hollowpoint wrote: » How have people faired out numbers wise for the year? Caught my 70 th mink of the year on St. Stephens day. Lost only 1 trap when a bank eroded away in the floods. Mk6 fenn traps have really done the job this year for me. Be interesting to hear what lads have got....
Capercaillie wrote: » Some amount. They could do with you in areas like Ballcroy national park to help protect the waders!
minktrapper wrote: » 70 mink that is great going.I caught my first one yesterday.
hollowpoint wrote: » Cheers, if I could make a living from it I would! Misses might not be impressed tho!
Eddie B wrote: » Wonder what qualifications you'd need for such a role? Met the guy who traps the river Shannon, he seem'd to only know the basics, when it comes to mink trapping! Maybe it was just the fact that he had a huge area to trap, and not enough time to do it properly, and that's understandable, i suppose! For me, I don't think I could work for, or with the NPWS! Don't think they like being challenged on any subject relating to wildlife, especially by anyone who hasn't a degree! Probably won't be many who would agree with me on this!:) JMHO!
Capercaillie wrote: » I think those trapping jobs with NPWS go out for tender. The lad who I liaise with from the NPWS seems open minded and would listen to my opinion eventhough I'm a non-degree person as well:) I had dealings with BWI and they never listen to me. Too stuck up!
Eddie B wrote: » Yea knew they went out for tender, but work along side NPWS i believe! Probably more about who ya know, more so than what you know! Well to be honest I had conversations with two guy's from NPWS! One guy was sound enough, the other a complete ass! But neither liked to be proven wrong in any way! Human nature I suppose! Oddly enough, I had a good experience, working with BWI, but challenged, would probably have a similar reaction!
hollowpoint wrote: » 1st of many hopefully!
thefisherbuy wrote: » What do you use as bait on the trap? I'm just wondering I've a few traps I found and would like to give it a go, the other thing is about otters would you ever get them in the traps? I would never like to get one in the traps.. I know there protected and that what would you do, just wondering if you had any past experiences, also is there a season for trapping them? Or is it all year round? Thanks..
Eddie B wrote: » On the question on Otters! The traps are set in a tunnel, and the tunnel is closed off with sticks, rocks, or whatever you have at hand! A gap no more than 8cm is left to allow mink in, but non-targets like Otter out! Otters are a very clever animal, and are highly prized in country's that do trap them, mainly because they are so hard catch! You see, their clever! Much more so, then the mink! Now if by some chance, an Otter did manage to catch it's foot in a trap, it would be like catching your finger in a mouse trap! Their a big powerful animal! It would simply just shake the trap off! On many an occasion, I had an Otter fire my trap, and steal the bait, leaving nothing bar a footprint as evidance! Sometimes they keep coming back, over and over again! That tells me, that they ain't afraid of those traps! In all my years of trapping, I've never caught an Otter!;)
thefisherbuy wrote: » Great, thanks, so how would I go onto trapping minks? Any good YouTube videos you would recommend? Thanks.
Eddie B wrote: » hollowpoint on here, has some great YouTube video's on mink trapping! Subscribe to his YouTube channel, and he'll answer any question you have im sure! What kind of traps have you got, by the way?
thefisherbuy wrote: » I actually bought them off a friend a few years ago and I'm pretty sure there mink traps.
thefisherbuy wrote: » I know I have them somewhere here is closest one I could find that looks like it... Hope this helps. But I'm nearly 90% sure there mink traps and the other 10% for rats but this trap is big enough size for rats... Thanks
Eddie B wrote: » A o.k! It's a cage trap, which can be used for rat, mink, and squirrel! There's no need to worry about Otters at all then! Way too small to catch an Otter! Make sure the trap is good and sensitive, closing with ease! Bait with fish scraps, tinned fish in oil or brine, rabbit or whatever you can get! Set the trap right against the bank of the river, ( if it's not flooded lol), somewhere nice and flat, where the cage is stable, cover with grass, leaves, debris e.t.c, and i add a rock or two! One at the back, and maybe another on top , or at the side if there's some close by! (Not essential ) Check every day, and change bait every few days, depending on weather! Mink like fresh bait! There's lots more tips, but that's most of the basics covered I think!;)
thefisherbuy wrote: » That's great, river is fairly flooded and I'll try and get asap! Thanks a mill!
dodderangler wrote: » If anyone gets a mink could you pm me lad who does my tattoos is looking for animal skulls for his tattoo shop
Eddie B wrote: » Here's one I prepared earlier! Lol! A in all honesty, think skulls from bigger animals would work better! A Mink skull would hardly even be seen, or noticed!
minktrapper wrote: » 11 mink caught here so far.All on the same stretch of river.
