Mink trapping

On Sunday, when I had all day to leisurely check my mink traps I got 4 mink out of 28 sets. It was nice just lolly gagging along without having to carry a flashlight and not trip over everything I walked over around and through.

Now it being Monday and I have to check half in the morning before work, in the dark, and of course the other half on the way home when its pitch black interrupted by a narrow flashlight beam, well guess what, I'm keeping close contact with the ground far to often. Oh I can't wait for tonight.

Well it snowed last night and it' still snowing this morning. It's also snowing mink pelts. I have nine mink this morning. All last year in almost the same number of sets I caught 12 mink for the entire season. This year in four days I have 22 mink.

Now I don't think someone is marching up and down the banks filling my sets with chocolate fur just to make me happy and I'm not "setting" traps any differently, but this year, the fur seems just abit easier to come by.

Now I did get rid of all my water sets this year. Last year the rising and falling water levels only raised and lowered my blood pressure accordingly. Last year I made blind sets with one tens, and I made what I consider the standard or basic pipe set at pinch points in the creek banks, same this year, but every one this year, is high and dry and paying off.

I didn't suddenly become a better trapper. If anything, this season Im working the line less without the wet sets and doing better. If anyone can explain how less is better, I'm listening and the mink must be too.

I did not see any more or less mink tracks brook tout fishing all year so my scouting is the same and with my ageing eyesight it should have been tougher to see those little prints in the sand or mud so I know it's not that.