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Re: Mink Scouting [Re: Fmjoutdoors] #6577677
07/20/19 12:28 PM
07/20/19 12:28 PM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,871
NNY
0
080808 Offline
trapper
080808  Offline
trapper
0

Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,871
NNY
2X. Remember when rats “covered the gas expenses “. Now it’s almost all furbearers. lol

Re: Mink Scouting [Re: lumberjack391] #6577695
07/20/19 01:04 PM
07/20/19 01:04 PM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,238
Illinois
R
ratbrain Offline
trapper
ratbrain  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,238
Illinois
Originally Posted by lumberjack391
Most long line coon trappers take huge numbers of mink. They probably catch more by accident than I do on purpose. The trick is trying to keep coon out of mink sets.


I had some baited mink pocket sets (water) out in February and still caught 4 raccoons!!

Last edited by ratbrain; 07/20/19 01:04 PM.
Re: Mink Scouting [Re: Fisher Man] #6577810
07/20/19 04:12 PM
07/20/19 04:12 PM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,007
WI - Wisconsin
A
AJE Offline
trapper
AJE  Offline
trapper
A

Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,007
WI - Wisconsin
Originally Posted by Fisherman

One final comment. I love trapping mink, but with today's prices I will not put much effort into chasing them.

I think that is the case with a lot of people. Too bad the prices are so low.

Re: Mink Scouting [Re: joepennanti] #6579851
07/23/19 08:17 PM
07/23/19 08:17 PM
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,970
New York
P
proratman Offline
trapper
proratman  Offline
trapper
P

Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,970
New York
Originally Posted by joepennanti
I've been scouting ~20hrs/week for the last 2 months. What are the chances of mink, or other mustelids, having the same range in May/June as in Dec/Jan when there are few open waterways?

That's 160 hours.

Re: Mink Scouting [Re: proratman] #6580411
07/24/19 06:14 PM
07/24/19 06:14 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 147
indiana
D
Digger Catcher1 Offline
trapper
Digger Catcher1  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 147
indiana
Joepen. 160 hrs scouting with maybe a catch of 10 or 12 mink at 10 dollars each comes to about 120 bucks. Not a very good average 1.33 EACH. Now subtract your gas at 3.00 dollars a gallon and you are going to start your season way in the hole.

Re: Mink Scouting [Re: Fmjoutdoors] #6580444
07/24/19 07:05 PM
07/24/19 07:05 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 147
indiana
D
Digger Catcher1 Offline
trapper
Digger Catcher1  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 147
indiana
You would be better off spending those hours getting permission. 160 hours adds up to a lot of land to trap.

Re: Mink Scouting [Re: Fmjoutdoors] #6581164
07/25/19 10:27 PM
07/25/19 10:27 PM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 868
Punxsutawney, Pa.
M
MinkGuy Offline
trapper
MinkGuy  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 868
Punxsutawney, Pa.
Locations, Locations, Locations are the 3 most important elements in significant mink catches. Many good points in this thread. I agree even the rockiest areas have areas where tracks can often be detected. Mink in our area are have a low density so finding sign is often by good fortune as trail cameras prove that some of my areas may not have a mink go through for months at times and then during season it may be possible to catch a couple. Habitat can be a good indicator of a probable population (just as a cornfield often indicates that whitetails will likely be present). I like to understand where the water I'm trapping is coming from and where it is going to. Then the location gains value if above is a swamp and below is a bigger stream as an example. Are there fish and crayfish in the water? Mice and rabbit along the banks? Muskrats? Personally, I like to run my line throughout the year to know the amount of miles I'll be travelling, How far from the truck will I be setting and walking? What type of sets?- pockets, blinds, surface blinds, depth of water, types of anchorings and platforms needed as well as stabilizers. Will I hide anchors/ plates? I'm not a cold roller but rather a line developer with a progressive approach to cover more locations then add as I go down to check yesterdays sets. This keeps me adjusting- "Patience has no place on a mink line but rather diligence is what is needed". To many I have rode with take a peek and move on. Good Mink Trappers I have seen like Nittany Lion who is probably approaching 60 years of age goes down to the trap and breaks the ice, or makes the bed deeper or raises it up depending upon the need." WIN THE MOMENT and WIN THE DAY!
All trappers face 4 concerns
#1 A Mink may pass along your chosen location only once per season.
#2 Trappers may not cover the course the mink may choose
#3 Trappers may aid the mink in missing the trap by using poor guides or stepping sticks incorrectly.
#4 Often weather may make a properly located trap inoperable because of ice or water depth
#5 It is a numbers game and infrequent catches sap the energy from a potential minker - I Work to reach critical mass so each day I have something to show for my efforts. This catching of Mink After Mink On Purpose is more rewarding. - Just don't ask me how you can make a profit trapping them as I haven't figured that out yet.


