collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: I’m new to trapping, what am I looking at here?  (Read 8391 times)

Offline Dysfunctional Vet

  • WA State Trappers Association
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Feb 2018
  • Posts: 196
  • Location: Ruston
I’m new to trapping, what am I looking at here?
« on: January 25, 2024, 03:24:24 PM »
Good afternoon ladies and gents, my name is Tim and I’m a dysfunctional vet.(crowd of unruly folks in uncomfortable chairs drinking crappy coffee, “hi Tim”) Anyway, hope everyone’s season is going well and you’re in good health. First season of trapping, made a few cage trap, have a couple koros, but I’m more or less figuring out where to trap and the sign I’m looking for. Found some spots, found some sign, but who is responsible is unknown. I appreciate any and all help info you can spare.
This first pic is a live tree with 1’x1’ hollow at the base full of small fresh water clam shells. Location is about 25 yards uphill from pond. No tracks. Mink?
The VA
   Giving veterans a second chance to die for their country since 1930.

Offline Dysfunctional Vet

  • WA State Trappers Association
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Feb 2018
  • Posts: 196
  • Location: Ruston
Re: I’m new to trapping, what am I looking at here?
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2024, 03:31:33 PM »
Alright, pic 2 I’m thinking mink tracks. Pretty small, but never looked for mink tracks…..
Pic 3 is a place I found this morning with my 4 year old so I couldn’t explore as deep as I would have liked. I’m assuming those are runs of some kind. They start big and then break off into a bunch of small trails maybe 3 inches wide, maybe a little bigger. Those trails run all over the grass. I was hoping muskrat but I’ve never seen them before or looked for them.
The VA
   Giving veterans a second chance to die for their country since 1930.

Offline TeacherMan

  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+4)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2008
  • Posts: 4407
  • Location: North Idaho
Re: I’m new to trapping, what am I looking at here?
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2024, 04:00:50 PM »
Definitely little mink tracks and I’d say the pic of the grass slides are both mink and muskrat runs. But reality anything would use them. That toilet you found could be pretty much any freshwater predator. If it was out on the river bank I’d of said otter toilet but could he coons, mink, both? Definitely a good spot to put a #1.5 coil but since you can’t it still would be worth a cage off to the side in my opinion.
If you shoot the first one you will never get that true trophy.

Offline Dysfunctional Vet

  • WA State Trappers Association
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Feb 2018
  • Posts: 196
  • Location: Ruston
Re: I’m new to trapping, what am I looking at here?
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2024, 06:10:19 PM »
Definitely little mink tracks and I’d say the pic of the grass slides are both mink and muskrat runs. But reality anything would use them. That toilet you found could be pretty much any freshwater predator. If it was out on the river bank I’d of said otter toilet but could he coons, mink, both? Definitely a good spot to put a #1.5 coil but since you can’t it still would be worth a cage off to the side in my opinion.
Thank you, good to know. Glad I didn’t let my son play in The toilet. Lol
I had a couple 6x6 cages I left in the grass baited with chicken liver and hearts. We’ll see. I was thinking a couple others for muskrat. Have a couple small colonies, but didn’t see a spot to put them. Yet
The VA
   Giving veterans a second chance to die for their country since 1930.

Offline TeacherMan

  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+4)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2008
  • Posts: 4407
  • Location: North Idaho
Re: I’m new to trapping, what am I looking at here?
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2024, 06:17:05 PM »
Definitely little mink tracks and I’d say the pic of the grass slides are both mink and muskrat runs. But reality anything would use them. That toilet you found could be pretty much any freshwater predator. If it was out on the river bank I’d of said otter toilet but could he coons, mink, both? Definitely a good spot to put a #1.5 coil but since you can’t it still would be worth a cage off to the side in my opinion.
Thank you, good to know. Glad I didn’t let my son play in The toilet. Lol
I had a couple 6x6 cages I left in the grass baited with chicken liver and hearts. We’ll see. I was thinking a couple others for muskrat. Have a couple small colonies, but didn’t see a spot to put them. Yet

I’d focus your mink boxes (your 6x6 cages) right along stream banks in the debris or better yet under a cut bank with a wire anchored high for when it floods overnight.
If you shoot the first one you will never get that true trophy.

Offline Dysfunctional Vet

  • WA State Trappers Association
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Feb 2018
  • Posts: 196
  • Location: Ruston
Re: I’m new to trapping, what am I looking at here?
« Reply #5 on: January 25, 2024, 07:08:00 PM »


I’d focus your mink boxes (your 6x6 cages) right along stream banks in the debris or better yet under a cut bank with a wire anchored high for when it floods overnight.
[/quote]
I actually had them all in locations like that for about 7 days, but the last time I checked they were under water, had them anchored though. so I went looking for places closer to home and found a couple.
   I’m not trying to stack fur or anything because I have no experience, I’m just doing a ton of research and trying to get a little experience before I can get to a rendezvous and talk to people. I’d also like to see if my trap works. Hahahaha
The VA
   Giving veterans a second chance to die for their country since 1930.

