Strictly Trapping


No Profanity *** No Flaming *** No Advertising *** No Anti Trappers *** No Politics
No Non-Target Catches *** No Links to Anti-trapping Sites *** No Avoiding Profanity Filter


Home~Trap Talk~ADC Forum~Trap Shed~Wilderness Trapping~International Trappers~Fur Handling

Auction Forum~Trapper Tips~Links~Gallery~Basic Sets~Convention Calendar~Chat~ Trap Collecting Forum

Trapper's Humor~Strictly Trapping~Fur Buyers Directory~Mugshots~Fur Sale Directory~Wildcrafting

Trapper's Tales~Words From The Past~Legends~Archives~Kids Forum~Lure Formulators Forum


~~~ Dobbins' Products Catalog ~~~


Trading Post
(Please support F&T Trading Post, our sponsor for the Trapping Only Forum)



TrappersPost
Please support Trappers post, a sponsor of the Strictly Trapping Forum



Print Thread
Hop To
Mink female/male #7227395
03/26/21 05:02 PM
03/26/21 05:02 PM
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 26
Sverige
S
Skrak Offline OP
trapper
Skrak  Offline OP
trapper
S

Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 26
Sverige
A question from Sweden

My english is not the best - please be forgiving.

According to a study from Scotland "Sex ratio in the catches of the American mink - How to catch the females" a majority of the females were caught during only two months, augusti-september.
The main reason to catch mink (for the study) is to protect seabirds not fur harvesting.

Im trying to attach a link to the study.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1617138108000058

During most of the year the catch ratio is 2 male to 1 female but in august-sept the ratio is almost 1:1.
The conclusion is that it depends on the female making trips with her kids.

The study doesnt contain any comments from american trappers.
It would be interesting to hear your point of view on the study - can you please share any thoughts?

Re: Mink female/male [Re: Skrak] #7227483
03/26/21 06:42 PM
03/26/21 06:42 PM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,383
Central Ohio
LT GREY Offline
trapper
LT GREY  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,383
Central Ohio
During fur season, which here in my region, is Mid November through the end of February, mink trapped are usually males, nearly 6 to 1 and after the first of the year, often higher.
That is to my liking , as I would prefer to catch males and leave the females alone.
Hard to release a dead mink though.

One of my students caught many more mink than I with only a handful of females.


Re: Mink female/male [Re: Skrak] #7227641
03/26/21 08:40 PM
03/26/21 08:40 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,817
central arkansas
T
the Blak Spot Offline
trapper
the Blak Spot  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,817
central arkansas
During our season, february is the high time for females


the just shall live by faith

member FTA, ATA, EAFT
1776 - the year we told a tyrant we weren't to be under a dictator
Caveat ater macula
Re: Mink female/male [Re: Skrak] #7227645
03/26/21 08:42 PM
03/26/21 08:42 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,514
juneau, alaska
A
alaska viking Offline
"Made it two years not being censored"
alaska viking  Offline
"Made it two years not being censored"
A

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,514
juneau, alaska
Doubtful many American trappers have much experience trapping in august or september.


Made it almost 3 years without censor!

Re: Mink female/male [Re: LT GREY] #7227809
03/26/21 11:07 PM
03/26/21 11:07 PM
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 26
Sverige
S
Skrak Offline OP
trapper
Skrak  Offline OP
trapper
S

Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 26
Sverige
Thanks for your answer, the best fur season would be the same in my region.

6:1 and then increasing on the male side - this is really interesting - any ideas why?

Re: Mink female/male [Re: the Blak Spot] #7227815
03/26/21 11:11 PM
03/26/21 11:11 PM
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 26
Sverige
S
Skrak Offline OP
trapper
Skrak  Offline OP
trapper
S

Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 26
Sverige
Thanks for your answer.

Do you have any idea why its february?

Re: Mink female/male [Re: alaska viking] #7227843
03/26/21 11:32 PM
03/26/21 11:32 PM
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 26
Sverige
S
Skrak Offline OP
trapper
Skrak  Offline OP
trapper
S

Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 26
Sverige
Thanks for your answer.
The american season and reason to catch, taking care of fur, is to prefer from just predator control.
Since the mink is "your" animal and your knowledge about mink goes generations back its interesting with any reactions.
For us the mink has been common for only the last 50 years so we have a lot to learn...

Re: Mink female/male [Re: Skrak] #7227859
03/26/21 11:50 PM
03/26/21 11:50 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,761
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline
trapper
Law Dog  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,761
Central, SD
Here you almost never see one but very seldom but come spring they are dead on the roads everywhere stupid in the rut must do them in.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Mink female/male [Re: Skrak] #7227869
03/26/21 11:59 PM
03/26/21 11:59 PM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,261
Iowa
~ADC~ Offline
The Count
~ADC~  Offline
The Count

Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,261
Iowa
Originally Posted by Skrak
Thanks for your answer, the best fur season would be the same in my region.

6:1 and then increasing on the male side - this is really interesting - any ideas why?


My thinking is since the males travel a lot further in their travels, than the females do, they come across more traps. Your traps may not be set in more than one or two female's home ranges, but they are within many male mink's home ranges.

Re: Mink female/male [Re: Skrak] #7228047
03/27/21 09:21 AM
03/27/21 09:21 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,817
central arkansas
T
the Blak Spot Offline
trapper
the Blak Spot  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,817
central arkansas
Originally Posted by Skrak
Thanks for your answer.

Do you have any idea why its february?

Mating season, on the move more


the just shall live by faith

member FTA, ATA, EAFT
1776 - the year we told a tyrant we weren't to be under a dictator
