IMHO when using baited box cubbies the key to reasonable success IMO is to consider all the following when setting them:
---Whether using footholds or body grip traps, the main things to remember about the boxes are to set on location where mink travel, have the back of the box screened for air movement, camouflage the box well with surrounding vegetation/snow or whatever and hide the bait with dry grass so the mink will enter the box searching for it and keep the bait fresh.
---The best location for boxes is at beaver pond outlets, overhanging banks, small stream entrances with larger water courses and alongside open water areas of frozen streams.
---Use a box entrance cover with a 2 ½ inch hole. Mink explore holes all the time and thus it's my opinion, and experience, that the hole is an attraction to them. Another advantage of the restrictive entrance hole is that when trapping farm area it restricts barn cats from entering.
---Use a pan trigger set up. Although mink are accustomed to tunnelling through vegetation, it is my understanding and experience that, many will often balk at the cold, hard and stiff wires in their face at the box entrance and shy away from entering. Whereas with a pan trigger trap set CLOSE to the bait at back of the box, and nothing in their face, they will proceed to enter and investigate further thus stepping on the pan and getting caught. (see "wetdog" pic above)
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The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning
