Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Central Michigan
Posts: 6544

Many of you may know that I try very hard to introduce my sons to the outdoors. One of those pursuits is trapping. My youngest has never been very excited about it ... well until this year.

My sons and I have an annual Thankgiving trap-line that we run. It starts this Saturday. My 10 year old son was so excited to start trapping this year he started last weekend. We have a very small county drain that runs through our property that is usually good for 2 rats. So far he has caught one huge rat ... this is until this morning.

He has been setting these traps and checking them all by himself. This morning he heads out back with his flash light at 6:15 am. I thought he was taking a long time when I saw lights flashing all over the back yard. It was him running with his flash light. For a second it lookde like we were getting invaded.

Here is the results of this morning:



He caught a very nice buck mink! It is is first mink at the whopping age of 10. He has already said he wants to skin it, and hang it on his wall.

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Larry Atherton

Aim small miss small

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Registered: Aug 2009
Location: Michigan
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Hey thats cool, and think so many people do nothing with there kids. Then they find trouble. Thats great Larry. Tell him nice catch.

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Registered: Jan 2005
Location: Crystal Michigan
Posts: 4483

Wow this is as large a mink as I have ever seen. Granted, I've only seen a few, but wow!

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Registered: Dec 2007
Location: Millington, Michigan
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LARRY TELL THE KID CONGRATS, I HAVE TRAPPED OFF AND ON FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS AND HAVE CAUGHT JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING THERE IS TO CATCH IN A TRAP EXCEPT A MINK. AND YES IM JEALOUS.

GORDY

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Registered: Oct 2003
Location: mid-michigan
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Nice Job !

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Registered: Feb 2008
Location: BROOKFIELD, MA.
Posts: 477

Larry I haven't set a trap in about forty years..I can understand your sons exicitment catching his first Mink, I still remember mine...Good going Larry and congrats to your son...

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Puzzle Gully
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nice job on your sons mink, now a question. when do bob cats breed, or mate to raise their young, what month???

Thank's

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Registered: Jan 2004
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You do a great job with those boys Larry!

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Central Michigan
Posts: 6544

I will let him read everyone's responses tonight.

Whistle,

Here is a link. I am not surprised, but it seems bobcats are similiar to domestic cats in that if they don't breed they will ovulate again.

http://www.felineconservation.org/f...cies/bobcat.htm

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Larry Atherton

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Kalamazoo, Mich.
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That's very cool. I'm happy for him. Good luck to you and the boys on your Thanksgiving line! I think I might get out and set some. Sounds like fun.

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quote:

---

Originally posted by T.Beyer
Wow this is as large a mink as I have ever seen. Granted, I've only seen a few, but wow!

---

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Registered: Nov 2008
Location: lou,ky
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congrats to the kid and it's a great thing to have your boys doin it with you.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Armstrong,IL
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I remember well the excitment I also felt at that age, the feeling of that first big buck mink is like finding gold to a youngster.
I always liked those pre-dawn walks and hearing the rest of the world waking up.
It's great that your teaching them something that can help broaden their outlook on life in so many ways, good job Larry and a good job to your son as well, keep it up both of you.

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Registered: Mar 2006
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 19374

Nice Big Mink! I have never seen one in the wild(actually I MAY have..but since brain injury.. I don't rememeber...) We have Fishers here and we love to get pix of them on the gamecams... they remind me of BIG old minks... We have one mounted (got a special tag a couple yrs ago to mount it from the state of MA since we can't hunt them, arent trappers but hated to see a dead one go to waste)... It is a smallish one... everyone thinks it's a mink....
Hope your son enjoys his catch! Heather

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Registered: Jun 2003
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Congrats on a nice catch !!!!!

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Registered: Nov 2005
Location: New Market Va
Posts: 4670

Boy thats a XXXlg Bull Mink by what I can see !! Please Tell him "GOOD JOB" for me !!!!

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Registered: Jan 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 272

Larry, I'm happy for you too. It's a great thing that you are doing with your children. Tell your son congrats from me. I know the memories with my boys are worth more than I've ever done.



Shaun Paton
Chase Creek Kennels

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Dog House
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Congrats on the prize catch.
That looks to be a huge mink, at least it would be in my area.

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Registered: Nov 2006
Location: Mayer, MN
Posts: 920

Hard to tell by the picture but that about looks like an otter. Never saw a mink that big but if that's what it is you sure better try to trap some more. Could be some money in it. Either way that guy of yours sure looks like he is enjoying the moment. Congrats.

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Registered: Jan 2008
Location: n.e. ohio
Posts: 2038

that is AWESOME....me and my kids have been running a trap line for a couple years now. i used to carry my son in the pack basket with me...
here he is at 10 years old



again....awesome job and tell him congrats. i still remember my first mink..

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Big Bawler that's a good pic... And Larry tell the boy congrats on the mink !!!

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Central Michigan
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Yes, Big Bawler, that is a great picture!

I let Jacob read the post last night, and he wanted to thank everyone for the congrats. He was actually very surprise by the number of responses. I would have let him type this message, but we got home late from our Cub scout Pack Meeting. Mom is a stickler about bed time.

I skinned, fleshed, and boarded the critter last night. It ended up being a XXL measuring close to 24".

He still had one trap out in the ditch, and I will be darn if he didn't get a rat in it this morning.

Tomorrow is the start of the family line, and he has everyone fired up.

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Larry Atherton

Aim small miss small

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That lad sure looks like a hardened long liner, is he wearing some of his catch?

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Registered: Dec 2008
Location: Bangor, Michigan
Posts: 269

What a great tradition Larry - Thanksgiving trapline, WOW most kids now think tradition is a video game. Tell your son great catch and good luck to all of you this week.

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Registered: May 2009
Location: Nineveh Indiana
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Great job, nice mink, I love to take my boys on the trapline to they are 9 and 5. There is nothing better in life than spending time outdoors with your kids weather your hunting , trapping fishing. Glad your doing the same Larry. Oh and 24" that is a dandy mink.

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