Re: Elbow Set
[Re: threestud]
#1655182
12/13/09 11:46 AM
12/13/09 11:46 AM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,383 Central Ohio
LT GREY
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,383
Central Ohio
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The elbow set far surpasses a regular pocket set ( IMO) for two reasons. First, it has air flow, even if the set is partially under water, and that is more natural to a mink and will suck it right in, bait or no bait.
Secondly, you have two entrances and if you set them both, you DOUBLE your chances at a passing mink! Yes, they are time consuming to make...So don't go squirrel hunting in September!
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Re: Elbow Set
[Re: LT GREY]
#1655186
12/13/09 11:49 AM
12/13/09 11:49 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,445 revillo, sd
cohunt
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,445
revillo, sd
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I totally disagree with LT GREY--and I have been killing mink for much longer than he has been alive. Three pockets versus one elbow is no contest. As far as the soft banks--you are correct but the question related to elbows and if you can make an elbow you can make a pocket.
Last edited by cohunt; 12/13/09 11:58 AM.
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Re: Elbow Set
[Re: cohunt]
#1655228
12/13/09 12:13 PM
12/13/09 12:13 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,645 Minnesota
minnscott
"Dink"
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"Dink"
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,645
Minnesota
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One thing about the Elbow set is that it can be left there year round, a ready made set come season.
WOODBILLY Life is a dance. learn a new step every day.
-“Ut ceteri vivere possint”-
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Re: Elbow Set
[Re: cohunt]
#1655244
12/13/09 12:21 PM
12/13/09 12:21 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,849 ohio
Ohio Wolverine
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,849
ohio
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I agree cohunt that you can make 3 pockets to 1 elbow. They are a proven set. I also agree with LT, in the facts he mentioned.
Just imagine that in August or September, you have the time to make these elbow sets in good numbers. Here you have a set that all you do is add a trap and bait/lure, if you have the urge. Also the set can be somewhat permanent if you trap the same places year after year or even every other year. That is of course if you have permission to do so. These elbow sets can be made with plastic drainage pipe, as they somewhat fill with dirt they become even more interesting to mink. Maybe I'm thinking too much.
Last edited by OHIO WOLVERINE; 12/13/09 12:23 PM.
We have met the enemy and the enemy is us!
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Re: Elbow Set
[Re: ]
#1655371
12/13/09 01:22 PM
12/13/09 01:22 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 606 Ioway
EmpireBuilder
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 606
Ioway
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Umm I would have to say the elbow set is definitely a asset to a mink trappers arsenal. First off they are great for mink muskrats and coon. Yes they are a pain to make but look at it this way. If made right you can take 2 animals in one. I have taken doubles in elbows before and does that ever get the heart racing! When I make them I dig them extremely deep. Put a trap way back in the pocket so when the bank running mink comes down the top hole he is caught there! Then you have the trap right inside on the edge of the pocket for the other mink running down the creek! Cons is they take the perfect bank with the perfect soil! Also the time it takes to make one is really bad when you get there the next day and a coon has totally wrecked it! My advice try and make one where there is tons of mink sign and try to get that elusive mink double!
Don't Tell Lies.... There is less to remember!
R.I.P. Indian Larry... Riding your Famous Grease Monkey Chopper in the sky!!!
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Re: Elbow Set
[Re: cohunt]
#1655393
12/13/09 01:36 PM
12/13/09 01:36 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,849 ohio
Ohio Wolverine
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,849
ohio
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Perhaps it is too bad that each animal we seek seems to have a weakness and trappers have developed tools to exploit those weaknesses. Fox and mink were once looked at with awe and those who could catch a few were revered. Many trappers dropped traps apparently at random and caught little. Those trappers who developed sets like the dirt hole or pocket, and those who then advanced to running large numbers of these relatively simple sets, produced catches that would have been unthinkable a few decades ago. As someone who grew up in those old days it is fun to remember certain catches and on occasion to revisit an old method--but that does not mean that one should revert to deadfalls. Yes I remember when if I caught 8-10 mink a season or 25-30 fox it was great. LOL Now you see guys with those numbers in a day. Wish we had that knowlage back then cohunt?
We have met the enemy and the enemy is us!
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Re: Elbow Set
[Re: josh graybill]
#1655429
12/13/09 02:00 PM
12/13/09 02:00 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,649 Portsmouth Va.
aprophet
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,649
Portsmouth Va.
