Trapline mole traps

[trappa 518]

Just thought id give some unbiased feedback on these traps i purchased from our own steve albanos ebay shop.

Ive been using these for a couple of weeks now. Ive been moling on lots of different ground with them , trying them here and there.

They were delivered very fast, and i was surprised how small and light they are. When i first got them i thought that maybe the american moles were smaller than ours, and these traps wouldnt kill our british mole. This was wrong, once you set it up and trigger it they pack a punch.

They arent designed for loose soil, but come into their own on grass and more solid ground.

What i like about them is their size, weight and power. What i didnt like is that they are "one sided" so you need to put two traps down in order to to cover both directions, and also they arent easy to see if they have triggered when checking, unlike duffus, scissor etc

 

Will i buy more? yes. Will i recommend them to other mole trappers? yes

 

They are very handy to have, and i think that all serious trappers should have some in their arsenal.

[wingnut 27]

Just thought id give some unbiased feedback on these traps i purchased from our own steve albanos ebay shop.

Ive been using these for a couple of weeks now. Ive been moling on lots of different ground with them , trying them here and there.

They were delivered very fast, and i was surprised how small and light they are. When i first got them i thought that maybe the american moles were smaller than ours, and these traps wouldnt kill our british mole. This was wrong, once you set it up and trigger it they pack a punch.

They arent designed for loose soil, but come into their own on grass and more solid ground.

What i like about them is their size, weight and power. What i didnt like is that they are "one sided" so you need to put two traps down in order to to cover both directions, and also they arent easy to see if they have triggered when checking, unlike duffus, scissor etc

 

Will i buy more? yes. Will i recommend them to other mole trappers? yes

 

They are very handy to have, and i think that all serious trappers should have some in their arsenal.

 

Thats good to hear trappa as i have also ordered some from steve and cant wait for them to arrive so i can use them.

[davedavedave 69]

As a kid (I am now 44) my fascination with trapping and snaring began with mole trapping. I still remember the excitement of waking up and then remembering I had set some mole traps the previous day and could not wait to see if I had been successful.

 

Therefore reading about a new type mole trap was great and then watching some videos on You Tube even better. However I think being "one-way" and not being able to see if they had been sprung would put me off getting some at the moment. You can’t beat seeing a sprung scissor trap in the V position. If they could be modified to be made "2 way" and with a visible signal above ground then that would be enough for me.

 

Just my thoughts but fair play to the chap who has invented them to come up with a new design.

 

Dave.

 

 

p.s. My best times for catching moles was 2 in 10 mins. I set about a dozen one day and walking back the 1st 2 I had set had been sprung and each with a mole in - happy days :-)

[talpa 55]

I have had these traps for around 12 months and they are great, as Trappa says.

They are simplicity itself to lay, though setting them to begin with is a little tricky until you look at the instructions properly!

 

They are the ONLY traps that I use that require no 'tuning'. The build quality is flawless, with consistant trigger firing, no burrs or twists.

They are expensive as they are SS, cost of P+P, tax and the exchange rate is against us, but they will last forever. They are the easiest trap for anyone to catch moles with having no prior experience, and just a little tuition.

 

I have a bucket set up that carries 40 sets on 2 bars with securing/marker pins in one corner and trowel in the other, making carrying everything bar a probe and spade. Carrying any of the other traps in this number would give this weed a Hernia.

 

I fit poly braid rather than SS cable like Steve does as this allows twisting and easier placement if ham fisted like me. I have also set them at junctions of runs setting 3 traps, had a couple of double catchs, yet to get a triple which would make my day.

 

One thing to watch, I have lost a couple and could have lost lots more due to sheep being let into a field and lifting out my marker securing pins.

 

These traps can make a novice look like a pro.

 

Talpa

[d6k 11]

I might have to try a few.

[stephen58 1]

not wishing to sound derogatory , but have these traps been approved for use in the UK ?? best regards STEVE

[d6k 11]

moles are classified as Small ground vermin.

[Fidgety 8]

Havent tried mine yet, but I envisaged they would be good to use under patio slabs etc.

[120-2 8]

not wishing to sound derogatory , but have these traps been approved for use in the UK ?? best regards STEVE

 

As d6k says they do not have to be approved for moles.

[Steve Albano 21]

trappa and talpa, thanks for the positive comments. Glad you guys are finding my traps useful. I think trappa was pretty fair in listing the postives and negatives for my traps. I agree that they don't work well in very soft or sandy ground. The moles tend to dig around or under the traps in those conditions. They work well in most soil types and are particularly effective in heavier clay type soils or in wet conditions.

 

And yes, it's also true that they are unidirectional, so you have to set two traps per set, one in each direction. The traps weigh in at only 1.3 ounces per trap, so you can carry a bunch of these around in a bucket and hardly feel the weight. And yes, they are handy for setting in places where the moles are digging under barriers like tree roots, rocks, or patios, etc.

