Produced by Linda M. Everhart, Blairstown, Missouri
MINK TRAPPING.
[Illustration: A LARGE MINK.]
MINK TRAPPING
A BOOK OF INSTRUCTION GIVING MANY
METHODS OF TRAPPING--A VALUABLE
BOOK FOR TRAPPERS.
EDITED BY
A. R. HARDING.
PUBLISHED BY
A. R. HARDING PUBLISHING CO.
COLUMBUS, OHIO.
COPYRIGHT 1906
BY A. R. HARDING.
CONTENTS.
I. General Information
II. Mink and Their Habits
III. Size and Care of Skins
IV. Good and Lasting Baits
V. Bait and Scent
VI. Places to Set
VII. Indian Methods
VIII. Mink Trapping on the Prairie
IX. Southern Methods
X. Northern Methods
XI. Unusual Ways
XII. Illinois Trapper's Method
XIII. Experienced Trapper's Ways
XIV. Many Good Methods
XV. Salt Set
XVI. Log and Other Sets
XVII. Points for the Young Trapper
XVIII. Proper Size Traps
XIX. Deadfalls
XX. Steel Traps
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
A Large Mink
A Mink Trapper
Looking for Food
Good Signs
Nicely Handled Wisconsin Skins
Some Prime N. E. Skins
Large Iowa Mink
Caught in Midwinter
Northwestern Skins
Trapper's "Shack"
A Good Mink Stream
Where Signs are Plenty
Indian Trapper
Camping Out
Moses Bone
A Young Trapper
Large Southern Mink
Caught in Minnesota
A Few Good Ones
Broke the Fastening
Trapping Down Stream
Eastern Trapper and Traps
Barricade Set
Northwest Trapper and Mink
Northern Mink Trapper's Shanty
A Few Days' Catch
Three Log Set
Some New York State Skins
Pole Deadfall
Stone Deadfalls
Board or Log Trap
A Good Fastening
Mink and Other Steel Traps
[Illustration: A. R. HARDING.]
INTRODUCTORY.
While there are some excellent mink trappers, no one man has studied
out all the methods, for the conditions under which the trapper in
the South makes his largest catches would probably be of little value
to the trapper of the Far North, where snow covers the ground the
greater part of the year.
Conditions along the Atlantic are different than the Pacific, and as
well the methods used by thousands of trappers along the Mississippi
and its tributaries differ from the Eastern or Western Coast trapper,
for the mink's food is not the same along the fresh inland waters as
the coast or salt water.
The methods published are from all parts of the country, and many
experienced trappers tell of their best methods, so that it makes no
difference in what part of America you live, something will be found
of how to trap in your section. Most of the articles are taken from
those published in the H-T-T with slight correction.
A. R. HARDING.
MINK TRAPPING
CHAPTER I.
GENERAL INFORMATION.
Mink are found in nearly all parts of America living along creeks,
rivers, lakes and ponds. While strictly speaking they are not a water
animal, yet their traveling for food and otherwise is mainly near the
water, so that the trapper finds this the best place to set his
traps.
The mink is fond of fish, rabbit, squirrel, birds, mice, etc. In some
sections they eat muskrat, but we believe they prefer other animals,
only eating muskrat when very hungry and other game is scarce.
At certain seasons scent seems to attract them while at other times
the flesh of the rabbit, bird or fish will attract them. The trapper
who makes mink trapping a business should have various kinds of traps
and sets for them, such as steel traps, both bait and blind sets, as
well as deadfalls.
Mink, while small, are quite strong for their size and very active.
While a No. 0 Newhouse will hold them, the No. 1 is usually
considered the proper trap.
As already mentioned, mink travel a great deal near water, so that
the place to catch them is close to the water or in the water. If you
notice mink tracks near the water, in some narrow place where the
bank comes nearly to the water or a rock or log projects nearly to
the water, carefully dig a hole the size of your trap and an inch or
more deep, covering with a large leaf or a piece of paper first. Then
place a thin layer of earth removed over leaf or paper, making the
set look as natural as before. The dirt from the hole for trap as
taken out should be thrown in the water or to one side. One of the
great secrets in mink trapping, especially blind sets, is to leave
things as near as possible as they were before the set was made.
There are various shades of mink--some quite dark, others brown,
pale, and some cotton. The greater number, however, are brown. In the
Northeast, Maine, etc., mink are not large, but the color is rather
dark. In the same latitude some ten or twelve hundred miles west in
Minnesota and Manitoba, Canada mink are larger but not so dark. Still
further west on the coast of Washington mink are again smaller, being
somewhat similar in size to the Maine mink but much lighter in color.
Throughout the central section such as Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa,
etc., they are larger than the Maine mink but smaller than Minnesota.
In color not near so dark as the Eastern or Maine mink.
The cotton mink is found principally in the prairie and level
sections. In general appearance it is much the same as a pale or
light brown mink, but on blowing into the fur the under portion is
white, hence cotton. Such skins are worth much less than the brown
and dark ones. In fact, for years cotton mink sold for 10 to 50
cents.
During the past years the value of mink skins has varied a great
deal. The number exported annually varies from a couple of hundred
thousand to a half million skins or more. This gives but a faint idea
of the annual catch, for large numbers are used each year by American
manufacturers.
There has been a great deal said about mink climbing trees, many
being under the impression that they could not or did not unless
leaning trees. This is a mistake however, as trappers have tracked
them in these now up straight and good sized trees. They will also
occasionally tree when close pressed by dogs.
Mink can be tamed if caught when young but are rather treacherous,
and should never be handled bare handed. A few attempts have been
made to raise them for their fur, but so far no great success has
been achieved. The raising of mink will no doubt be undertaken from
this on by many, especially if prices remain as of late, for when
skins sell for several dollars each the business looks promising. No
man should engage in the business unless he knows something of their
habits, etc.
[Illustration: A MINK TRAPPER.]
In the states bordering on Canada mink become prime usually by
November 1, while south along the Gulf of Mexico they do not "prime
up" until about December 1 and begin to shed by February, so that the
extreme Southern trapper has only about two months when the skins are
at their best. In the central sections such as Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, etc., the skins are prime by November 15
but begin to get pale in February if the winter is open.
While some fur bearing animals den up during severe weather mink do
not, and the trapper, even in the Far North, will find mink on the go
every night.
As mentioned elsewhere, the greater per cent. of the methods
published in this book are taken from the Hunter-Trader-Trapper, an
illustrated monthly magazine, of Columbus, Ohio, devoted to hunting,
trapping and raw furs. New trapping methods are constantly being
published in that magazine, as experienced trappers from all parts of
North America read and write for it.