Internet Mole Trapper

[northern lad 2,292]

Interesting reading Bryn,Im only doing it on a very small scale by comparison to yourself.Theres no livestock on any of the fields here,ever,so sheep etc aren't an issue.The thing I was bothered about re markers was somebody either anti,or far more likely one of the local hoodrats who nick anything not nailed down...Ive altered the triggers on all traps now(,thanks to someone on here kindly giving me some pointers via PM) and will be checking them tomorrow.If the few in what I think are main runs catch I will leave these in situ till they dry up,all the others I will give till prob Monday and then move them around on the basis of if they haven't caught in a week I will try and put them somewhere more productive Im under no pressure to achieve results so it doesn't matter how long it takes,Im quite happy doing my thing and learning as I go....I,ve only got nine traps in,all clearly marked,yet every time Im checking them I seem to convince myself I only checked /found eight ,so end up recounting them again How you fellas go on with dozens out,I don't know Out of interest ,what is considered a "large" mole?? Had two this week(both from the same trap too) that were way bigger than the others,one of them barely fit in the barrel,it wasn't just longer,it was a right fat b*****d too

[Nicepix 5,650]

That's the best way to learn if you haven't got a mentor to show you the ropes. I got back into mole trapping after a long time away by trapping on a farm where I'd rented a cottage. No pressure, nobody looking over my shoulder and just a few traps initially. The main thing is to be open minded and critical of your methods. Otherwise you will not learn anything. Every soil type brings new challenges as does the changing seasons. You'll learn what works best and what isn't working for you.

 

The best advice any one of us can give a newcomer is to buy the best traps you can afford. Even if it means buying less traps. Cheap, Chinky barrel traps will hamper your learning process, and some of the cheap Talpex copies will flex and jam. All that work setting them for no reward. Get Flatpack stainless barrel traps and Talpex claw traps and they will last you a lifetime.

[bryn27 89]

Lifted 7 this morning out of 17 set, not great in the whole scheme of things.

but I did over trap 4 runs just to make sure and they scored so all in all not too disappointed. moved and reset another 8 wich i'll check first thing in the morning before the weekend ramblers decide to wreck matters. Trapping on a weekend is dodgy here as we are on a vast network of public footpaths that get used heavily over the weekend.

never had a trap stolen mon-fri. but loads over the weekend.

Just something else you learn over time regards your location.

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

Trap thieves are vermin and always a problem,..I've lost hundreds of good tools over the years

 

It was not so bad in the Imbra and Juby rabbit trapping years,...and one at least had the satisfaction that a thief might suffer from his actions,...Unfortunately, a Duffus cannot break bones,...so they are vulnerable...

 

I am hoping that the Putanges will prove to be a safer option in certain, risky areas'....time will tell..

Edited November 7, 2015 by Phil Lloyd

[northern lad 2,292]

That's the best way to learn if you haven't got a mentor to show you the ropes. I got back into mole trapping after a long time away by trapping on a farm where I'd rented a cottage. No pressure, nobody looking over my shoulder and just a few traps initially. The main thing is to be open minded and critical of your methods. Otherwise you will not learn anything. Every soil type brings new challenges as does the changing seasons. You'll learn what works best and what isn't working for you.

 

The best advice any one of us can give a newcomer is to buy the best traps you can afford. Even if it means buying less traps. Cheap, Chinky barrel traps will hamper your learning process, and some of the cheap Talpex copies will flex and jam. All that work setting them for no reward. Get Flatpack stainless barrel traps and Talpex claw traps and they will last you a lifetime.

Ive took on board what you said about quality traps Clive Its mighty tempting to buy 3 talpex"type" traps for £12 instead of 1 genuine Talpex for the same price posted,but at the end of the day I want to catch moles,not collect traps... So I will start adding a trap or two each month,its only a hobby to me ,so I don't need dozens In terms of being critical of my work ,Im never happy....I always pick faults and analyse my failures far more than successes,in all aspects of life,sadly Im keeping a small pocket book and noting different things Im trying with different traps etc and scribbling my findings down All a bit geeky I know,but rather than just accepting something works/doesn't work because the internet says so I try it for myself and adjust accordingly.The farmers well chuffed,gave me a good bottle of Claret the other day As you know I adjusted the triggers on the barrel traps (I shall cease to call them Duffus ) a couple of days ago,so today I went to have a look at the results.....two of the barrels had gone off,resulting in two moles,one was caught just behind the front legs,the other only a little further back,,,a big improvement on the other days catches,so thanks for the good advice A third mole was in one of the scissor traps...so that was todays result 3 out of 9.Positives for the day,no pushed up traps full of soil,the only traps triggered had good clean catches....Think Im going to move them again Monday depending on results over the weekend,once again thanks for the advice.Dave

[Frontbum 76]

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Edited November 7, 2015 by Frontbum

[Nicepix 5,650]

Better to save up and buy good traps in batches, rather than one or two at a time. Otherwise you'll end up paying more in postage than you have for the traps.

