Mole Traps

[Matt 160]

Just out of interest......

 

Which trap do you reach for first? You can explain why if you choose.

 

For me, it's the Duffus every time, although I can see the attraction of the Talpex type traps.

[nod 285]

Tunnel traps first then if I run out I will use fenns

[3175darren 1,100]

I must admit I do use other traps,but the duffus style is my first choice, it will catch anywhere,although the trap quality varies massively,and you have to choose your supplier carefully,

[Le Braconnier 49]

I started out last April using scissor traps bought by the farmer who I rent our cottage from. He'd asked me if I could trap moles as he couldn't get anyone local to do it. He has around 300 hectares, mainly pasture, with all sorts of soil types from granite to sand to clay and includes the tip from a 17th century forge and in the 20 years he had been here no mole control had been done.

 

The traps he had bought were useless and caused me a lot of hassle. I asked him if he would buy me some decent traps and he agreed to pay for 6 tunnel traps and 2 Defender scissor traps I got them from a site on eBay who advertised that they were professional mole catchers and used these traps themselves. Initially I had good results with the tunnel traps, catching far more than with the scissor traps. Then the traps started to get blocked up and were stiff to operate. The trigger latch wires weren't up to the job and after about a month or six weeks I struggled to catch anything.

 

Next I bought 2 Talpex type traps off eBay and the same thing happened. Initially they worked great, then after a week began to jam and wouldn't close on being triggered.

 

Then I got 6 genuine Talpex traps and have never looked back. They have improved my catch rate no end. I reckon that I've had well over moles in 3 months with those 6 traps whereas I'd only had 20 in the previous 6 months using other type of traps.

 

More recently I've bought 20 steel tunnel traps and 2 claw traps from Flatpack and have another 12 Talpex traps on order. The reason for the increase is that I'm intending to do a bit of self-employed work to offset the health charges we will have to pay from next year. Since I got the Flatpack tunnel traps I've been nailing loads of moles with them. But, I still have most confidence in the Talpex. If my life depended on catching a mole then the Talpex is the trap I would use. The only issue I have with them is that they need to be fully covered in wet weather as rain clogs the soil and makes the trap ineffective.

[Guest clairian09]

tunnel traps from procter pest stop every time don't use any other trap never fail to catch in any type of soil from sandy to clay

[davedavedave 69]

I agree with Le Braconnier - I would pick a Talpex trap over a tunnel trap but each to his own.

 

atb,

Dave.

[Matt 160]

tunnel traps from procter pest stop every time don't use any other trap never fail to catch in any type of soil from sandy to clay

 

How do you find the quality of the Proctor traps?

 

Every time I've handled one I've been disappointed with them. Only the other day I took one out of it's flashy new box in a local agricultural merchant. One side wouldn't set, and the other wouldn't go off!

 

And then there is the fact that they are made in China........... call me old fashioned, but I like to buy british whenever I can.

 

Still, if they work well for you, good luck to you.

[Butler 396]

tunnel traps from procter pest stop every time don't use any other trap never fail to catch in any type of soil from sandy to clay

 

How do you find the quality of the Proctor traps?

 

Every time I've handled one I've been disappointed with them. Only the other day I took one out of it's flashy new box in a local agricultural merchant. One side wouldn't set, and the other wouldn't go off!

 

And then there is the fact that they are made in China........... call me old fashioned, but I like to buy british whenever I can.

 

Still, if they work well for you, good luck to you.

 

I've yet to handle a duffus type trap that is fit to catch well straight from the box.

[Matt 160]

tunnel traps from procter pest stop every time don't use any other trap never fail to catch in any type of soil from sandy to clay

 

How do you find the quality of the Proctor traps?

 

Every time I've handled one I've been disappointed with them. Only the other day I took one out of it's flashy new box in a local agricultural merchant. One side wouldn't set, and the other wouldn't go off!

 

And then there is the fact that they are made in China........... call me old fashioned, but I like to buy british whenever I can.

 

Still, if they work well for you, good luck to you.

 

I've yet to handle a duffus type trap that is fit to catch well straight from the box.

 

Agreed, although the Flat Packs are pretty close to it.

 

Funnily enough I was talking about this very subject with John Keswick on the phone yesterday. I've got an old (original) Duffus trap here, and it is a completely different trap to any of the modern copies. Changes have been made to the design which may well have helped the manufacturing process, but have done nothing to make the trap catch better.

