Throwing traps away after 20 catches

[Matt 160]

Hi Guys

 

I was reading the website of a traditional mole catcher the other day, and he claims that he discards his traps after twenty captures, because he claims the traps are then worn out!

 

I would be interested in your opinions of this practice. Personally, I dont see the point; I would have thought that it is more important to consider the amount of time that a trap remains set (when the springs are under tension) than the amount of times it has caught.

 

A trap could be set for a year without catching a thing, and its springs would be more worn than one which has been out and caught twenty moles in twenty days for example.

 

What do you think? Is it a load of crap to try and make people feel better about having moles killed, or is there something in it?

 

Regards to all, Matt

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

I've never been 'That' heavily into moles myself, mate. But I can tell ye for a fact a single Little Nipper mouse trap is good for six months constant use. In that time I'd expect a Lot of use out of the spring.

 

Now, a Pro' Moler? Surely he's got to take twenty moles in a trap in damn short order? Then sling the trap away???

 

S'pose it makes that individuals job that more costly, to himself. Explains his pricing to his customers

[stone-cold 0]

cant be very good traps if they weaken after 20 can they?i would of thought theyd last a lot longer than that

[richie 1]

Hi Guys

 

I was reading the website of a traditional mole catcher the other day, and he claims that he discards his traps after twenty captures, because he claims the traps are then worn out!

 

 

next he will be advising where you can buy new traps... probably somewhere he has shares in..

[mole trapper 1,693]

Complete bo====cks, i have genuine Duffus traps here nearly 9 years old and they will still kill quickly, now admittedly i can not say how many days they have been in the ground every year as i run a lot of them, but i think it would be safe to asume they have killed at least two or three hundred moles in that time. The springs themselves give a very good indication when they are due to be retired, they feel suddenly a lot spongier than the rest.

Think maybe he is on comission.

 

Regards MT.

[Matt 160]

Phew! I'm glad its not just me......

 

This is the site I was talking about. I've seen it on a few now, and my instant reaction was "what a load of crap".

 

I'm happy to be proved wrong though..............

[OldTrapCollector 377]

From a trap collector's point of view I have 2 seperate issues here ~

 

I have traps made 200 years ago and their springs are as strong as the day they were made - testament to the quality of engineering and manufacture back in the days of the Empire. Perhaps this shows just how poor quality modern 'British' traps really are?

 

I looked with interest at the pics of the mole traps he has in use there - and noticed that those scissor traps he was using are stamped with a name on them. Anyone know what type they are exactly? Is it TRAP MAN I can see stamped there??

 

OTC

[Tyke 0]

Phew! I'm glad its not just me......

 

This is the site I was talking about. I've seen it on a few now, and my instant reaction was "what a load of crap".

 

I'm happy to be proved wrong though..............

 

The powers that be are looking to make this law, 20 uses max, a lot going on in the background regarding mole trapping. I have been told from a very reliable source involved in this that the research could take 3 years. A lot of us think laws will be kicking in a lot sooner, hopefully the one that ststes traps not to be sold to the general public. The latter can only be good for the professional. Right time to get some contracts written, work to do.

[Matt 160]

Phew! I'm glad its not just me......

 

This is the site I was talking about. I've seen it on a few now, and my instant reaction was "what a load of crap".

 

I'm happy to be proved wrong though..............

 

The powers that be are looking to make this law, 20 uses max, a lot going on in the background regarding mole trapping. I have been told from a very reliable source involved in this that the research could take 3 years. A lot of us think laws will be kicking in a lot sooner, hopefully the one that ststes traps not to be sold to the general public. The latter can only be good for the professional. Right time to get some contracts written, work to do.

 

Sorry, but this is incorrect information.

 

The government are looking at an approval system for all traps, which will enable them to comply with EU legislation which ensures that any traps used are humane.