Caveat ater macula
Re: Mink female/male [Re: Skrak] #7228310
03/27/21 05:16 PM
03/27/21 05:16 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
B
Boco Offline
trapper
Boco  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
Your mink are escaped feral ranch mink,correct?
If so they are an entirely different animal than a wild mink trapped for fur in NA.
Wild male mink have a significantly larger home range than a wild female.Male mink home range will overlap several female home ranges.
Female wild mink are also significantly smaller than wild males and can miss a trap pan or trigger.
These habits can be taken into consideration when managing mink on a trapline to avoid catching too many female mink-similar to marten management techniques,


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Mink female/male [Re: Skrak] #7228565
03/27/21 08:40 PM
03/27/21 08:40 PM
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 829
NE NE
W
Wife Offline
trapper
Wife  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 829
NE NE
Trapping here on the (converted to cropland) Great Plains my records show I catch more male mink during our fur season (November-February) when I use a few feathers around a pocket set. May or may not be a correlation to prey species. i do know from fecal matter, that females I have caught, have a lot more small mammal's remains in it than any pheasants or rabbit remains compared to male fecal matter. Again this maybe linked to the availability and size of the prey at that time of year.................................. he mike

Re: Mink female/male [Re: Skrak] #7229185
03/28/21 03:46 PM
03/28/21 03:46 PM
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 26
Sverige
S
Skrak Offline OP
trapper
Skrak  Offline OP
trapper
S

Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 26
Sverige
Thanks for all answers, I really appreciate your kindness.

The male mink traveling, especially during mating season, and wider home ranges explains a lot and I have to start thinking size and weight.

Escaped feral ranch mink - that means a mink thats been bred for fur for generations and then escaped and became a wild mink, did I understand that right?
That would explain something I read an american biologist said when visiting Sweden years ago - the behavior of wild minks in Sweden differs from their relatives in America.

I clearly have to start checking fecals, and maybe start keeping a journal - that really hit hard, havenīt even thought about it. Thanks!
Iīve felt like a real trapper when Im quite sure to recognize mink tracks and mink droppings. :-)

Does it make any sense when I find there is lika an extra dimension to learn when its come to trapping compared to hunting?

Re: Mink female/male [Re: Skrak] #7229400
03/28/21 07:47 PM
03/28/21 07:47 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
B
Boco Offline
trapper
Boco  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
Correct on the feral ranch mink.
To become a good trapper you need to really study and understand the animal from both a biological point of view as well as in the field observations.
This can take years to become a real good trapper,especially when it comes to nuisance animal trapping where all the animals causing problems need to be removed.
There are a lot of real good experienced trappers on this site.

Taking notes is an excellent start.Time out on the land is critical also.

If you know any other successful trappers you can learn a lot by going out on the land with them.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Mink female/male [Re: Skrak] #7230316
03/29/21 09:10 PM
03/29/21 09:10 PM
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 6,635
Wabash, IN USA
Flipper 56 Offline
trapper
Flipper 56  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 6,635
Wabash, IN USA
Originally Posted by Skrak
Thanks for all answers, I really appreciate your kindness.

The male mink traveling, especially during mating season, and wider home ranges explains a lot and I have to start thinking size and weight.

Escaped feral ranch mink - that means a mink thats been bred for fur for generations and then escaped and became a wild mink, did I understand that right?
That would explain something I read an american biologist said when visiting Sweden years ago - the behavior of wild minks in Sweden differs from their relatives in America.

I clearly have to start checking fecals, and maybe start keeping a journal - that really hit hard, havenīt even thought about it. Thanks!
Iīve felt like a real trapper when Im quite sure to recognize mink tracks and mink droppings. :-)

Does it make any sense when I find there is lika an extra dimension to learn when its come to trapping compared to hunting?

Welcome to Trapperman! grin


"Where Can A Man Find Bear Beaver And Other Critters Worth Cash Money When Skinned?"

Re: Mink female/male [Re: Skrak] #7230373
03/29/21 09:58 PM
03/29/21 09:58 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 610
Wisconsin
L
Lance Squires Offline
trapper
Lance Squires  Offline
trapper
L

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 610
Wisconsin
In my experience, I seem to catch more female mink when I trap the headwaters of a stream in November but my overall season catch is always 3 or 4 males to females.


57 years trapping. It's who I am. Every day is still as exciting as it was when I was a kid but a little more work.
Re: Mink female/male [Re: Skrak] #7230931
03/30/21 04:39 PM
03/30/21 04:39 PM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 181
Ireland
E
Eddie43 Offline
trapper
Eddie43  Offline
trapper
E

Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 181
Ireland
Our mink originated from farmed mink too, but I don't see any difference in behaviour between the mink here in Ireland, and those in the USA. I seldom trap mink before October, so haven't noticed catching more females in October than say December.

Thinking about it, I recon that all those young mink from the summer would have to do a lot of travelling, to find their own territories in around that period you are talking about. So maybe that rule of females not travelling far, is not the rule for those young females, until they find a territory of their own. So maybe that is why the ratio is much closer than that of winter.


Dog will hunt!
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

Moderated by  Drifter, Wolfdog91 

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1