flash Posted August 17, 2010 Report Share Posted August 17, 2010 yesterday was the planned day for the release of our shoots first attempt at rearing our own birds from day olds. so my cousin charlie and I decided that we would try and do some damage to the mink population before the poults are released as all of our pens are all within spitting distance of the river bovey. we have seen mink before out on the shoot, and also out fishing so we knew they were about. the plan was to set 3 cage traps and 1 fenn trap(inside a broken cage trap to act as a tunnel, the fen trap was then wired to the cage to stop it getting away) bit first of all we needed bait, so the spinning rod came out to play. nice little trout spinner was used, and managed to bag ourselves enough brownies out of the river to bait it(river is private property and we have the rights to fish it, and often throws up the odd decent salmon and sea trout when the water is high). the first two cage traps were set roughly 100yrds from each other on small gravel islands, the next two were within a foot of each other on the same island, one of these was the fenn trap. we returned home to help with the preperations for the releasing of the birds and get a decent nght sleep to get up early to check the traps. got up at 7 30, and was out by 7 45 with 20 bore in hand just incase we spot one on the journey, seen them before but sadly no gun at the time. first trap we get to we can see it has been set off, but due to the angle we couldnt see anything inside, as we round the bend we saw the clearly the shape of a rather large mink inside. Us 1 mink 0 proceeded to next trap, pretty pleased with ourselves, and not really expecting any more but to be greated with the site of another full trap, this time with a younger and smaller mink. Us 2 mink 0 again we moved on to the final two traps, one cage and one fenn. at this point we thought we couldnt get any luckier, but oh how wrong we were, we had caught not one, but two more mink, bringing the final tally to 4 mink, from 4 traps. and considering its our first time trapping for mink i think it must be some sort of record!! and here are the pics... the traps were set again last night, plus two more. three of them had been set off this morning, but sadly no mink. but we will have the little beggars haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted August 17, 2010 Report Share Posted August 17, 2010 Nasty little ****ers. Nice darts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRS Posted August 17, 2010 Report Share Posted August 17, 2010 nice going mate but if your catching them sort of numbers i would expect to loose quite a few birds to predation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted August 17, 2010 Report Share Posted August 17, 2010 Good job but i suspect they are the tip of the ice berg!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeonblasterian Posted August 17, 2010 Report Share Posted August 17, 2010 Destructive little ******* glad you got them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted August 18, 2010 Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 Good going. Looks like your really going to have to keep on top of them though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted August 18, 2010 Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 Good write up. Well done on getting them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shotgunspud Posted August 18, 2010 Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 That is a fantastic job well done dont stop keep at them. well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camokid Posted August 18, 2010 Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 i think i have only ever seen 3 there are no real numbers round my way. but good work like the picks mate i was the same at your age fag in mouth gun in hand thats the way to be lol.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted August 18, 2010 Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 Dirty little ****, you're doing a good job. It's a shame you can't make use of them, maybe a nice davy crocket cap or summat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artley air Posted August 18, 2010 Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 Nasty little beasts they are Them,combined with myxi have hammered my permission this summer.Get 'em walloped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted August 18, 2010 Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 Well done, keep up the good work; you obviously have a problem there. Try to lay your hands on as many traps as you can manage, otherwise I fear that your poults will pay the price, and your shooting will suffer. webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted August 18, 2010 Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 Good work Flash, it obviously needs to be done - it just seems a waste of brown trout using them for bait to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted August 18, 2010 Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 Anyone caught a mink in a live trap? If so, what happened next? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted August 18, 2010 Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 Anyone caught a mink in a live trap? If so, what happened next? .410 to the head Flash, Have you got enough for a coat yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted August 18, 2010 Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 Anyone caught a mink in a live trap? If so, what happened next? you mean did you see how long it could hold its breath for? Where there are that many there must be a load more, I think it was the shooting times had a piece about trying to wipe them out round Bristol working with the RSPB seemed to work but did need a big co ordinated attack on them so keep it up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flash Posted August 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 i dno if its the frowned upon method but they go straight into the river. no way in hell im gna go near em with my hands, and the 20bore with screw the trap over. had another large female this morning, with 2 more traps being set off, hopefully were making a dent in the population!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted August 18, 2010 Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 have you missed the squirrel drowning episode airgun is the best bet if you have one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted August 18, 2010 Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 I guessed by the "damp look". Time to move on Keep up the good work Flash and good luck to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted August 18, 2010 Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 Flash, Have you got enough for a coat yet? or at least enough for some underpants! MMMM, Slinky! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trapper trev Posted August 18, 2010 Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 nice 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted August 18, 2010 Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 Take an air rifle with you next time, drowning is no way to dispatch any animal, even a mink deserves better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kipper Posted August 18, 2010 Report Share Posted August 18, 2010 Well done lads Keep up the good work. Do your pest / preditor work now and you will benefit in the game season. And hopefully the rest of the guns will appreciate your efforts and hard work. Fantastic result. Kipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted August 19, 2010 Report Share Posted August 19, 2010 Well done indeed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.