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I'd take 2 conibears, make a elbow in the bank, the opening in the top of the bank and the other one right under water. if you want to you can put bait or lure right where the bend is in the elbow. place a conibear at each entrance. you can make them horizontal as well I was trying to catch coon with them the part I liked the most was 2 traps 1 piece of bait
I TRAP PETA'S FRONT PORCH
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Re: Elbow Set
[Re: josh graybill]
#1655502
12/13/09 02:50 PM
12/13/09 02:50 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,545 minn
fossil2
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,545
minn
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cohunt is correct on all counts, at least here in the midwest. elbows are too time consuming to make, and a double with one mink on top of the bank and one below is no better than a double with them 3 feet apart and in the water side by side. its still just 2 mink. redig a pocket in 2 minutes after a coon catch. i wouldnt want to have to redig elbows after a day of 50-60 coon catches. pre-digging doesnt give you the fresh earth scent and fresh dug appearance that attract mink. anything pre-dug here this season wouldve been under 2-4 feet of water when season opened. the reason theres not many big numbers mink trappers is that everyone wants to make more work out of it than it really is, and keep complicating a simple thing. i caught my first mink 42 years ago, and took 400 this season in 3 weeks. no blind sets to look for, no elbows to dig, just good fast sets. cohunt, my grandpa was a minker back in the old days, but he died when i was only 2. the stories of him, i think, are what started my fascination with mink, and theyre still my favorite animal too.
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Re: Elbow Set
[Re: wr otis]
#1655948
12/13/09 05:54 PM
12/13/09 05:54 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,849 ohio
Ohio Wolverine
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,849
ohio
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The only mink set that is worth a nickel is one that is directly inline with a minks travels. A terrific elbow set in a perfect bank is no good unless the mink is on that side of the creek. What you have heard about mink sticking their head in every hole they come to is baloney also, they would never get anywhere if they did. That is very true. I sure wouldn't just make any set willie nillie. I have caught many mink is natural elbow sets, commonly called vent holes. When there's ice the mink use these to get to the muskrat holes under ice. Every set is limited by it's location in one way or another. Useing it as a road culvert set it could be like NEON LIGHT for trap theives. It does have it's place though. And if made as I said in the right place it will work, weather the bottom hole is submerged or not. One bait is all you need or lure if you prefer. It can be prebaited also if it's legal in your state .
Last edited by Ohio Wolverine; 12/14/09 06:38 PM.
We have met the enemy and the enemy is us!
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Re: Elbow Set
[Re: josh graybill]
#1656805
12/13/09 10:29 PM
12/13/09 10:29 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 553 Iowa
Oldtoolsniper
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 553
Iowa
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Back when I started I used to take an hour to make a coon set. I tried everything I could think of. I caught my first coon by putting Hawbacker’s coon lure on a rock just off the shore and setting a trap in the water in front of it. I made cubby sets for coons and caught none. I made trails sets for coons and caught a few. I chopped out trap beds on cross over trees and spent time camouflaging my traps. I sunk a 55 gallon barrel with rocks in a pound with a tarp over the top with a slit in because I just knew the rats would climb up and slip into the barrel. This was in 78 or 79 and there just was not a lot of information out there to help a kid catch fur. I think back on that and laugh. I never caught much fur but I sure tried.
If it works for you do it. Just don’t try the barrel thing it is illegal in this state, a lot of work and even with bait it didn’t work. I never thought of what six or seven rats swimming in a barrel would do to each other either.
Part of trapping is trying new things. There is no right way or wrong way. Choose your way of doing it and enjoy yourself.
“Work hard! Millions on welfare depend on it!”
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Re: Elbow Set
[Re: josh graybill]
#1657769
12/14/09 12:20 PM
12/14/09 12:20 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,649 Portsmouth Va.
aprophet
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,649
Portsmouth Va.
