A couple of days ago, I did a little scouting on some lands that I had obtained permission to trap. At the end of one open pasture, I saw some willow trees. I knew there had to be water there and probably a pond. The pond is lying in the open field but very close to a thick long strip of small hardwoods and underbrush. As I neared the pond, I distrubed a coyote "laying up" and he loped off across the pasture to another area of timber to the south of the pond where a small creek runs through the timber. Guess where I will have a few sets come season.
I then went to a ridge system that borders a large pasture land bottom. I knew there was an old pond up in the timber. I drove as close as possible to the old road leading to the pond. At the point were the road entered the timber, there was plenty of sign. I walked a ways up to the old pond and low and behold, there was bobcat, grey fox, coyote, and coon sign all around this pond. Probably will have to make about 6 sets here. 3 where the old road enters the timber and three at the pond.
I then drove about a mile and half to another pond out in an open field and the rancher stacks round bales of hay on the bank of this pond. Bobcat, coyote, and coon sign again was found at this location with signs of coyote lying inbetween the bales for cover. No grey fox sign found here and did not expect it since it was far out in the open field.
Farm stock ponds are and excellent gathering place for furbearers. So be sure to check them all on your trapline if you don't already.
I am not much of a mink trapper, but at the first pond, I also saw mink sign running in a little wet weather gully that empties into the pond. This might be a good spot to set in late winter when there is no ice and the mink are thinking about going to head waters to give birth and raise the young.
