Mole Trapping Tips Please

[drakeshead gunner 26]

Ey up lads, new to this section just looking for some tips off some of you top mole catchers. I got this place as my first permission last sept under the condition I keep on top of the moles for her. Have had 3 from there as they only pop up every now and again but these last few months can't trap a thing. Traps are weathered and I wear gloves when setting but when I pull them up the just seem to be clogged with mud and no mole. Any ideas more than welcome.

[arnieboy 93]

there full of mud because the moles hit them before going into them and gone round or under mate make sure the trap is in line with the run and the catch wires are just under the surface inside the run should sort it for you

[Peter Shorrock 5]

Clear all loose soil out of the run. Flatted as far in you can reach with your fingers...if its a scissor trap make little grooves inthe run for the trap to set off fast and easy. Cover the top of the trap with grass and then sprinkle soil from the mole hill over the top to stop sunlight getting in. Hope this helps

[drakeshead gunner 26]

Cheers lads, thought I was doing those things but guess not lol, I'm using those tunnel traps with the rings that pull up. Might have to invest in some more to maximise my chances of a catch lol. Does the saturation level in the soil make a difference by the way? Ground seems to be sodden, could be why it's clogging?

[Peter Shorrock 5]

Its allways better catching on a warm day, if its wet the moles just dig down and stay far under ground...on a dry day set them...if your trapping in a feild with livestock in then it may help putting a bucket over the top just to stop then stepping or tampering with/on the trap

[the night hunter 130]

12 bore if your lucky enough to see the fekker grafting. be sure not to poke the barrel into the hill or it will be mole-1 drakeshead gunner-0

[perthshire keeper 1,239]

if the soil is v wet i use talpex traps if not then its barrel traps all the way, make shure you tamp the bottom of the run down, and seat the traps well ive found once he has tripped a trap once you have to change traps to get him ie from one desinge to anuther also, i think a lot depends on where you set the in the tunnel system get it in the rong place and you starting from the back foot any how....30odd in 12 hours from 40 odd traps

[drakeshead gunner 26]

Lol thanks again lads, think I'm going to have to buy some more traps, only got 3 at the min lol! As I say it started as small job but they wait till he established a good tunnel system before letting me know. Will try all of the tips. And just out of interest, is the double catch on the barrel traps a myth with moles being so territorial or does this happen?

[moley 115]

it dont make a bit of difference if its wet , moles still run thier tunnel system, they dont go deep!! , dunno where some folk get thier ideas from

if you get a trap struck , just re set it , you dont need to change it , just make a better job second time round, if it keeps getting struck , your either not setting it right or it got a bad smell on it, then you need to change you trap or move it,

[Matt 160]

And just out of interest, is the double catch on the barrel traps a myth with moles being so territorial or does this happen?

 

Yes, double catches are common:

 

 

 

 

There are quite a few reasons why a trap gets blocked; common causes are the trap not being aligned properly, contamination of the trap, and poor tuning making the triggers too hard.

 

As Moley says, reset and try again or you could switch over to a Talpex type trap and catch him out like that...

 

When you buy new traps make sure they are good quality and not Chinky (peststop) crap and tune them up well before use. No need to weather or wear gloves (although it does help keep your hands clean and warm during the winter), but make sure you keep your traps away from strong smelling stuff like petrol and diesel. I keep my traps in lidded buckets to protect them and always wear the disposable gloves provided by garages when filling up with diesel. My ferrets get done in the evening after mole activities are done so that I don't have the smell of stinkers on my hands during the day.

 

Good luck.

[drakeshead gunner 26]

Cheers for that Matt, just thought I'd ask with some people saying there territorial and stuff. Where is the best place to get traps from are the ebay ones good quality?

[perthshire keeper 1,239]

buy the best you can afford flatpack are about the best i think

[Tom Crichton 21]

Cheers for that Matt, just thought I'd ask with some people saying there territorial and stuff. Where is the best place to get traps from are the ebay ones good quality?

The traps of ebay are crap,go for flatpack or bethel rhodes

[earth-thrower 493]

it dont make a bit of difference if its wet , moles still run thier tunnel system, they dont go deep!! , dunno where some folk get thier ideas from

if you get a trap struck , just re set it , you dont need to change it , just make a better job second time round, if it keeps getting struck , your either not setting it right or it got a bad smell on it, then you need to change you trap or move it,

Spot on.

[earth-thrower 493]

 

And just out of interest, is the double catch on the barrel traps a myth with moles being so territorial or does this happen?

 

Yes, double catches are common:

 

 

 

 

There are quite a few reasons why a trap gets blocked; common causes are the trap not being aligned properly, contamination of the trap, and poor tuning making the triggers too hard.

 

As Moley says, reset and try again or you could switch over to a Talpex type trap and catch him out like that...

 

When you buy new traps make sure they are good quality and not Chinky (peststop) crap and tune them up well before use. No need to weather or wear gloves (although it does help keep your hands clean and warm during the winter), but make sure you keep your traps away from strong smelling stuff like petrol and diesel. I keep my traps in lidded buckets to protect them and always wear the disposable gloves provided by garages when filling up with diesel. My ferrets get done in the evening after mole activities are done so that I don't have the smell of stinkers on my hands during the day.

 

Good luck.

 

Again, good advice, for all the newbies !!! Where would they be ,without you guys ? LOL

Edited July 6, 2013 by earth-thrower