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5-6 coon is worth my time, i'm into trying out new sets I was trapping roadside culverts there were probably 7-8 coon at each one the longer you stay though the better chance you have of getting your traps stolen, a lot of culverts I would set 5-6 traps stay a few nights then move on. Around here muskrats have a hole on the bank that goes to the water the set was already made in a coupla places for me. the suicide set or bottom edge set works just as good
I TRAP PETA'S FRONT PORCH
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Re: Elbow Set
[Re: josh graybill]
#1658215
12/14/09 05:51 PM
12/14/09 05:51 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,231 south east pa
lennitrapper
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,231
south east pa
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ive been taught two diffrent suicide sets for mink. one was built with a few rocks and one large flat one. built into a funnel so to say with teh water flowing threw the open end and leaving at teh closed end. half a muskrat in teh back with a rock with the trap on top of it an inch under water. mink climbs in to get at teh rat current takes him into the trap. or pile up a nunch of rocks at the corner of a bridge or culvert some time ahead of setting the just throw a trap on top. mink gets used to using that as a looking perch for spying minnows and such in the pool of water, then theres a trap there, similiar to the "blue bucket set" except not a joke
red fox trapper wannabe.
Pro-sqeazin Pro Staff Member "What was your bait?? Cobra?" white 17
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Re: Elbow Set
[Re: lennitrapper]
#1658235
12/14/09 05:59 PM
12/14/09 05:59 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,776 carter county tenn
trapper al
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,776
carter county tenn
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i have found that weathered elbows turn into a natural mink magnets,i classify them as secondary sets like the log crossin set or even the pvc set,theres easier more productive sets but why not mix it up
1776 ONE MORE TIME,FREEDOM NEVER COMES FREE
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Re: Elbow Set
[Re: josh graybill]
#1658452
12/14/09 07:25 PM
12/14/09 07:25 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,417 merrill, ORY-GUN
jp8102
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,417
merrill, ORY-GUN
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Same thing with me, when i first started trapping here this year it took me about 30 minutes to make a coon set. well, now it takes me about 5-6 minutes. I want it to run me about 2-3 minutes by the end of the year so i can run a bigger line.
Same thing with fox, i heard the faster you make the set, the better off you are. i believe this is true!!! now that we are more technical with things i believe that we tend to over think things way to much. get in, get it done, and get out. JP
i deal with wild animals for a living, if im running u better keep up!!!!!!! JP freedomsafaris.com coloradomountainadventures.net
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Re: Elbow Set
[Re: ]
#1658603
12/14/09 08:13 PM
12/14/09 08:13 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,649 Portsmouth Va.
aprophet
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,649
Portsmouth Va.
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The suicide set is just trap set tight to a bridge wall or vertical bank. A bottom edge set is the same, except underwater with a conibear, usually at a point that sticks out into the creek.
I caught a red fox in an elbow set once. I think the main advantage of the set would be that it keeps working during high water. But you could put a dirthole up on the bank and a pocket in the water and have about the same thing. Pocket sets are great, until the water goes up, like it does about every other day here. Or it drops and the trap freezes in. Set high, set low and set underwater...and you'll still miss some of them. Yea .... where I live is tidal this helps out a lot with only a little bit of rain I am out of commision
I TRAP PETA'S FRONT PORCH
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Re: Elbow Set
[Re: lennitrapper]
#1658611
12/14/09 08:15 PM
12/14/09 08:15 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,649 Portsmouth Va.
aprophet
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,649
Portsmouth Va.
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ive been taught two diffrent suicide sets for mink. one was built with a few rocks and one large flat one. built into a funnel so to say with teh water flowing threw the open end and leaving at teh closed end. half a muskrat in teh back with a rock with the trap on top of it an inch under water. mink climbs in to get at teh rat current takes him into the trap. or pile up a nunch of rocks at the corner of a bridge or culvert some time ahead of setting the just throw a trap on top. mink gets used to using that as a looking perch for spying minnows and such in the pool of water, then theres a trap there, similiar to the "blue bucket set" except not a joke this is the one I was talking about
I TRAP PETA'S FRONT PORCH
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Re: Elbow Set
[Re: aprophet]
#1658650
12/14/09 08:33 PM
12/14/09 08:33 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 134 central PA 15 yrs old
josh graybill
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 134
central PA 15 yrs old
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when i make a colvert set i get a pile of leaves and pile them in the shape of a V right inside of the colvert and put a 1.5 in the middle(bottom) of the V and then i smear a fruity paste on the top of the colvert and sometimes squirt my homemade trailing scent around.
Last edited by josh graybill; 12/14/09 08:34 PM.
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Re: Elbow Set
[Re: josh graybill]
#1662614
12/16/09 01:01 PM
12/16/09 01:01 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,383 Central Ohio
LT GREY
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,383
Central Ohio
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cohunt, if you've been trapping mink longer than I've been alive, you're one very old man!
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