Road side mink trapping

[bbeavereater]

I travel a fair distance to and from work everyday, and i pass about 100 ditch crossings.  I am really a coon muskrat and beaver trapper at heart and have caught the occasional mink by accident only.  But i am really wanting to take a few more this season.  I am wanting to know what makes a good mink ditch.  I know as a basic rule minks are always around muskrats, but what about smaller ditches that are too small for rats.  Do minks frequiently run these smaller ditches as well.  What are some good signs to look for in a good mink ditch.  The terrain around here is mainly harvested corn and bean fields with light brush and heavy grass on the banks, and usually sandy bottoms.  Also, what makes a good road side mink set.

All information is greatly appriciated, thanks

[steven49er]

Beavereater, up here in minnesota if there is water in those ditches throughout a good part of the year there will be mink in them.  There doesnt need to be water in the ditch all the time caught many big males running dry ditches hunting mice.  

In my opinion it is pretty tough to beat a good pocket set.

[Bogmaster]

Steven hit it right on the head,mink are big mousers.I have seen them a long way from any water--searching for mice.
 Pocket set is my favorite,you will also pick up a bunch of coon in them.
 Tom

[RdFx]

Bb you can set up just about any waterway even if it is dry during times of the year.  Mink go where food is and if  there is mice there there will be mink..... sometimes you wont find tracks but they are there.  Set up conibears in blind sets or put in dirt holes or dry  pocket sets.   You have to set traps out and be patient and wait.  Make sure you set your traps so they are working in freezing conditions.   Ive had mink traps out  over 30 days before they connected.  Good Luck.

[worm]

Regardless of the fact that the culverts you mentioned are on road right-of-ways, you'll be tresassing if you trap them without landowner permission. Most states laws will alllow to to travel the waterways but not the the adjacent properties (the banks of the waterways). I understand that trapping these culverts is common but get landowner permission to keep trappers in a good light.

[RdFx]

IT can depend upon the township you are  trapping some townships you need permission as landowner property goes to middle of said road in township and some dont.... Check the townships you trap to make sure you are within the law.  Knowing the law where you are trapping saves alot of hassle if someone confronts you ect where you are trapping.

[bbeavereater]

I checked the law in my area and it is legal to trap culverts on state highways without permission from land owners.  However county raods are a different story.  The land owner actually owns to the center of a county road.  I always follow the law when trapping.

Also, I have heard that minks run long routes that can take up to two weeks to complete.  Is this true?

[RdFx]

YES, especially male mink a female mink can live in a 20 -40 acre area if plenty of food and cover.  Usually female mink go up into a grassy small creek area to live and raise young .