160 for mink

[.17HMR]

I found a stream with lots of coon and mink sign and a lot of good trails to set a conibear on I know the 160 would be ok for coons but would it be too big for mink

[jim-NE]

I tried them once on some "bigger" passageways through root tangles, bank overhangs, etc. The triggers were a little stiff firing and I think mink were flattening out or somehow sqeezing through without firing, based on tracks in the soft mud.
There is a lot of room around the triggers for a mink to slip through. If they can get their head through, they can get the rest of their body through, too.
I went back to #110s and used some sticks to fence the openings down to just the opening around the #110, and after several catches I've never gone back to #160s. I think a really big male might get snagged on his way through, but a lot of smaller females I believe were making the squeeze with room to spare.
Maybe if you use some wire between the triggers to make the trigger area in the trap opening larger, that would help. Oversized tiggers (long wires) with ends bent up or in, whichever wouldn't matter but key would be to use something for trigger enhancement for filling that opening to prevent a sqeeze-by from a smaller mink.
Thoughts, any one else?

[conibear]

I catch alot of mink in 160s I spread the triggers open and put fishing line inbetween the trigger wires and than the most important thing is when coni is set I start the trigger You can take a stick and push on the trigger  until its not stiff and there is some play in the trigger. I do this with my 110s to and never had a problem with mink going through. I hope this helps.

[jim-NE]

Sounds like a great tip. I'll give that a try this year. I just bought a couple dozen #110 magnums. I love the bent inward jaw design, they close very tightly compared to the older models. The triggers seem really stiff when fired though. I cleaned up the notches a bit with a chainsaw file. I'll try the starting trick...that sounds like a great tip.
thanks,
Jim-NE

[Bogmaster]

I H ave something coming along that may be of interest to some of you.After 3 years,I will be getting in a small supply of Duke 160s with a single spring.These traps are for muskrat and mink---the single spring will result in a more responsive trigger.
 I have been nagging for this trap and am finally going to get it.My sales of this trap will dictate if it is put into production or not.
 Tom

[RdFx]

I have caught some mink in 160s set for coon on dry land .  All of them have been large male mink... the  thin wire between  triggers is  a good idea... I believe 160s set in underwater bottom edge sets with wire between triggers would be dynamite!  Mink swimming    thru body grip trap isnt as svelt  moving as on land and would trigger   body grip easily...