Catching Mink - any tips

[trenchfoot 4,243]

We have had a return of mink. they are now slowly devouring the ducklings on the pond. I have also uncovered one of their nests when I pulled down the old fishing shed. Underneath was stuffed with old bones and a pile of petrified frogs and toads. Short of sitting out all day/night with the gun, any tips on trapping them. I am used to rat trapping, but never had to deal with these little buggers up close and personal. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Cheers, Trenchfoot

[StevoSmith 147]

Try fox live trap with fish or rabbit...also mink raft trap im sure you can get em on flea bay............me on other hand would shoot em....good luck with it buddy

 

 

When setting these traps always make sure an otter guard is fitted buddy

[paulus 26]

just chuck a handfull of feathers in a rat trap, there inquisitive nature is there downfall

[Tallyho 181]

Cover the bottom of the trap , we had two traps , one was wire bottom the other was wood , the wood bottomed one always caught . We always used fish to bait our traps, we caught a good few .

[young man 225]

Wait with a shot gun and blow the bollox out of the wee dirty scumbags

["Earth!" 503]

fenns will pick them up pal and any rats running the lake banks.

good sport with the terriers too, ive had a few of call outs to deal with them.

[trenchfoot 4,243]

cheers for the tips guys. Bit of a result today. I got the boat out and had a good rummage around the banks. I found a few active holes and plenty of signs of activity. But from water level I could see into the brambles on the far bank and found an old mink cage trap in raft! Managed to extricate the cage and clear the trigger plate and its functioning fine. Set it at the waters edge, baited with a tin of sardines. I also found an old fox cage trap, which with a little fettleing should come in handy too.

 

Not all good though. Having taken the boat out of the barn I forgot to put the drain plug back in. had to hasty row back to land. Only just made it but had a bloody soggy arse to show for my stupidity.

 

I'll keep you updated.

 

Trenchfoot

[young man 225]

Get a bucket of water a power it down the holes a wait with a shot gun of terrier / lurcher (dog)

[air gun ant 1,666]

Any joy with the mink mate?

[longnetter 32]

If it's your own private pond, I'd set up some permanent wooden tunnels in likely spots (so they become part of the enviroment) and just put the traps in when the mink show up. You can be sure if this is the second visit you've had, you'll have more

[JohnGalway 1,043]

I used live catch traps to catch mink when I started out, as I wasn't entirely sure what else might be about. Used to crack open a tin of sardines in sunflower oil (the oil is important), make a trail of oil from the trap to the water edge. Put a small bit of sardine in the mouth of the cage and a larger bit in the tray at the back.

 

I'd wrap the cage in a black plastic rubbish sack, makes it look like a tunnel. Then covered it with rocks, moss, debris, whatever is around to disguise it from two legged vermin. If you're putting it beside a stream or river then tie it to a good peg in case the watercourse floods, also keep the trap above the expected waterline to avoid drowning.

 

Wash the sardine tin in the water, couple of feathers at the trap entrance if you have any, you're good to go.

 

First time I tried it I was told I'd catch nothing, had my first ever mink the next morning, made it all the sweeter!

 

Air rifle is a good method of dispatch if you have access to one, I used to use my .22lr which was for sure at my own risk.

 

Some of the above may not be applicable to your pond, but may be helpful if you branch out to other water courses.

[MOO 730]

Try fox live trap with fish or rabbit...also mink raft trap im sure you can get em on flea bay............me on other hand would shoot em....good luck with it buddy

 

 

When setting these traps always make sure an otter guard is fitted buddy

How big are the mink around your way fella???????????...there is no rocket science when trapping mink just byt there curious and predatory nature they are easy caught a sqirrel or rat cage trap with the front end of a rabbit as bait

why use a mink raft they are only to tellyou if mink are in the area and he already knows that

Edited May 16, 2012 by MOO

[Bunny Boiler 177]

Try fox live trap with fish or rabbit...also mink raft trap im sure you can get em on flea bay............me on other hand would shoot em....good luck with it buddy

 

 

When setting these traps always make sure an otter guard is fitted buddy

How big are the mink around your way fella???????????...there is no rocket science when trapping mink just byt there curious and predatory nature they are easy caught a sqirrel or rat cage trap with the front end of a rabbit as bait

why use a mink raft they are only to tellyou if mink are in the area and he already knows that

 

Not strictly true. A friend and I did a study into mink. We used an old deep cake baking tray with foam oasis in and clay on top on a mink raft to test for mink, then once signs were found, we were replacing the clay with Fenn Traps and baiting them up. Mink are creatures of habit. Once they start to use a particular run, they will continue, so activity on a raft, would mean trapping on a raft.

 

Atb, Bunny.

[MOO 730]

What is not strictly true????????

[Bunny Boiler 177]

You said that a mink raft only tells you if mink are in the area. It's not strictly true. Yes, they do tell you if mink are in the area, but you can also trap on a raft...

 

Bunny.