[shropshire mole 190]

Had moles up to 7" thats a big mole, unlikely to get longer, but you never really know. Someone may prove me wrong now

 

Clive is right, buy good traps, if not sure what a good trap is, buy from suppliers that others recommend - Flatpack, Fourteenacre etc

 

When I started many years ago, I caught moles for free for friends etc, then when felt slightly more confident would charge silly cheap prices to others and advertise locally to continue practising my skills. Now I class my self as a professional and charge well, but remember your only as good as your last mole caught. Being good and being recommended is key to full order books

[shropshire mole 190]

Trap thieves are vermin and always a problem,..I've lost hundreds of good tools over the years

 

It was not so bad in the Imbra and Juby rabbit trapping years,...and one at least had the satisfaction that a thief might suffer from his actions,...Unfortunately, a Duffus cannot break bones,...so they are vulnerable...

 

I am hoping that the Putanges will prove to be a safer option in certain, risky areas'....time will tell..

You will love Putanges for risky areas, but will still involve covert operations

[northern lad 2,292]

Had moles up to 7" thats a big mole, unlikely to get longer, but you never really know. Someone may prove me wrong now

 

Clive is right, buy good traps, if not sure what a good trap is, buy from suppliers that others recommend - Flatpack, Fourteenacre etc

 

When I started many years ago, I caught moles for free for friends etc, then when felt slightly more confident would charge silly cheap prices to others and advertise locally to continue practising my skills. Now I class my self as a professional and charge well, but remember your only as good as your last mole caught. Being good and being recommended is key to full order books

Id say mine were nearer 6" Clive mentioned flatpack,so will have a look on there I don't need that many,as I said I don't need a bucketful,its only a hobby for me.Im a full time carer for my wife,if I ever get back to work Im a builder,so I,ll be going straight back to that,its far easier .Like I said this farm is literally on my doorstep,hundreds of acres mooching land,but very few rabbits on it,hence I only ferret at weekends on pemission in Cheshire,when the daughters off college,the moling (is that a word ) adds some interest day to day whilst exercising the dogs The place is full of them and I can go anytime I like as its only 2 mins down the road,so as I finish one area I will start another ...quite enjoying it tbh.Cheers Dave

[northern lad 2,292]

Just back from checking the traps...nowt...all empty and all untouched.Im going to assume rightly or wrongly,that the 4 areas are now empty.Have left the traps in situ till mon or tues when I have a bit more time to move them all

[northern lad 2,292]

Went and moved all the traps this morning to fresh areas,absolutley pissing down and has been all night....Quite a few of the tunnels are literally an inch deep in water...that's one of the reasons theres so few rabbits round here,its very damp all year round.So I,ve set the traps in the driest runs I could find,will go check them in a couple of days Is this par for the course for this time of year?,Im wondering wether the moles will move to the verges ,them being a couple of foot higher Will they still use the runs with water laying in them Barring the verges these fields are flat as bowling greens,so there is no higher ground to move to...so Im guessing they will Cheers Dave

[mole trapper 1,693]

We regularly take moles out of traps where the tunnels are completely full of water, I used to think when setting in real boggy ground that there was no chance with water already running through, but sure enough come back and there they were.

[northern lad 2,292]

Thought so,as I said they don't have much in the way of options round here The moist ground is probably why the moles are thriving tbh,its lifting with worms,used to dig them for fishing as a kid,in recent years I,ve got lazy and bought tubs of dendras for bait...wont be doing that again Loads of redworms,,,best tench bait going,and plenty of lobs too...

[Nicepix 5,650]

The first time I did one large garden I took 3 moles out of 12 traps with barely anything else disturbed. After checking the traps there were two days of continual heavy rain and I got 12 out of 12 the next time I checked, including several doubles. I've never caught more than the odd 1 or two 2 since in there. That garden is the highest one in the hamlet and I reckon that the neighbouring moles moved uphill due to the flooding.

 

But, like Jamie and others I've also had moles in traps that were set in running water. When you think about it, worms will be washed down those tunnels.