DonP
Minktrapping.com
Re: Mink Scouting [Re: Fmjoutdoors] #6581368
07/26/19 09:45 AM
07/26/19 09:45 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,228
wantage n.j.
E
eric space Offline
trapper
eric space  Offline
trapper
E

Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,228
wantage n.j.
As usual, Don is 100% correct it is Location, Location ,Location.
One thing I might add (I only use snares in dry land blind sets), is get down to look at your set location. The average trapper is viewing the set from an eyeball level of 5+ feet off the ground, the mink sees it from an eyeball level of 4 inches. Many times that height difference makes a blind set location look completely different.
The 3 locations that I look for are a tree stump or log jam in the middle of a stretch of stream that has no obvious cover (see first picture). Every mink will explore around it for a time before zipping thru the area of no cover. Almost always there is a toilet spot there. Second is a pinch point between a rock, tree or in this second picture an old bridge abutment. Third is a beaver bank lodge, abandoned or active, either attracts every mink traveling the stream/river. Eric
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

Re: Mink Scouting [Re: Fmjoutdoors] #6581446
07/26/19 01:51 PM
07/26/19 01:51 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 13,059
Ky
J
jbyrd63 Offline
trapper
jbyrd63  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 13,059
Ky
Tracks. More tracks. When the first snowfall hits just walk the creeks. Won't only tell you if you got mink but will show you some dandy places to make blind sets

Re: Mink Scouting [Re: Fmjoutdoors] #6581514
07/26/19 04:37 PM
07/26/19 04:37 PM
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2,283
PA
L
lumberjack391 Offline
trapper
lumberjack391  Offline
trapper
L

Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2,283
PA
I personally don't worry about finding tracks, or if there is a swamp above or below me, location or populations- how do you figure that out anyway? I just make sets that fit the situation and hope for the best. Concentrate on bridges, culverts, tributaries and pools and you will eventually connect. There are always a few around.
You guys stressing location, do you mean "micro" location or "stretch of creek" location?

Re: Mink Scouting [Re: Fmjoutdoors] #6581532
07/26/19 04:58 PM
07/26/19 04:58 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 177
Minnesota
G
Gerald Schmitt Offline
trapper
Gerald Schmitt  Offline
trapper
G

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 177
Minnesota
Fmjoutdoors, being your are from PA, you ought to buy Don Powell's Mink Trapping Book and/or Mink Trapping DVD. If you are not confident in picking locations, Don's book and DVD will greatly shorten the learning curve. Plus Don is from PA also, so the information he shares, is exactly what you need to know for your area.

Re: Mink Scouting [Re: Fmjoutdoors] #6581543
07/26/19 05:14 PM
07/26/19 05:14 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 13,059
Ky
J
jbyrd63 Offline
trapper
jbyrd63  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 13,059
Ky
Just google it

Re: Mink Scouting [Re: Fmjoutdoors] #6582555
07/27/19 09:19 PM
07/27/19 09:19 PM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 868
Punxsutawney, Pa.
M
MinkGuy Offline
trapper
MinkGuy  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 868
Punxsutawney, Pa.
hmmmm


DonP
Minktrapping.com
Re: Mink Scouting [Re: Fmjoutdoors] #6582646
07/27/19 10:26 PM
07/27/19 10:26 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,408
Ohio
Minker Offline
trapper
Minker  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,408
Ohio
I never look for mink sign , i look for mink set locations .
Come to Minktoberfest , you will learn alot from stream line demo's .


Fur Trapping ;
Its not about making Money, Its All about the Adventures you'll have on the Trapline .
Re: Mink Scouting [Re: Fmjoutdoors] #6582846
07/28/19 09:57 AM
07/28/19 09:57 AM
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,015
SE Iowa USA
A
AKAjust Offline
trapper
AKAjust  Offline
trapper
A

Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,015
SE Iowa USA
Hey Newt
How about anywhere there are muskrats and or fish.
just

Re: Mink Scouting [Re: Fmjoutdoors] #6582869
07/28/19 10:13 AM
07/28/19 10:13 AM
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 437
Middle Georgia
zoozoo400 Offline
trapper
zoozoo400  Offline
trapper

Joined: May 2019
Posts: 437
Middle Georgia
I'm wanting to catch some here in GA before I move out to mink-less AZ cry

Re: Mink Scouting [Re: Fmjoutdoors] #6582872
07/28/19 10:18 AM
07/28/19 10:18 AM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 28,978
potter co. p.a.
P
pcr2 Offline
"Twerker"
pcr2  Offline
"Twerker"
P

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 28,978
potter co. p.a.
you'd be hunting snipe looking for sign on 75 percent of my line.learn how to blind set a bridge or sluice right and go do that 50 times in a circle ending and starting at home.after 30 yrs,there will be places you don't go anymore,and ones you can't wait to get to.and just cause you draw a blank at a stop one year,don't think it won't have mink another year.









Re: Mink Scouting [Re: lumberjack391] #6587454
08/03/19 11:09 PM
08/03/19 11:09 PM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,007
WI - Wisconsin
A
AJE Offline
trapper
AJE  Offline
trapper
A

Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,007
WI - Wisconsin
Originally Posted by lumberjack391
I personally don't worry about finding tracks, or if there is a swamp above or below me, location or populations- how do you figure that out anyway? I just make sets that fit the situation and hope for the best. Concentrate on bridges, culverts, tributaries and pools and you will eventually connect. There are always a few around.

What about ponds...
Do many of you like trapping mink around the edges of ponds?

Re: Mink Scouting [Re: AJE] #6587483
08/03/19 11:40 PM
08/03/19 11:40 PM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,483
PA
P
PAskinner Offline
trapper
PAskinner  Offline
trapper
P

Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,483
PA
Originally Posted by AJE
Originally Posted by lumberjack391
I personally don't worry about finding tracks, or if there is a swamp above or below me, location or populations- how do you figure that out anyway? I just make sets that fit the situation and hope for the best. Concentrate on bridges, culverts, tributaries and pools and you will eventually connect. There are always a few around.

What about ponds...
Do many of you like trapping mink around the edges of ponds?

Inlets and outlets on ponds and marshes are about as good as it gets. Think pinch points, it's really no different than trapping anything else.


Right now I’m having amnesia and déjà vu at the same time. I think I’ve forgotten this before.
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