Post by trappnman on Dec 27, 2007 15:05:47 GMT -6
thought about this running traps this morning-
All the following MHO, of course.....
most blind sets are set for hunting mink. Under grasses, holes, undercut banks, behind and in stuff. Even the BE set is almost a 100% hunting set.
And in many cases, when a mink is moving, he's hunting.
But not always-
I've probably observed as many wild mink on streams as any trapper here. For many years I lived on trout streams- early morning, late night, etc and I saw a fair amount of mink working the streams. And on the creeks I was fishing, the same creeks I'm now trapping, I'd watch these mink work. And one thing that was a standout observation to me, was how often they stopped.
Not so much when in cover- put when moving between cover points- it was hurry up and pause (rest), hurry up and pause. And those pausing spots, were often not much of anything at all- but they were of a general type and on general locations. Location types of what I've tried to show.
Many of my streams went through pastures, and any that have walked a stream side pasture knows that cows going to the creek in shallow bank settings, leave a distinct saucer shape. So I started looking for those, and making them.
Then one day, I starting noticing the natural depressions in other places, and esp their occurrence vis a vis logs or leaning sticks.
And I then started making more, and also found out that while a log or stick certainly did make the location better, it wasn't a necessity in certain locations.
Give a mink a spot to pause- and he will.
So let me explain a little bit about some of these locations-
this one for example. Before the depression was made, this was a unmarked bank. There is a deep (4+ feet deep) with a large log jam opposite the set. The obvious structure is to the left and can be approached from either side, or from above- even from swimming from the opposite log pile, to this structure. The indentation (and keep in mind it didn't start out that big) gives him a place to WANT to stop.
On this one, note the bank and grass to the right of the log. That was exactly how it was under the log. There is no reason to walk on top of the log- shallow water at end of log (trap will have to be staked deep water) as you can see, no tracks in any way- but by enlarging the space underneath that log, you have now given that mink a place to want to stop at.
now this location was chosen to show that on this left bank- there is nothing to really attract a mink. Notice how far back that log is from the water, and how high above it.
now by making a depression just big enough for the trap, I have created a spot that gets any minks attention as a spot to pause, look around, and move on.
now this location was chosen to take pics at for one reason- there s absolutely nothing there, to attract a mink. Nothing. Its a sand bank, the grass you can see is thin, a blade thick, no nothing, a shallow shelf running an inch or 2 deep for 18" or so out, then deeper water. Mink run by here- I catch them above and below, but NOTHING there to get them to stop.
Now, you can't make a pocket, pure sand (yes, you could bring a pocket of some type) you can try 110s (very poor success for me, and yes I've tried building, making tunnels, I find footholds work best, for me), OR in secs, give him a place we WANTS to pause at. A slight depression, that small log to give security- and you got a quick easy set.
fwiw...
All the following MHO, of course.....
most blind sets are set for hunting mink. Under grasses, holes, undercut banks, behind and in stuff. Even the BE set is almost a 100% hunting set.
And in many cases, when a mink is moving, he's hunting.
But not always-
I've probably observed as many wild mink on streams as any trapper here. For many years I lived on trout streams- early morning, late night, etc and I saw a fair amount of mink working the streams. And on the creeks I was fishing, the same creeks I'm now trapping, I'd watch these mink work. And one thing that was a standout observation to me, was how often they stopped.
Not so much when in cover- put when moving between cover points- it was hurry up and pause (rest), hurry up and pause. And those pausing spots, were often not much of anything at all- but they were of a general type and on general locations. Location types of what I've tried to show.
Many of my streams went through pastures, and any that have walked a stream side pasture knows that cows going to the creek in shallow bank settings, leave a distinct saucer shape. So I started looking for those, and making them.
Then one day, I starting noticing the natural depressions in other places, and esp their occurrence vis a vis logs or leaning sticks.
And I then started making more, and also found out that while a log or stick certainly did make the location better, it wasn't a necessity in certain locations.
Give a mink a spot to pause- and he will.
So let me explain a little bit about some of these locations-
this one for example. Before the depression was made, this was a unmarked bank. There is a deep (4+ feet deep) with a large log jam opposite the set. The obvious structure is to the left and can be approached from either side, or from above- even from swimming from the opposite log pile, to this structure. The indentation (and keep in mind it didn't start out that big) gives him a place to WANT to stop.
On this one, note the bank and grass to the right of the log. That was exactly how it was under the log. There is no reason to walk on top of the log- shallow water at end of log (trap will have to be staked deep water) as you can see, no tracks in any way- but by enlarging the space underneath that log, you have now given that mink a place to want to stop at.
now this location was chosen to show that on this left bank- there is nothing to really attract a mink. Notice how far back that log is from the water, and how high above it.
now by making a depression just big enough for the trap, I have created a spot that gets any minks attention as a spot to pause, look around, and move on.
now this location was chosen to take pics at for one reason- there s absolutely nothing there, to attract a mink. Nothing. Its a sand bank, the grass you can see is thin, a blade thick, no nothing, a shallow shelf running an inch or 2 deep for 18" or so out, then deeper water. Mink run by here- I catch them above and below, but NOTHING there to get them to stop.
Now, you can't make a pocket, pure sand (yes, you could bring a pocket of some type) you can try 110s (very poor success for me, and yes I've tried building, making tunnels, I find footholds work best, for me), OR in secs, give him a place we WANTS to pause at. A slight depression, that small log to give security- and you got a quick easy set.
fwiw...
