Mink Set Pics

I started trapping Mink last year, caught 1. Lol
This year I did my homework and I have a handful of “minky” spots. But other than bottom edge sets I’m struggling. I can’t find their paths on the bank, the struggles go on and on. Lol

In Bernie Barringer's book " Farmland Fur Trapping", he goes into a good chapter on mink biology, habits, trapping etc....

PS. He covers all the bases. Fox, Yote, Coon, Mink etc...... It is a very good read.

Yes it is. Also Rich Falers mink book

Check your mail box

You would require a lot more mink on you line that what I believe is in kentucky for mink to make a trail. What you may find is the travel trails made by raccoon, fisherman, etc. I am not picking on your state, as most states simply do not have "mink trails".
In Marshy areas with muskrats, the mink will follow those little tunnel trails throughout the grass areas.

Mink trapping can appear to be difficult and a guy can struggle at the start. patience, patience and more patience. As an old trapper I knew and took instruction from said,
"if there were as many mink as muskrats, you would catch as many."

Minktrapping.com is a site that while it discusses all trapping, it focuses on mink. It would be a good place to check out.

Do not be afraid to ask questions here and the forum I mentioned. If you need some recommendations for good books or DVDs, just ask.

I have never trapped down South so have nothing to really be helpful. The guys that I have talked to from the South, indicate that mink do not take bait real well.
I really don't know. Lure is really good for selling to trappers.
Blind setting may be the best for you to learn. You probably best ask some Southern guys.

Good luck.

mac

Make sets in trails like this and you will catch mink- you get rats too. Most of these are trails over the backs of pond dams or in between water sources or brushy ditches.









This is a set at the end of a pipe. This end is under water and the other end is high and dry. The 110 is wired to a brick like the lower picture. Just figure ut a way to get a trap in front of them and make it look like there is a wat for a mink to make it through it without much trouble.

A simple pocket set with half a Bluegill and a spritz of mink urine.



I use victor 1-1/2 coil spring, a length of wire and a brick for a drowner.


There is also the mink box, they don't work nearly as well as a pocket set for me...

Well, I was going to make a new post but will ask here. I'm finished with coyotes for this year and have two drainage ditches with rats and mink in them. I made 2 mink boxes last summer (we are froze up with snow here) and plan to put them out starting Monday along with standard sets for rats and mink. Having never tried catching mink with bait before I saved some muskrats from earlier in the season and will be using that as bait in the boxes and pocket sets.

My question is, with no mink urine or mink type lure, has anyone tried the sweet skunk type call lures that we use in coyote trapping in a pocket or box as an added attractant?

I have not but it could be worth a try.

I have set boxes for about 8 years now with not one mink. I have had then go right past the open end and never break stride. One tip someone gave me is to put a fish head with the eye facing the entrance so it looks like the eye is looking out. I think a fake eye could work too but never had any luck. I catch mink on the way to the boxes so maybe I would have gotten one if I only used the boxes but not sure. One non-traditional set to make this time of year is to get a soft plastic minnow and put it on a 110 trigger. Put that in the bottom of a pool where minnows congregate. Along some cover works best. I have caught several mink on this set.

Thanks Larry. Some of these ditches see otter also. I was thinking about the rubber minnow on a 220 with just part of the minnow body showing. I might try that with a 110/120 for the mink. If I box one I'll try to remember and send you a pm. Tracks in the snow, I'm going to try and put the boxes just about dead on.

Some parts of these ditches are too mucky in the bottom to walk just anywhere. Someone might find you there NEXT January.

Great pictures, thanks for sharing. Always looking for ways to catch more mink!

I believe you will have better succes with boxes if you use a restricted entrance hole and a pan trigger trap recess deep into box close to the bait at back of box. The hole is an attraction to them. Another advantage of the restrictive entrance hole is that when trapping a farm area, it restricts barn cats from entering as well as other non target species.

The two boxes I made have a 2-3/4" hole in the entry door. 1/4" hardware wire on the other end. I'll find out over the next 2-3 weeks if mink will go in them.

Thanks to everyone who posted I have never targeted mink and only caught one in a blind culvert set once. The area I will be setting next week has a 23 mile creek that dumps into the Ohio river bend all the way around it. I caught beaver,otter, coons, opossum,fox and coyotes ther last year. I think I will try a few sets for mink this year.

I appreciate the responses.
I’m not sure how well the mink population here is in central ky. But I do know everytime I get a new spot I find mink tracks so there has to be some anyways.

But you never opened the PM I sent you.

http://thebeav.us/Setlocationimages/minksetlocations.html

Beav. Thanks

Good picture of a Suicide Mink set



Simple Pocket set

Beav, that was very good info. Thank you for sharing. That is the reason I am on this site.