 

After a few years of using Flat Packs, I'm now using Bethel Rhodes traps, albeit tuned up quite a bit, and getting good results with them, but it pisses me off that you have to spend so long modifying the things. When you buy a new product of any sort, it should be fit for purpose as soon as you get it. Just imagine buying a new car and having to have the engine tuned up before you could drive the thing? It wouldn't be any more acceptable than traps that can't work without being altered IMHO.

[Butler 396]

tunnel traps from procter pest stop every time don't use any other trap never fail to catch in any type of soil from sandy to clay

 

How do you find the quality of the Proctor traps?

 

Every time I've handled one I've been disappointed with them. Only the other day I took one out of it's flashy new box in a local agricultural merchant. One side wouldn't set, and the other wouldn't go off!

 

And then there is the fact that they are made in China........... call me old fashioned, but I like to buy british whenever I can.

 

Still, if they work well for you, good luck to you.

 

I've yet to handle a duffus type trap that is fit to catch well straight from the box.

 

Agreed, although the Flat Packs are pretty close to it.

 

Funnily enough I was talking about this very subject with John Keswick on the phone yesterday. I've got an old (original) Duffus trap here, and it is a completely different trap to any of the modern copies. Changes have been made to the design which may well have helped the manufacturing process, but have done nothing to make the trap catch better.

 

After a few years of using Flat Packs, I'm now using Bethel Rhodes traps, albeit tuned up quite a bit, and getting good results with them, but it pisses me off that you have to spend so long modifying the things. When you buy a new product of any sort, it should be fit for purpose as soon as you get it. Just imagine buying a new car and having to have the engine tuned up before you could drive the thing? It wouldn't be any more acceptable than traps that can't work without being altered IMHO.

 

I find flatpack have to much power to get them really tuned as you say bethel rhodes need some work but are a better trap once sorted IMO.

[Matt 160]

tunnel traps from procter pest stop every time don't use any other trap never fail to catch in any type of soil from sandy to clay

 

How do you find the quality of the Proctor traps?

 

Every time I've handled one I've been disappointed with them. Only the other day I took one out of it's flashy new box in a local agricultural merchant. One side wouldn't set, and the other wouldn't go off!

 

And then there is the fact that they are made in China........... call me old fashioned, but I like to buy british whenever I can.

 

Still, if they work well for you, good luck to you.

 

I've yet to handle a duffus type trap that is fit to catch well straight from the box.

 

Agreed, although the Flat Packs are pretty close to it.

 

Funnily enough I was talking about this very subject with John Keswick on the phone yesterday. I've got an old (original) Duffus trap here, and it is a completely different trap to any of the modern copies. Changes have been made to the design which may well have helped the manufacturing process, but have done nothing to make the trap catch better.

 

After a few years of using Flat Packs, I'm now using Bethel Rhodes traps, albeit tuned up quite a bit, and getting good results with them, but it pisses me off that you have to spend so long modifying the things. When you buy a new product of any sort, it should be fit for purpose as soon as you get it. Just imagine buying a new car and having to have the engine tuned up before you could drive the thing? It wouldn't be any more acceptable than traps that can't work without being altered IMHO.

 

I find flatpack have to much power to get them really tuned as you say bethel rhodes need some work but are a better trap once sorted IMO.

 

Interestingly, I've tested the springs on both and they need exactly the same force on each. As you say, they do feel different though when setting.

[Guest clairian09]

tunnel traps from procter pest stop every time don't use any other trap never fail to catch in any type of soil from sandy to clay

 

How do you find the quality of the Proctor traps?

 

Every time I've handled one I've been disappointed with them. Only the other day I took one out of it's flashy new box in a local agricultural merchant. One side wouldn't set, and the other wouldn't go off!

 

And then there is the fact that they are made in China........... call me old fashioned, but I like to buy british whenever I can.

 

Still, if they work well for you, good luck to you.

 

they seem to work ok slightly wider in the catch loop than the flatpack traps nice to work with

[3175darren 1,100]

Has anyone tried trapman traps, he does some professional ones when you go on his site,which he claims are made stronge and of better steel,he sells them in packs of 25 and 100 I want to buy a load to build my stock up, and dont know if I should buy from him or not has anyone used him before ????????????????