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Mink
Dec 19, 2012 21:49:38 GMT -5
Post by mjflores on Dec 19, 2012 21:49:38 GMT -5
I have a neighbor that lost their entire coop of chickens in 24 hours. It's a mink without a doubt. I have my trap set, EC do you want him if I catch him? I'd hate to kill it and toss it in the woods. It's your if you'd like it.
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Mink
Dec 20, 2012 7:27:32 GMT -5
Post by ecgreen on Dec 20, 2012 7:27:32 GMT -5
Sure, I'll take him! Fur is fur
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Mink
Dec 20, 2012 8:30:52 GMT -5
Post by mjflores on Dec 20, 2012 8:30:52 GMT -5
Cool, when I get him I'll let you know. Want me to keep him alive for you? What's the best way to dispatch him to maximize fur price? I used to shoot coon in the eye (or at least try with one shot). I always got ripped off. Is one .22 hole behind the ear ok?
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Mink
Dec 20, 2012 16:35:10 GMT -5
Post by ecgreen on Dec 20, 2012 16:35:10 GMT -5
I think an axe handle to the base of the skull is the most humane. I have never shot a live caught mink before, so I dont know. Just toss him in a ziplock and freeze him whole.
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Mink
Dec 22, 2012 9:23:33 GMT -5
Post by mjflores on Dec 22, 2012 9:23:33 GMT -5
Well the trap is still empty. I was hoping he'd have come back for another try...no chickens are left but I figured he'd be back just to see at least one more time. For bait I'm using my old standby....shredded turkey, bacon grease, and cod liver oil mashed into a paste. I've caught many a coon and fisher...even a coyote with this. This mink evades me. I say it's a mink only because what it did...it cut the heads off each bird, all within 24 hours. A weasel will do similar... and it could be a weasel but my gut says mink. A few weeks ago my bird dog was barking like crazy and I looked out to see a medium mink hopping around the outside of my chicken coop. It disappeared out into the woods...too quickly for me to do anything.
Hopefully we'll have a positive ID soon...in my trap! If I don't catch him by this evening I'm going to move my trap over to my coop. I'll also place a 110 in front of a baited PVC tube underneath my coop where nothing larger than a mink or weasel can get into it. As you can see..I'm not a trapper...just a guy with some traps to deal with bird killing varmints! LOL It's not pretty but I can usually git er dun! ;D
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Mink
Dec 22, 2012 13:30:08 GMT -5
Post by ecgreen on Dec 22, 2012 13:30:08 GMT -5
I am thinking coon. Only animal I have seen that will shew off the head and leave the rest.
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Mink
Dec 22, 2012 17:24:33 GMT -5
Post by mjflores on Dec 22, 2012 17:24:33 GMT -5
The chickens were always locked up tight in a coop...with a wire top over the run. There's a small gap that a weasel or mink could squeeze in. I don't think a coon could get in but ya never know. I still say mink. Hopefully when it gets hungry enough we'll know for sure. Wager:...coffee bought for the right guesser? LOL Place your bets gentlemen! Ya know...there's a great chance it'll never get caught. I'm thinking I'll have him by morning,hopefully.... for my coop's safety and so they can rebuild and get a new flock of egg layers.
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