Has anybody used one? Useful? The soils I trap range from pure sand to hard clay. There's a sawed off one leaning in the corner and no one seems to like it and I forget about it every time I leave the office. I set like most of you guys do, in the mole run. Is it meant to be used by setting with no excavation?

I made on once, but do not set many OOS. It worked ok on the surface runs. You have to make sure that the trap reaches the bottom of the run. Listen to the Redneck Pride on moles, Allen talked on how he sets his OOS. Like any tool you have to learn how to use it. JMO.

dig open that run and make sure you find both tunnel holes across from each other..i find so many surprises on tunnels when I open them that using that mole spade would make me lose sleep at night. I expect mole catches when I set traps

I have to agree with Trapper, moles do not run in a straight line all the time, That is why I think so many home owner do not get there moles. I made the spade for Nash trap not OOS my error. JMO

Many homemade or commercially available cutters work as a means of speeding up your setting operation as long as they are kept sharp allowing the correct spacing of the jaws. However if you develop a good mechanical system of setting any of your devices you can do just fine without all the bells and whistles that are sold. For the new guy on the block it may seem like something that will help them with their new developing system.

Everything sold has its history for aiding or speeding up your set up. If you feel it works for you and you can justify its use then you should give it a try. Many of us have developed our own technique for setting and piloting our jaw channels for the O/S traps or a tunnel run spreader to accommodate Steves Trapline traps or a tool to expand the travel route of the spears in that kind of device to prevent resistance when the trap plate engages the soil.

Consumers just don't have the patience or general understanding of the mechanical function of the traps that they purchase for the most part. Therefore their success is very limited or non existent. A few get on to it with determination or by doing on line searches for how to information. For the most part they just want the quick easy/fast solution which just isn't a good formula for a productive mole control program.

Ask yourself this.... speed up what?

It takes me about 3 seconds to cut a turf, and about 50% of that time the tube isn't exactly as I'd want do needs abit of tweeking. Just use a normal spade, and get on your knee's and do the job properly.

Roe, that's exactly how I operate now. Cut, clear, set, test fire(if in clay), reset and cover with a bucket. All within just a minute or so. With close to 300 accounts to keep up, sometimes there just ain't enough time in a day. I used the spade today. Spent way to much time looking for the perfect spot to use it. It's going back in the corner...

I use a tater rake to open the run...it is exactly the right width of an oos...i have a system that works very very well....no way would i change it lol

I use the knife/spade from trap line products.