MINK (PART 2)

In the water a trap placed in front of any hole in a stream bank or under any tree root system will produce mink. As with muskrats; you need to bed the trap two inches under water either solidly staked in two feet of water or any other kind of drowning set with the goal being too quickly dispatch your catch.

My favorite set in water is under tree roots on the edge of the stream. These roots are there 24-7 365and are constantly checked for food. You do not have to get fancy here, Mother Nature provided the habitat so put it to good use.

Another favorite set is a cubby set built out of sticks, stones or a combination of both. The goal is to make the mink pass thru them and they readily will. Building these cubbies also become a home for everything a mink eats. A few drops of mink lure on the bank or on top of the cubby usually seals the deal.

On dry land a cubby works as good, just build them and bait them. If you are not interested in coon make the cubby small and just big enough for a mink to enter. Any of the earlier mentioned baits tossed into the back of the cubby with a little lure applied will produce for you.

Mink also run through any hollow log they encounter. A little lure sprinkled on the outside will get them there and a little bait tossed inside will catch them for you.

Traps to use at these sets should be a 1 ½ or 2 and 110 conibears. With foot traps try to use cover that is at the set site already. It is important to conceal your trap if possible. Leaving any part of your trap exposed usually educates your quarry for life. My rule of thumb is to look at the set before you make it, make the set and then look to see if it looks the same before and after. In streams make the set right in the water and moments after stepping out clear water will remove any evidence of you being there. On land rubber boots, gloves and a kneeling mat will help contain your scent and lead to full pack baskets. Do not get too caught up in the scent thing though because if you were there and breathing you left some scent.

Mink prefer fresh baits, not rotted or tainted as with other baits. If mink do not seem interested to your bait do not stress. On any given day mink catch all they want to eat, warm and ready so they may ignore your offerings.

Once caught hopefully your catch has expired. Wash and dry them. Mink are case skinned, usually need very little fleshing and then put on a proper fur board, flesh out until dry. Be sure to use belly wedges for easy removal. Most mink stretchers measure 34 inches in length, 4 inches wide at the hip and 3 inches wide at the shoulder. Hang to dry at 40-50 degrees and ship to your fur buyer or wrap in newspaper and freeze.

Mink do not make good table fare as far as I know. Use the carcass for trapping other furbearers.

Keep your waders patched your lures in the shed and take a kid outdoors. See ya on the trap line.