trapping mink

C

ColoradoHillBilly

New member
Iwas wondering what info you guys had on making a good mink set. could I use the same lure for mink as for bobcats? What type of live trap set would work effectively? what works for bait? I've shot mink but never trapped them are they hard to trap? I have a few creeks that are good mink areas and I would like to trap a few of them out this winter.
 
Mink are not to hard to catch. Try some wet cat food or something fishy. If there are any mink farms in the area go talk to one and see if they will give you a gallon of feed. Freeze some of it. One gallon of it will last you a long time. That feed has a lot of fish parts on it. I worked on mink farms here and trapped mink for a lot of years. This time of year they are grading them so they can start pelting them just after thanksgiving. They have a lot of escapees while this is going on.
 
On creeks,a pocket set is hard to beat.An old timer taught me this next part.It sounds kinda dumb,but really works.Some morning when you wake up to fresh snow,drive to some creek crossings where you think mink run.Find fresh tracks,and spend a few hours following them.Watch where it goes,what catches its curiosity.Watch how far from the bank it stays or from rocks that it must go around.After a few hours of this observation,you will know where to set blind trail sets.The advantage to blind sets is no stinky baits and lures.No skunks or possum,usually.And if you use a 110 conibear on dry land trail sets,they will not be affected by water falling or rising.I personally catch more mink this way than with bait.
 
thanks. I'm only allowed to live trap legally in Co so a blind trail set is not the best idea although I could sneak them in on our farm. Noone bothers me here to much. We have 2 creeks that i've got mink on in the past, I'll do some snooping when i get some snow.
 
I would think you should be able to get one in a live trap. My first set would be in about an inch of watter, fish head for bait. I prefer pike. Put the head on a stake and push it in the mus so the gills are barely touching the water.

Mink use logs in waterways to look for food and dive from, so the backside of a log in the creek should be your target. Good luck.
 
I trap in Washington State where live traps are also required. For mink I use a Haveahart 7X7. Mine are two doors but I always keep one closed. The best bait I've found is the carcass of duck. Check your regs but I can use it if all the edible meat is removed. Set the trap right on the water edge. If possible get part of the bait in the water so a hunting mink can smell it down stream. For the Haveahart traps it's important to secure the trap. I've lost a few mink because they flip the trap over while inside and the doors flop open on this style trap. Good luck.
 


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