any advice.
STANLEY

[trappnman]

glad to see you back-

hard to really tell- first 2 places I'd look, are on the bank under the bush on the left in 1st pic, and then on that far bank after the island.

[garman]

I am not a mink trapper at all, but I may look around the support posts on the bridge itself. I have seen them alot of times swimming and visiting those, especially it looks like there is already grassy clumps just waiting there to set a trap on.

[lumberjack]

Looks like bottom edge set city.
I would also look for trails through the grass and / or make 4 pocket sets that can be checked from the bridge.

[livefreeordie]

I agree, BE and pockets.
Man I wish we had streams like that here.

[thebeav2]

Since you will be road trapping set every culvert and bridge.
Get down on your knees In those spots and look under those under cut banks that's where the mink makes It's living look for pinch points where the mink Is forced to travel.
If you have to shave the bank In these locations to get the trap tight do so. You don't want anymore then a 1" of water over your pan and bed that trap solid. Look for trails leaving the water at these points there are times when a mink won't travel through a culvert especially when you have fast water.

[thebeav2]

thebeav.topcities.com/Setlocationimages/minksetlocations.html

Some mink trapping locations on my line.

[fishadict]

Exactly, undercuts. And if you find a spot where they either change direction or hesitate, that is where your trap should go. Look for undercuts with inside bends or a spot where there is an overhead object above on the bank. This could be a log, a bush, a rootwad, or whatever.

Look for a trail tight to the bank on the left side of the old beaver dam upstream. Also look for a trail through the small island downstream. Set the pullouts, with the pan just underwater, as Beav said.

fa

[trappnman]

And if you find a spot where they either change direction or hesitate, that is where your trap should go.

very well said!

[makete]

Nice site Beav, very helpful. This is also what my area looks like so all this info has helped me also. Thanks for starting this Stanley, as I dont have a camera to show what I'm talking about when I ask a question.

[BK]

If your alone on the creek I'd keep my sets close to the road so you can set up more places.
It looks like an easy place to make BE sets,......but if you have to look at your sets every day I'd punch in some pocket sets too.
The creek looks to be tea colored (acidic) ? They can be short on mink feed, but for sure I'd set it up.

On the first pic. on the left side by the old beaver dam I can't help but think of fisher up in the tamaracks and pines.