Old dog learning new tricks about mink
#6738127
01/21/20 01:40 AM
01/21/20 01:40 AM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 124 Hubbard , Ohio
Honeydog
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 124
Hubbard , Ohio
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I'm 70 years old and have trapped since I was 12. I trapped raccoon , beaver, and muskrat and a few fox. I caught one mink in all those years. I got big into hound hunting for about 10 years and did little trapping during those years. When I retired in 2011 I started a nuisance trapping business but most of that is groundhogs or raccoons in people's back yards or squirrels in their attics. It's not like fur trapping. For the last 6 years, because of other responsibilities, I was unable to do any fur trapping and I missed it. This year , just before the season , I found myself with time to fur trap. I started doing some muskrat trapping. One day I had a rat that had it's head chewed on. I set another trap and the next day had a nice big buck mink. The same day I got another nice buck at another pond where I had found a small hole under a couple of feet of water , too small for a rat den, and had stuck s body gripper in front. Two mink in one day! Now I was fired up. I ordered Jim Spencer's videos and also joined Don Powell 's site and ordered his DVD. I got Spencer's DVDs and watched all four that day. I was impressed that he uses mostly blind sets. No bait and very little lure. Even his float sets were without bait. I thought about my creeks and couldn't imagine trying to pick from the many blind set locations. The next day , while adjusting a rat set , I looked across the creek and saw a flat bank that transitioned into deeper water and undercut banks and thought, " Spencer would set a trap there." I had a 150 Bridger and set it tight against the bank and subtly blocked it in. Two days later , this morning , there was another nice mink waiting for me ! I'm checking out some new areas and am already planning next season. I . can't wait to get Don's DVDs. This old man is fired up!
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Re: Old dog learning new tricks about mink
[Re: Honeydog]
#6738156
01/21/20 03:56 AM
01/21/20 03:56 AM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,436 New York border
Cragar
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,436
New York border
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Cool post. Go gettum....I want to hear you get more.
NRA benefactor member
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Re: Old dog learning new tricks about mink
[Re: Honeydog]
#6738203
01/21/20 07:02 AM
01/21/20 07:02 AM
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Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 464 N.W. Pennsylvania
JTaddeo
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 464
N.W. Pennsylvania
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Man great post. It's one of the area's I definitely intend on expanding and doing myself.
Keep your boots dry and your powder too.
I remember when a fur check was reality.....now I'm just trapping for the love of it.
Best Regards,
JT
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Re: Old dog learning new tricks about mink
[Re: Honeydog]
#6738264
01/21/20 08:15 AM
01/21/20 08:15 AM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,954 RI / MN
Cameron Kelsey
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,954
RI / MN
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I think mink are a really cool animal and a lot of fun to trap. It's a shame how cheap they now sell on the fur market.
CWO4, SC, US Navy
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Re: Old dog learning new tricks about mink
[Re: Honeydog]
#6738273
01/21/20 08:30 AM
01/21/20 08:30 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,311 Wisconsin
RdFx
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,311
Wisconsin
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Your hooked , lot easier carrying mink out than bvr !
RdFx
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Re: Old dog learning new tricks about mink
[Re: Honeydog]
#6738274
01/21/20 08:30 AM
01/21/20 08:30 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,473 Wisconsin
Muskrat
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,473
Wisconsin
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. . . . This old man is fired up! And that's what it's all about, eh?
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Re: Old dog learning new tricks about mink
[Re: Honeydog]
#6738284
01/21/20 08:39 AM
01/21/20 08:39 AM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 682 Southern Wisconsin
Fishdog One
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 682
Southern Wisconsin
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I love mink trapping, and 3 to 4 dollars was not incentive to trap them. But late into December I had to try for a couple, just wish it was worth it to run 50 mink sets again, a guy could catch a bunch. Water level dropped 3 inches from when I set the trap, had to move my support rock to keep it at the right level, you can catch a mink in a bare trap but I always like them under water.
Born twice, die once
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Re: Old dog learning new tricks about mink
[Re: Cameron Kelsey]
#6738489
01/21/20 11:30 AM
01/21/20 11:30 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,744 MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
Trapper7
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,744
MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
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I think mink are a really cool animal and a lot of fun to trap. It's a shame how cheap they now sell on the fur market. My thoughts exactly.
The difference between animals and humans is that animals would never let the dumbest ones lead the pack.
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Re: Old dog learning new tricks about mink
[Re: Honeydog]
#6738719
01/21/20 02:58 PM
01/21/20 02:58 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,719 Williamsport, Pa.
jk
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,719
Williamsport, Pa.
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"I think mink are a really cool animal and a lot of fun to trap"-----a lot of us think that way too. Ice fishing a few years ago, the fishing got slow so I took a walk. Found mink tracks and followed the along the shore line. Sort of got good at guessing where he will show up again until all of a sudden his tracks went sharp left right across the center of the lake. You just can't figure them out completely, just when you think you got them outsmarted they do the unexpected. Have fun that is what it is all about......jk
Free people are not equal. Equal people are not free. What's supposed to be ain't always is. Hopper Hunter
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