Mink Traps

When choosing mink traps to use on your trapline you basically have two options, footholds and/or body grip traps, also known as conibear traps.

While they both work great for trapping mink, they each have their specific time and place on a trapline.

For example, if you're going to make a pocket set which is a common set used by many trappers, then a foothold trap is your best choice.

If you're going to make a bottom edge set where you place a trap along the undercut of a bank where a stream or river flows along the edge, then a conibear trap will work the best.

Mink have a reputation for being very difficult to trap.  

They're intelligent, travel long distances in search of food, and can seem very illusive at times.  

However, once you master a couple of basic sets and learn how to effectively identify mink habitat and sign, you'll soon find that trapping a mink is not really that hard.

Plus, as an extra bonus you can trap a lot of muskrats in your mink sets because they both travel along the same areas.

Mink Traps

As a general rule, any size trap that would work for a muskrat can be used for a mink.

Coil Spring Traps:

Although you can use a #1 long spring trap if the springs are in good shape, my favorite foothold trap for mink is the #1.5 coil spring.  

The coil spring is stronger, faster and easier to conceal when compared to the long spring making it a better choice when comparing the two.

Plus the traps are easy to carry when walking through the woods since they're more compact and they're heavier than the #1 long spring which helps to quickly drown the mink after it's caught.

The picture below shows a common pocket set used for mink and muskrat using the #1.5 coil spring trap.

If you're serious about trapping mink and muskrat, add a handful of #1.5 coil springs to your collection.....you'll be happy you did.

Conibear Traps: 

Using a 110 or even a 160 conibear trap, also called a body grip trap, is another very effective trap for both mink and muskrat.  

They're commonly used to make blind sets or trail sets when bait or lure is not used.  

A small mink trail found in the tall grass or a "pinch point" where a steep bank meets with the waterline are both great spots to use a 110 conibear for mink.

You can also use a 110 conibear to make a crossover set which is basically a small trail a mink or muskrat uses to connect two small marshes, or bodies of water.  

When used with a brick that has a small clip attached to the top, it's a quick and easy set to construct and you can place them virtually anywhere.

The picture below shows a dyed 110 conibear trap attached to a small brick using the clip.

To make the set simply burry the brick in the mud and you have a strong, sturdy set.

The brick prevents the animal from dragging your trap away since the trap chain is secured to the brick.  

The above picture shows a completed crossover set for mink and muskrats.

Mink Traps - Overall

If you're interested in trapping mink, add some #1.5 coil spring traps and 110 conibears to your trap supply.

These mink traps are relatively inexpensive, easy to carry, and most importantly they work great!