Guest Ditch_Shitter Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 Yeppers, the eternal quest for a minks tail for my hat band continues as autumn comes around once more and the cattle are off the field I had my eye on! This is the field next to " The River " (Not to be confused with 'The Styx'. That's a wide, very deep ditch down on the bog) The River ~ actually a piddling trickle of water for most of the year ~ runs right under the upper end of the track here. With or without much water, it's grass hung, sporadically bushy banks make it an ideal mink spot. The only draw back being that, as it's under the track, other people might see and feel moved to interfere with what ever I put there. But not, I suspect, This baby! I was rummaging around in my store room last night and happened upon the Pipe Trap a friend had given me. For those of ye unfamiliar; It's an American design and is, basicly, a steel tube with a pan inside. Hit that pan and a powerfull sprung set of arms snaps up through two slots cut in the tube. Crushing anything inside there against the roof. Goodnight Vienna! Over the years of unuse and neglect then, the steel tube has taken on a lovely, all over coating of surface rust. As soon as I saw it again I knew I had just the place for it. A small drainage pipe comes out to The River, just beside the track. I know for a fact that long things have, in the past, used that pipe. It was simply a matter of would my Pipe Trap fit that pipe? I'm delighted to say I discovered it does! Thus I've shoved one end of the trap into the pipe and have left two thirds exposed, so as to let it fire, comes the time. It's got to be one of the simplest set ups I've ever made. Here's how it's looking: Pipe Trap Pipe Set Pipe Trap Pipe Set Trap Site I have high hopes of this one! Quote Link to post
Squirrel_Basher 17,100 Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 Not to put too fine a point on it Ditch mate ,but if a mink tail is height of fashion for irish trappers this season then you may have to have an unfashionable season . lol. Lets face it ,your not the luckiest .You sure there are mink about . Quote Link to post
Guest jbswildlife Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 Not to put too fine a point on it Ditch mate ,but if a mink tail is height of fashion for irish trappers this season then you may have to have an unfashionable season . lol. Lets face it ,your not the luckiest .You sure there are mink about . does it really matter what you trap as long as you trap it. ever time i go after a quary its a new buzz joe Quote Link to post
Guest Ditch_Shitter Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 That's interesting mews, Chalks! Actually, I believe I seem to remember this one rather failed to find great favour in the states? S'pose that was due to its inherrant failings? Personally, I find it a bitch to set with any feeling of lightness either. Can't help thinking a 'finger hole', beneath the pan, would be a bonus. Something to allow one an indication of just what's going on in there Anyway, I've got it, so I thought I'd might as well try it. I'll see how it goes. And the springs on this one certainly seem more than adaquette for the job, by the way. Is there another problem there? Striking too far back, possibly? Drops; Never mind 'not the luckiest', I honestly reckon I'm the down right Un lukiest! Farcical, isn't it? An entire winter and most of a summer or two at it. Advice all the way from some of the best in the game. More kit than Pink Floyd. F*ck all to show for it! Then I sent a couple of Juby's to a mate and the b*stard had himself a big one the very next morning! Anyway, yeppers, there's mink about alright mate. Found their sign here and on the Styx. Got that one on the Styx and look what happened! But the badgers don't appear to come by The River. They run fifty yards down from it, as a rule. And about fifty above it too. In fact, I once caught what I'd imagine must have been a big mink right in this spot, last summer (?) I was setting for something else entirely and probably using an old Fenn Mk IV. He seems to have managed to have got himself snagged in it and drew it up this very pipe. But there the tether held ~ which is more than the trap managed to do. Probably caught him by the back foot or some bloody thing and he just pulled out. Thing is, see; I'd like to crack out the Juby's again this winter. But now I have Small Dog and she's prone to dissapearing and wandering about the place sniffing out things. I don't want any nasty little mishaps! That's why I figured I'd give this thing a spin. If it works? Great! If it works, but doesn't work as well as it might? Chalky can expect an order! Quote Link to post
Dean o Riordan 0 Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 theres mink in the area ive seen them. Quote Link to post
john hubery 9 Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 chalkwarren do you do a trade discount on your traps if so contact me please Quote Link to post
J Darcy 5,871 Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 Good Luck to you Ditchy......I really hope you catch a mink .....bout bloody time!!!!! Quote Link to post
john hubery 9 Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 Im looking to stock most thingsin reasonable quantities at first to see how thing go.So far only got live catch rat traps, purse nets, and longnets. Quote Link to post
Phil Lloyd 10,738 Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 Im looking to stock most thingsin reasonable quantities at first to see how thing go.So far only got live catch rat traps, purse nets, and longnets. Well ,.that is an eminently sensible way to go John... All the best to you for the future,..and good luck.... Cheers,.CHALKWARREN... Quote Link to post
Guest little_lloyd Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 God Mr Shitter back on the mink ey......hopes you get one this time mate Quote Link to post
moley 115 Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 of course he,ll get one , those pipe traps do work , never had a mink , but they work on other stuff, apparently Quote Link to post
OldTrapCollector 377 Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 I have one of those pipe traps in my collection, but I never thought of using it. Where would you stand with the legality issue since they are not on the Approval Order?? OTC Quote Link to post
Guest Ditch_Shitter Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 Old; You, in england, simply couldn't use one till they get Approval, mate. Over here? Things are worded differantly on the statutes Quote Link to post
Squirrel_Basher 17,100 Posted October 12, 2007 Report Share Posted October 12, 2007 Sure i read somewhere ,those pipes were developed for snakes or is that something else ? Anyway ,good luck to you Ditch ,this IS your year . Quote Link to post
Guest little_lloyd Posted October 12, 2007 Report Share Posted October 12, 2007 :kiss: Quote Link to post
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.