Offline TeacherMan

  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+4)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2008
  • Posts: 4407
  • Location: North Idaho
Re: I’m new to trapping, what am I looking at here?
« Reply #6 on: January 25, 2024, 07:20:10 PM »
Hop on www.trapperman.com you will learn a ton!
If you shoot the first one you will never get that true trophy.

Offline Dysfunctional Vet

  • WA State Trappers Association
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Feb 2018
  • Posts: 196
  • Location: Ruston
Re: I’m new to trapping, what am I looking at here?
« Reply #7 on: January 25, 2024, 07:33:08 PM »
Hop on www.trapperman.com you will learn a ton!
Thank you for that, I’ll go read everything over there, like I did here.
The VA
   Giving veterans a second chance to die for their country since 1930.

Offline redi

  • Trade Count: (+56)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2011
  • Posts: 2099
  • Location: centralia
Re: I’m new to trapping, what am I looking at here?
« Reply #8 on: January 25, 2024, 08:06:57 PM »
Mink love Muskrat meat for bait and will also be attracted by mink urine or scent. Good luck

Offline Dysfunctional Vet

  • WA State Trappers Association
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Feb 2018
  • Posts: 196
  • Location: Ruston
Re: I’m new to trapping, what am I looking at here?
« Reply #9 on: January 26, 2024, 06:01:15 AM »
Mink love Muskrat meat for bait and will also be attracted by mink urine or scent. Good luck
Thank you! That’s why I’m really hoping those were muskrat trails I found. Need some real bait.
The VA
   Giving veterans a second chance to die for their country since 1930.

Offline redi

  • Trade Count: (+56)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2011
  • Posts: 2099
  • Location: centralia
Re: I’m new to trapping, what am I looking at here?
« Reply #10 on: January 26, 2024, 06:12:53 AM »
I have caught male mink on muskrat, reset the trap with no bait and caught another male that night just because the first one urinates in the trap and left hi scent in it. Good luck.
« Last Edit: January 26, 2024, 09:02:43 AM by redi »

Offline pd

  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2012
  • Posts: 2533
  • Location: Seattle?
Re: I’m new to trapping, what am I looking at here?
« Reply #11 on: January 26, 2024, 07:15:36 AM »
Good afternoon ladies and gents, my name is Tim and I’m a dysfunctional vet.(crowd of unruly folks in uncomfortable chairs drinking crappy coffee, “hi Tim”)

Hi Tim!

Stick around here, you will have a lot of fun.
Si vis pacem, para bellum

Offline Dysfunctional Vet

  • WA State Trappers Association
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Feb 2018
  • Posts: 196
  • Location: Ruston
Re: I’m new to trapping, what am I looking at here?
« Reply #12 on: January 26, 2024, 09:09:59 AM »
I have caught male mink on muskrat, reset the trap with no bait and caught another male that night just because the first one urinates in the trap and left hi scent in it. Good luck.
I’ll definitely keep that in mind
The VA
   Giving veterans a second chance to die for their country since 1930.

Offline Dysfunctional Vet

  • WA State Trappers Association
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Feb 2018
  • Posts: 196
  • Location: Ruston
Re: I’m new to trapping, what am I looking at here?
« Reply #13 on: January 26, 2024, 09:11:00 AM »
Good afternoon ladies and gents, my name is Tim and I’m a dysfunctional vet.(crowd of unruly folks in uncomfortable chairs drinking crappy coffee, “hi Tim”)

Hi Tim!

Stick around here, you will have a lot of fun.
plan on it! Most fun I’ve had all day. Lol
The VA
   Giving veterans a second chance to die for their country since 1930.

Offline Dysfunctional Vet

  • WA State Trappers Association
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Feb 2018
  • Posts: 196
  • Location: Ruston
Re: I’m new to trapping, what am I looking at here?
« Reply #14 on: February 10, 2024, 09:19:53 AM »
This whole experience is awesome! Probably a lot cooler when you start catching critters, but I’ve had action. Unfortunately, it’s giant raccoons and they don’t squeeze in a 6x6. So, at least I know a lot of raccoon spots close to home. Lol
Waiting on springs for a larger cage. Good times.
 
The VA
   Giving veterans a second chance to die for their country since 1930.

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

1993 Merc issues getting up on plane by Threewolves
[Today at 01:11:29 PM]


3 pintails by metlhead
[Today at 12:35:03 PM]


Unit 364 Archery Tag by buglebuster
[Today at 12:16:59 PM]


In the background by zwickeyman
[Today at 12:10:13 PM]


A. Cole Lockback in AEB-L and Micarta by A. Cole
[Today at 09:15:34 AM]


Willapa Hills 1 Bear by hunter399
[Today at 08:24:48 AM]


Bearpaw Outfitters Annual July 4th Hunt Sale by Threewolves
[Today at 06:35:57 AM]


Sockeye Numbers by Southpole
[Yesterday at 09:02:04 PM]


Selkirk bull moose. by moose40
[Yesterday at 05:42:19 PM]


North Peninsula Salmon Fishing by Buckhunter24
[Yesterday at 12:43:12 PM]


2025 Crab! by trophyhunt
[Yesterday at 11:09:27 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal