Trapping mink

ace86

Started trapping mink this year and i puting the trap near streams and small rivers and have had no sucess to be honest. i bait it with fish and wear loves all the time when i'm moving it or baiting it. Have mink numbers gone down in the last few years, do see the odd one crossing the road and has anyone any good tips in trapping them?

westwicklow

Thai fish sauce works for us for baiting traps.

Gerry.L

Never hunted mink myself. Do you only do it for pest control or you can do it for the sport..?? Id say it would be a bit of craic catching them. It would be something different. How do you kill them when you get them, I doubt your gonna put your hand in grab him and break his neck

BTW: Is there any laws/licences on trapping mink..

Irish Fire

Gerry.L wrote: »

Never hunted mink myself. Do you only do it for pest control or you can do it for the sport..?? Id say it would be a bit of craic catching them. It would be something different. How do you kill them when you get them, I doubt your gonna put your hand in grab him and break his neck

BTW: Is there any laws/licences on trapping mink..

I was wondering the same thing on the licence....... Although I haven't seen a mink for years, Stoats seem to be on the rise though...

Gerry.L

Irish Fire wrote: »

I was wondering the same thing on the licence....... Although I haven't seen a mink for years, Stoats seem to be on the rise though...

I know you can shoot them no problems, they're vermin. But I think trapping any animal, vermin or not, is a whole different ballgame in the eyes of the law.

EDIT: Your right, now that I think about, I havent seen a mink in about 6 or 7 years. And even back then I never saw a whole load of them.

Birdnuts

Gerry.L wrote: »

I know you can shoot them no problems, they're vermin. But I think trapping any animal, vermin or not, is a whole different ballgame in the eyes of the law.

EDIT: Your right, now that I think about, I havent seen a mink in about 6 or 7 years. And even back then I never saw a whole load of them.

AFAIK mink can be trapped withour a licence as they are considered vermin under the law

PS: Stoats on the other hand are a totally protected native species

Minky 123

Mink are best trapped in may as they are on the spring as they are on the move more. Its all about where you set them.

ace86

thanks for the help lads. you are legally alowwed to trap them as they are considered vermin. there is mink farms not too far away from me and back in the 70's i know they closed one and left them all off as i am told they were a big problem years ago but from what i hear the otter is the only animal on the river that will take him on and sort him out.

pugw

Try and have the cage as near to the waters edge as possible. Under a small bridge or culvert is a good place to leave it but dont 4get to tie it to something or a flood mite sweep it away. Its hard to keep bait fresh this time of year so maybe try fish oil or some of the american lures are good!

PippaSpaniel

ace86 wrote: »

Started trapping mink this year and i puting the trap near streams and small rivers and have had no sucess to be honest. i bait it with fish and wear loves all the time when i'm moving it or baiting it. Have mink numbers gone down in the last few years, do see the odd one crossing the road and has anyone any good tips in trapping them?

A few tips on catching mink that work well for me, as a few of the lads said the rivers edge, its where i put the trap, make sure the trap is solid on the ground and not shaking about, cover the entrance of the trap if its a tunnel trap with some earth so the mesh is covered also have the trap looking like a natural tunnel cause mink are curious. This time of year use smoked bait if u can get it also bait like fish oil, fresh bait is best but rots really quickly this time of year!! I also find where a stream enters a river is a good spot also near bridges. You should walk the rivers edge and look out for tracks or prints in the muddy areas, if you spot tracks place trap nearyby in a suitable place.And when you catch a mink make sure and rub its scent all over the trap!!(after dispatching):) Good luck with the trapping there is plenty of mink about caught over thirty last year and have quiet a few caught already.

ace86

PippaSpaniel wrote: »

A few tips on catching mink that work well for me, as a few of the lads said the rivers edge, its where i put the trap, make sure the trap is solid on the ground and not shaking about, cover the entrance of the trap if its a tunnel trap with some earth so the mesh is covered also have the trap looking like a natural tunnel cause mink are curious. This time of year use smoked bait if u can get it also bait like fish oil, fresh bait is best but rots really quickly this time of year!! I also find where a stream enters a river is a good spot also near bridges. You should walk the rivers edge and look out for tracks or prints in the muddy areas, if you spot tracks place trap nearyby in a suitable place.And when you catch a mink make sure and rub its scent all over the trap!!(after dispatching):) Good luck with the trapping there is plenty of mink about caught over thirty last year and have quiet a few caught already.

Thanks for your help i will try again and see how i get on.

pugw

PippaSpaniel wrote: »

This time of year use smoked bait if u can get it also bait like fish oil, fresh bait is best but rots really quickly this time of year!! I also find where a stream enters a river is a good spot

+1 kippers are a good long lasting bait you can get them tinned in lidl with plenty of smelly oil! Also where a stream enters a lake is a good spot to try