 

 

Trappa, I don't remember if I emailed you after sending the traps. I was in Mexico for a week, and I meant to email you before I left, but not sure I did. I think I sent you two extra traps, which were samples of the "standard" size trap I make. They have a jaw spread about 1/4 inch narrower than the larger size traps that most users in Europe seem to like for the European mole. The two trap sizes aren't easy to tell apart unless you compare them side by side in the set position. Let me know how well the two sizes fit into the mole runs you're working with. You may find that moles dig around the smaller size trap more often, and I would only use them in smaller runs where the larger traps don't fit into the tunnels. And the larger size traps may always fit into the tunnels over there, I'm not sure.

 

Talpa, did you have to pay import duties on the trap shipments? If so, let me know how much, or what the rules and rates are on that if you remember. Thanks

[talpa 55]

trappa and talpa, thanks for the positive comments. Glad you guys are finding my traps useful. I think trappa was pretty fair in listing the postives and negatives for my traps. I agree that they don't work well in very soft or sandy ground. The moles tend to dig around or under the traps in those conditions. They work well in most soil types and are particularly effective in heavier clay type soils or in wet conditions.

 

And yes, it's also true that they are unidirectional, so you have to set two traps per set, one in each direction. The traps weigh in at only 1.3 ounces per trap, so you can carry a bunch of these around in a bucket and hardly feel the weight. And yes, they are handy for setting in places where the moles are digging under barriers like tree roots, rocks, or patios, etc.

 

 

Trappa, I don't remember if I emailed you after sending the traps. I was in Mexico for a week, and I meant to email you before I left, but not sure I did. I think I sent you two extra traps, which were samples of the "standard" size trap I make. They have a jaw spread about 1/4 inch narrower than the larger size traps that most users in Europe seem to like for the European mole. The two trap sizes aren't easy to tell apart unless you compare them side by side in the set position. Let me know how well the two sizes fit into the mole runs you're working with. You may find that moles dig around the smaller size trap more often, and I would only use them in smaller runs where the larger traps don't fit into the tunnels. And the larger size traps may always fit into the tunnels over there, I'm not sure.

 

Talpa, did you have to pay import duties on the trap shipments? If so, let me know how much, or what the rules and rates are on that if you remember. Thanks

Hi Steve,

The import vat was 15% at the time, it will rise to 17.5% at the end of the year I think. As I remember there was an import duty of 3.5% on top. This is charged by the Courier on collection to be payed to the Govt. As with all UK tax issues there are numerous levels and circumstances that trigger. Below a certain value 'gifts' escape being taxed. To understand all the rules you need to be a Chartered Accountant.

The jaw spread of your US trap seem to work fine with me with no noticeable difference in catch/dig under rate that I can tell. As Trappa says they are not great in loose soils, and I also find that in the old and long established tunnels you get under hedges and wall bases these tunnels tend to have worn smooth and are too big to get your traps to catch consistantly. Which means a change to another style trap. I use a Talpex in loose soil and at old oversize tunnels much like you change to Out-o-Sight. I still use scissor and Duffus traps in some places or if I run short when busy with jobs.

Talpa

[trapperman 474]

i got a dozen of them to try a few weeks back, good little traps and they kill well the main thing i dont like is as trappa said you cant see if they have gone off without digging your backfill out which adds alot to checking times when i have a few jobs on, but i keep them in my small domestic job trap box as they are very handy for tight runs against patios under slabs or along fences or fixed lawn edging etc

[trappa 518]

Steve, no you didnt email me but yes i got the two sample traps, really appreciated it, a nice touch. Like you say, the size difference is negligable unless you set them and stand them together. I really like this little trap, its size and weight mean you can carry any number with you no problem.

I doubt there will ever be a mole trap that will suit all soil types and all runs perfectly, i , like the majority of most trappers prefer certain traps for certain conditions, but these traps certainly do have a place in mole trapping here in britain and i would recommend trappers here to purchase some.

I would have purchased more this week had it not been for setting 85 duffus along 3 fields for a real nice farmer who rents these fields from a right rich **** who, having seen me set them, got one of his staff to ride up and down the field in his tractor, squashing lots of them "by accident". Needless to say, im buying duffus this month!

[lurchers 2,768]

Steve, no you didnt email me but yes i got the two sample traps, really appreciated it, a nice touch. Like you say, the size difference is negligable unless you set them and stand them together. I really like this little trap, its size and weight mean you can carry any number with you no problem.

I doubt there will ever be a mole trap that will suit all soil types and all runs perfectly, i , like the majority of most trappers prefer certain traps for certain conditions, but these traps certainly do have a place in mole trapping here in britain and i would recommend trappers here to purchase some.

I would have purchased more this week had it not been for setting 85 duffus along 3 fields for a real nice farmer who rents these fields from a right rich **** who, having seen me set them, got one of his staff to ride up and down the field in his tractor, squashing lots of them "by accident". Needless to say, im buying duffus this month!

thats a shitty trick off the farmer mate i would be looking to get my own back some how atb