Trapping tips!

Eddie B

Decided to put up a couple of photo's of what i see as good trapping locations, and what signs to look out for when mink trapping!

This is a prime location to catch mink, where a stream enters a river!



Mink usually mark their teritory in a spot like this, and i found some on that tuffed of grass on the right!



Here's a mink run leading to the waters edge!



and close by, more not so fresh scat!



The scat turnes grayer the longer its around and you'll notice little white bones in it!

Here's another favourite spot of mine, where i caught many a mink!


Caught an average sized buck here friday!




and a large buck in the same trap yesterday!


This often happens where you'll get a few mink in quick sucession, then nothing for a while, and then maybe a couple more!

Hope this is of some help to those new to trapping, and anyone who wants to add some tips to this, please do!;)

Feargal as Luimneach

Why is it a prime location to catch mink? (when a stream enters a river)

Eddie B

Feargal as Luimneach wrote: »

Why is it a prime location to catch mink? (when a stream enters a river)

I've just noticed down through the years that mink mark their territories in these sort of area's, and so if they visit an area regularly to mark it, then you have a better chance of catching there!

Id also imagine that when a mink is running the bank of a river, he would probably stop where the waters meet, and have a nose around before either changing direction and follow the coarse of the stream, or crossing the stream to continue along the river bank!

I just seem to have better sucess in these spots than just setting on the streight bank!

fodda

So how do you tell the difference between an Otter and Mink?

deerhunter1

fodda wrote: »

So how do you tell the difference between an Otter and Mink?

Hope this helps a bit

Eddie B

fodda wrote: »

So how do you tell the difference between an Otter and Mink?

Well if you mean, mink scat and otter spraint (droppings) well their fairly simmilar, but otter spraint has a fairly pleasant smell compaired to the mink!
You could always try the taste test!!!:p

johngalway

Lookit them pearly whites, stick your finger in, see if he's friendly

If there's white water on a river, mink don't like that and will come out of the water to avoid it. Handy spot to put a trap.

210

I suspect I might need a few tips on mink trapping, I took a walk this morning up along the small burn which runs adjacent to our pheasant pen( thankfully now empty). I spotted tracks at different points along the burn which I suspect might be mink. What do you guys think - each paw print is roughly 1 inch long/wide. I could only see four toes in each set of tracks I saw.

Eddie B

210 wrote: »

I suspect I might need a few tips on mink trapping, I took a walk this morning up along the small burn which runs adjacent to our pheasant pen( thankfully now empty). I spotted tracks at different points along the burn which I suspect might be mink. What do you guys think - each paw print is roughly 1 inch long/wide. I could only see four toes in each set of tracks I saw.

Well i could be wrong, but they look like mink prints to me! You say about an inch long, that sounds right!

Why don't you set a cage in the area, you won't be long about finding out if there's mink about!;)

Vegeta

Great post Eddie, thanks for sharing. Really enjoyed that

210

Thanks eddie, I have a trap just like in your photos and will get it set up asap. What type of bait do you use in your trap ?

doctor evil

I hear sardines are meant to be good.

Eddie B

doctor evil wrote: »

I hear sardines are meant to be good.

Yea sardines in sunflower oil are good because, their easily available, handy to carry around, and when open give off a nice fishy smell!!

I usually just open the lid a small bit, and sometimes poar a little of the oil near the entrance to the cage, then put tin and all in the rear of the cage!

I also use trout and salmon heads and find them very effective!

Eddie B

Well lads after a blank day yesterday, i had a small buck mink in the cage this morning!



Thats the third buck out of this spot, so surely there'a a bitch mink to be had!
After a well placed shot with the air rifle, this lad was dispatched instantly!





Due to some good advise from this forum, i decided to get myself an air rifle a few months back, and find it ideal for dispatching small vermin!;)

The most i ever took from this stretch of river was five, so doubt if i'll get to many more!:D

Birdnuts

Excellent conservation work like this should be included in REPS to encourage more farmers to fight the mink menace!!:)

johngalway

Birdnuts wrote: »

Excellent conservation work like this should be included in REPS to encourage more farmers to fight the mink menace!!:)

Getting a bit OT, but appreciate the positive effect of the action.

REPS plans would be finalised already, no new entrants for the future as the scheme is dead.

Next years AEOS scheme would be what you're thinking of. I have doubts there will be one though.