Moles Ganging Up On Me

[mazperks 18]

Thats a SHOCKING idea Nicepics,

 

I know ... but I got in before anyone else did.

[mazperks 18]

Once again Phil, thats your opinion, however as many other experienced trappers have stated here and previously, there is an argument for there being trap shy moles.

I am retired now so have lots of time to spend setting my traps right, and using various types, and this particular ground is just right, If a little claggy right now. So there must be some other reason,

I am all for taking on board good advice, I even used to listen to what my first year apprentice would tell me about new methods learned at college, (before sending him whimpering away) but I cant agree with your last point.

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

Fair play to you Maz,..

[mazperks 18]

Thanks Phil, Its good to be able to have a bit of banter and difference of opinion without the hair pulling and name calling.

[MAG1980 116]

Maz this might just work, but this might seem daft, but which direction is the mole coming from? In order to trip the trigger pin! As looking at the trigger im a little confused as how its released.its obviously got to have enough room in order for it to trip it but. It it the motion of the mole pulling through the noose that releases the pin then the spring doing the rest. ATB MAG

[Mr Wasp 187]

Crikey, that is something.

 

If you were to put a bit of black rubber around that spring.....

Well, you could have all sorts of fun with female clients.

Nuff said, i will get me coat.

 

Just logged in to like Lloydys post about the medication

[comanche 3,038]

I've never subscribed to the trap shy excuse. To a mole its just something in the run they decide to dig round or shift ;might as well be a rock,root ..or ... mothball . Its not like they have an I-Spy book of mole traps to refer to. In fact they can't read very well (glasses don't stay on due to lack of sticky -out ears and contact lenses are too fiddly for their big hands ).

Apart from the desire to shift or dig round a foreign body in the run , or coming at the trap from an unsporting angle; I do believe that moles have a little tactic to avoid painful encounters with others of their species that can result in blocked traps.

Then again, sometimes all it takes to get that elusive bxgger is a change in the weather .

Edited March 18, 2015 by comanche

[outandabout 27]

Once again Phil, thats your opinion, however as many other experienced trappers have stated here and previously, there is an argument for there being trap shy moles.

I am retired now so have lots of time to spend setting my traps right, and using various types, and this particular ground is just right, If a little claggy right now. So there must be some other reason,

I am all for taking on board good advice, I even used to listen to what my first year apprentice would tell me about new methods learned at college, (before sending him whimpering away) but I cant agree with your last point.

 

Yes, there's a reason and you need to figure it out. All part of the fun.

 

If your traps are up to scratch, it's something you are doing wrong.

 

This is how I approach a tricky mole. I always assume it's a mistake I've made. Once you catch the villain, you can move on and be happy for a while until the next tricky one comes along

[mazperks 18]

Mag, the mole is heading along its run towards the trigger, gets to where the noose is bedded in the run, it comes up against the plug of earth. As it pushes through, the earth or mole itself should hit the trigger.

There is a Dutch (I believe) body grab trap, which uses the plug method of triggering, only the "buisness end" is inserted into the run, a bit like a trapline trap.

They have a flat steel plate against the plug which releases the trigger when pushed. I may also do this.

I have come up with this design so there is nothing to be sensed inside the run other than the noose.

Edited March 19, 2015 by mazperks

[mazperks 18]

"Outandabout" I hear what your saying, but once the basics of molecatching are learnt, theres not a great deal to go amiss in good ground, especially as I've cleared the rest of the paddocks no problem.

Very frustrating but its given me a project to work on.

[mazperks 18]

"Commanche", you hit the nail on the head with your comment; "They have the desire to dig round or tunnel under foreign objects",

I would also interpret this as being Trap Shy in some moles with a heightened sense or awareness of a trap.

Edited March 19, 2015 by mazperks

[MAG1980 116]

Mag, the mole is heading along its run towards the trigger, gets to where the noose is bedded in the run, it comes up against the plug of earth. As it pushes through, the earth or mole itself should hit the trigger.There is a Dutch (I believe) body grab trap, which uses the plug method of triggering, only the "buisness end" is inserted into the run, a bit like a trapline trap.They have a flat steel plate against the plug which releases the trigger when pushed. I may also do this.I have come up with this design so there is nothing to be sensed inside the run other than the noose.

 

Im with you now maz, i think its the dutch podal trap you where referring thats triggered in this manner. Keep us updated im interested to see develop further. HAPPY HUNTING Mag.

[unclepesta 101]

[outandabout 27]

"Outandabout" I hear what your saying, but once the basics of molecatching are learnt, theres not a great deal to go amiss in good ground, especially as I've cleared the rest of the paddocks no problem.

Very frustrating but its given me a project to work on.

 

There's a lot that can go wrong with setting your traps, doesn't matter how much experience you have, we all make mistakes even if we don't always realise it.

 

Subtle things make a lot of difference, and I'm still learning even though I set hundreds of traps every month.

 

When I have difficulty catching a mole, the only thing I can do is take a good look at the situation to figure out why I can't catch said mole.

 

My traps are top notch, so what else can be wrong? Only the bloke setting them

 

Sometimes you need to accept you are at fault and re-assess, but don't buy into the trap shyness thing too much.

 

Maybe you're not wrong though? Maybe you don't get paid to catch them so it might not matter as much as it does for me?

 

This is genuine advice. I have no clue about your experience or abilities in mole catching, but the above helps me to catch the tricky buggers so I can get paid, recommended, called back etc.

[unclepesta 101]

trap shy i love it