Saw this poor guy today...

[zeus1gdsm]

I was driving home on 365 after picking up my kids.

And I saw a truck in the oncoming lane pop a small animal of some sort and as I drove by his tail and body were whipping around...

So I turned around and went back in the pouring rain to find this.

He was passed by the time I got to him. Which was good as I didn't relish finishing the job.

I was surprised to see this ermin? As I've never seen one in This area and it is literally a 1/4 mile from the stomping grounds of my youth.

Good to see one.. Just wish it wasn't under these circumstances.

[WNY Bowhunter]

Mink.

[stoneam2006]

Did ya skin it?

[zeus1gdsm]

Thanks for the ID.

No I didn't take it or skin it. I had my 3 and 4 yr old girls with me and it was pouring rain. I just wanted make sure it didn't suffer.

Should I have skinned it?

[wildcat junkie]

NOT in the house!

I tried that once when I was a teenager.

My Dad wasn't impressed when he and my Mom returned from shopping.

Edited April 9, 2015 by wildcat junkie

[zeus1gdsm]

Lol. My luck I would have nicked the glands in a rush to get out of the rain. And had a fragrant ride home.

[RangerClay]

NOT in the house!

I tried that once when I was a teenager.

My Dad wasn't impressed when he and my Mom returned from shopping.

 

Oooooh Yeeeah!!!   I tried skinning one in the house.  Hit that scent gland and fumigated the whole house.  Worse than skunk in my opinion.

Edited April 9, 2015 by RangerClay

[Mr VJP]

It's hard to tell for sure from the photo, but that may be a Fisher.  There are lots of them showing up around NY lately.  I've been seeing them on my land a lot these days.

 

Edited April 9, 2015 by Mr VJP

[grampy]

At first glance I thought fisher too. I'm no expert and kind of hard to tell from the photo. I think wild mink have a very small white patch under their chin,and fishers are much larger in size. I'm sure one of our resident trappers will make a positive ID.

[stoneam2006]

I'm pretty positive it's a mink...and yes I would have skinned it...they are soft and a quality fur...good for gloves and stuff like that....or to put a few bucks in your pocket at a fur buyer....and the glands make a good bait for trapping....

[Doc]

So many of the weasel cousins have that same body shape. Size is one thing that varies quite a bit from species to species, but there is nothing in the picture to gauge the size. But even though weasels themselves have many color variations, that solid brown color especially at the belly makes me think that it is not a weasel. The face shape seems all wrong for a fisher. I'm pretty sure it is a mink.

[wildcat junkie]

Oooooh Yeeeah!!! I tried skinning one in the house. Hit that scent gland and fumigated the whole house. Worse than skunk in my opinion.

Yep!

[zeus1gdsm]

I'd say the body was as long as my size 13 boot.

What's going rate on mink pelts? My understanding is you need many to make it worth while.

[stoneam2006]

I'm not sure off hand...normally a 20 dollar bill in my experience. ...but so soft and such a nice fur a shame to let the critters have it....

[HOUNDS77]

Would need a trapping license to pick it up.

[stoneam2006]

Would need a trapping license to pick it up.

I did not know that...is that bc it does not have a hunting season?

[HOUNDS77]

I did not know that...is that bc it does not have a hunting season?

Correct.

[Pygmy]

....Mink...I have picked up a couple over the last few  years and  given them to trapper friends. 

 

 

[HectorBuckBuster]

You can hunt mink with a 22lr unless you are in the Northern Zone WMUs*.

 

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/97232.html

Edited April 10, 2015 by HectorBuckBuster

[NFA-ADK]

That small it does look like a mink.

[Pygmy]

Thanks, Hector....I knew that back when I was hunting/trapping fur it was legal to shoot mink in the southern zone with a .22, but I had not kept up with the regs and did not know if it had changed.

[woodsdweller]

mink see how short his legs are compared to body.

 

this is a fisher