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Mink
Jan 5, 2013 21:34:57 GMT -5
Post by daveny on Jan 5, 2013 21:34:57 GMT -5
This may have been answered before but i'll ask anyway. How many mink can i catch in a location? I've caught 2 so far. Should i leave my set in for more?? I want some left for seed.
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Mink
Jan 6, 2013 9:21:55 GMT -5
Post by scott on Jan 6, 2013 9:21:55 GMT -5
Under your name it does not say where you are trapping or live. This may or may not play into your decision. One well know trapping author po-hooed the idea that one should be concerned about the number of mink taken in a area. I think he is full of beans.
I guess if you live in Minnisota or Iowa the mink might just keep on a coming. I have read of some states like those mentioned that you need not worry.
The rule of thumb I follow and I know a few other Maine guys that do is once I have taken two mink on a stream I stop trying for them. Is this right or wrong? Not sure.
Mac
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Mink
Jan 6, 2013 10:10:54 GMT -5
Post by snoeblind on Jan 6, 2013 10:10:54 GMT -5
I'm mostly with Mac, but it depends. Are we talking a large body of water or small stream? sign? Have others trapped it? As a rule of thumb I too pull after 2 mink unless I'm trapping larger waters. Here's one thing I can tell you.. I have a small pond that drains across my road and a small stream (1-2ft) empties into 3 ft stream that again empties into feeder creek to a major creek...( all in about 2miles) early trapping season had 3 mink visiting the pond during the week. all mid-morning, they were fun to watch. Two weeks into the season none... I believe all were caught in the larger feeder creek by myself and others. Long story I know.. Anyways.. just pulled my rat and otter sets from these places and during the past 3 weeks I did not see 1 set of mink tracks or sign...lots of trappers.. lots of mink trapped. Look at your situation and make your decision based on what you know and see...
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Mink
Jan 6, 2013 11:55:10 GMT -5
Post by fingerlakesfur on Jan 6, 2013 11:55:10 GMT -5
I have left traps on a site from Oct 25th till April 15th & caught a personal record of 9 at one location. I've caught 5-8 year after year at this particular spot. That really doesn't sound like much. Over 170 trap checks & 9 catches, but If you want to be a mink trapper in NYS, better get used to checking alot of empty traps
I feel mink are a "void" animal. Meaning they will fill in where another leaves. Miles & miles of creek/river can balance out your harvest.
If I start catching too many females I will pull, but that never seems to be the case. The later in the season, the more the male/female ratio increases. Fur quality doesn't seem to be an issue these days, as most wild mink are sheared.
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Mink
Jan 7, 2013 10:51:10 GMT -5
Post by whartonrattrapper on Jan 7, 2013 10:51:10 GMT -5
i'm with fingerlakes i have culvert sets i check everyday on the way to work. set from nov 15 til april 7 if you don't catch them someone else will. its not a stretch to catch six to eight mink in one season in the same set. now if you had ten of these that produced ....my personal high is 13, the next year same set was 9. with the right lure you will only catch males.
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Mink
Jan 7, 2013 15:02:19 GMT -5
Post by scott on Jan 7, 2013 15:02:19 GMT -5
Fingerlakesfur makes some really sound points. I was only thinking of small bodies of water like streams etc. On larger ones such as rivers etc. it would not doubt me different. Our season runs from around the first of November to Dec. 31. Any mink caught in rat or beaver traps may be kept as incidentals during the winter. Beaver and muskrat is all that is open after the 31st. (And muskrat is only open in towns where beaver trapping is open)
I have a lot to learn concerning long lining mink so I am all ears when these guys talk. Scott
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Mink
Jan 7, 2013 15:40:20 GMT -5
Post by snoeblind on Jan 7, 2013 15:40:20 GMT -5
You and me both Scott.. My season runs from Oct.25th to Apr 15th.. never left traps in place that long.. time, patience lol. I have never caught more than 3 in same set and 5 in the general location. Always made the assumption that I caught what was going to be caught or that others had taken some so felt I needed to pull. Never been a huge minker as I always run a mixed bag and other critters come calling. Maybe time to rethink how I approach it as I have several area that I drive by daily that I've trapped and pulled.
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Mink
Jan 8, 2013 20:04:58 GMT -5
Post by atraper on Jan 8, 2013 20:04:58 GMT -5
I have caught 11 mink in the same trap and 400 yards up stream 6 more, in the same season. In that year i took 22 in 3 miles. So, mink will move in and repopulate the area. I say , if you are going by the area keep your sets IN.
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