 

That does NOT mean that a trap is only good for 20 catches. The number of catches is irrelevant. What is important is that the trap is capable of killing when it is manufactured, and is checked throughout its life to ensure that it is still capable of killing humanely. It is far more significant to consider the power of the springs after a sensible length of time, regardless of how many times it has caught.

[Rolfe 2]

From a trap collector's point of view I have 2 seperate issues here ~

 

I have traps made 200 years ago and their springs are as strong as the day they were made - testament to the quality of engineering and manufacture back in the days of the Empire. Perhaps this shows just how poor quality modern 'British' traps really are?

 

I looked with interest at the pics of the mole traps he has in use there - and noticed that those scissor traps he was using are stamped with a name on them. Anyone know what type they are exactly? Is it TRAP MAN I can see stamped there??

 

OTC

I also noticed the traps show very little sign of use and are brand spanking new..........makes you wonder just how much use they have had or will see in the future....!

 

Rolfe

[stephen58 1]

Beat me to it Rolfe !!

[comanche 2,991]

My daughter gave me this guys( or maybe another " 20 sets and chuck guy "because he did'nt favour the scissor trap)) book for Christmas..He gives the impression he favours the better quality of Duffus style trap. Won't slag anything he wrote off because though I've been catching moles as part of my living for many years I'm far from being a specialist at the game. In fact I found some bits of the book usefull. The bit about throwing away traps did puzzle me though. I obviously would'nt use one I thought was'nt powerfull enough .One of my old lady customers gave me a rusty thing her dad last used in 1950.Nothing wrong with the spring though-used and caught with it on the next job. I 've realised that some of the el-cheapo Duffus copies are barely fit for use at all even after tweaking but surely a decent trap should last more than twenty uses.On that basis the smallholding job I'm doing at the moment is going to drasticlly reduce my trap life as I have to keep moving them around as the livestock vacates various fields .Twenty traps 50% worn -out in a week ! . Love to find a supplier of scissor-trap springs that I could rivet on myself and get some of my oldies back in action.

Edited April 19, 2008 by comanche

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Love to find a supplier of scissor-trap springs that I could rivet on myself and get some of my oldies back in action.

 

 

Can't ye? Have ye tried? Bodiss. Bethal Rhodes. Eliza Tinsley are a few possibilities that ~ oh f*ck ~ spring to mind

[comanche 2,991]

Love to find a supplier of scissor-trap springs that I could rivet on myself and get some of my oldies back in action.

 

 

Can't ye? Have ye tried? Bodiss. Bethal Rhodes. Eliza Tinsley are a few possibilities that ~ oh f*ck ~ spring to mind

Thanks .I'm making notes of those." Spring to mind" ?

[Tyke 0]

Phew! I'm glad its not just me......

 

This is the site I was talking about. I've seen it on a few now, and my instant reaction was "what a load of crap".

 

I'm happy to be proved wrong though..............

 

The powers that be are looking to make this law, 20 uses max, a lot going on in the background regarding mole trapping. I have been told from a very reliable source involved in this that the research could take 3 years. A lot of us think laws will be kicking in a lot sooner, hopefully the one that ststes traps not to be sold to the general public. The latter can only be good for the professional. Right time to get some contracts written, work to do.

 

Sorry, but this is incorrect information.

 

The government are looking at an approval system for all traps, which will enable them to comply with EU legislation which ensures that any traps used are humane.

 

That does NOT mean that a trap is only good for 20 catches. The number of catches is irrelevant. What is important is that the trap is capable of killing when it is manufactured, and is checked throughout its life to ensure that it is still capable of killing humanely. It is far more significant to consider the power of the springs after a sensible length of time, regardless of how many times it has caught.

 

Matt I appreciate what you say and yes your correct, but only time will prove me right so no need to debate it for now, goverment always take the lead from those who advise them. Shame that us that carry out the operation of mole catching are never invited to sit on these panels or asked to input correct information, or be trusted to know better then any researcher or goverment offical.