Mink trapping

Hort101

Bought a mink trap recently. Just wondering is trapping mink in Ireland illegal and a few tips on stuff like locations, baits and any other advise on trapping them if its not illegal?? Also what are the signs you need to look out for if they are around??

Cass

It's not illegal. Mink are vermin, and need to be eradicated.

I'll leave the trap talk to those that know about it.:cool:

dodderangler

Have a look at other threads mate
There's usually about 2 or 3 threads entitled mink trappin every month
Should find al the answers there

Hort101

"Its not illegal" .... just what i wanted to hear :cool:

Tommy87

I like how u bought the trap first and then ask is it legal!! They definatly should be wiped out, they are killin machines. I've lost 25 chickens and ducks over the last year or so, I caught 2 lately with my traps, so I thought we were safe again..... Last week 2 more nabbed in broad daylight. Best of luck with your trap!

patdahat

what trap did you buy?

Hort101

http://www.google.ie/imgres?q=mink+trap&start=306&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&tbnid=w_xhZC7LtTQ4ZM:&imgrefurl=http://tongruiwiremesh.en.made-in-china.com/product/nMamchOYaeWp/China-Weasel-Trap-Cage-TST-018-.html&docid=5JLvpEEhDppFjM&imgurl=http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00beETtGQBsvqO/Weasel-Trap-Cage-TST-018-.jpg&w=400&h=275&ei=ei1oUMqJMpOThgfT_4BA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=550&vpy=384&dur=832&hovh=184&hovw=268&tx=54&ty=121&sig=109082155188277248991&page=14&tbnh=140&tbnw=182&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:306,i:89

This image must be edited.. thats the exact trap but a little longer..

I checked the trap this morning and the bait was gone, the trap was around 10 yards from where i left it and there was a dead bird outside it.. Can they actually get out??

patdahat

That's a good cage and 9 times out of 10 they wont get out unless there is a piece of the metal broken, sounds like a fox or something pulled it around the place to get the bait, always tie the cage to a tree or a big rock in case of overnight flooding. I always place my bait UNDER the back end of the cage, place rocks and stones around the cage to prevent mink or rat from digging it out so the only way to the bait is in the door. Camouflage the cage with whatever greenary you find at hand and totally cover over the cage. I have caught mink with nothing in it but it was totally camouflaged into the back round. Mink are curious and will enter any black hole they find so it's just something inviting you want to entice him in. I cant say that any 1 bait is the best but I have had good results with rabbit(the head or the leg), magpie out of the larson trap(pluck the feather's into the cage and around the entrance and place the corp's under the cage), tinned cat/dog food, chicken bones after the dinner, even caught them with a stale piece of a kebab. I don't use sradines or tinned mackerel as they seem to always attract mice.

I have found that a bridge is prob the best location to catch a mink. Again 9 times out of 10 a mink will always swim along the side of the bank and hunts up stream so if the cage can be placed close to the bridge or on the first bit of a shore after the bridge the better. This is a good location for a mink to shake off after a swim so have a nice sent waiting to lure him.
best of luck