Question for those in MN or anybody that may know for that matter. Budy of mine is trapping Pocket Gophers here in MN and looks like something that I would love to get in on. He said that being as the Gophers are considered pests that no licensing is required to trap them.

I looked on DNR site and could not find anything that would confirm this. Would like to know for sure before I start running a line.

Thanks

Unprotected no license required

Some areas also offer a bounty

I am surprised that you do not need some kind of a permit of some kind. If you only trap on your property it would be ok, but once you leave your land it is something else I would check with LE. JMO

This is traping in ditches on the side of fields. Don't know if I would make any money doing it. The county is giving something like $3 per gopher according to my friend.

We are just going crazy while waiting for college finals to be over with.

talk to hay farmers, most will gladly give you fews bucks to help them get rid of them, may even get some hunting permission for fall by helping out the farmers.

Trapped gophers as a kid for dad and local farmers. You can really put a smack down on em. Usually got $2 from farmers and $2.50 township bounty. No licensing required.

Better money and way less work than trapping rats. Plus you don't have to skin um !

Them little critters make excellent coyote bait.
Kill `em all.

Sounds good and was good years back ,could stay busy all day checking and moving 30 traps. Now at 3-4 dollars and kids with 4 wheelers not so good . Theft is another thing. Some townships will only pay you half bounty if your not a resident of that township . But life is good on a dusty township road.

We have no shortage of gophers- I would rather see kids running gopher traps on their 4 wheelers than sitting in front of a screen.

Over the years I have caught MANY pocket gophers.....with a very high overnight success rate. Lots of fun.







Good luck.

Yup.

No license required. Townships may offer a bounty but check to see if you need to turn in the tails or front feet. Also ask the landowner if they are willing pay a bounty as well as I have some that will and some that won't. For some it's more it's gratitude for letting me trap other animals in the fall and winter.

Bushmaster, what kind of trap is that?

There is a knock off out there now but these are called The Black Hole. I buy them at a farm supply store.

black hole gopher trap.

I run about 80 death clutch. Only have got about 25-35 out after work and got 22 in two checks. Price jumped to $4 bucks here and the farmers I trap for give an extra buck or two.

Decent money if you keep at it, my uncle gets 400-600 a year just trapping the road ditch and his hay fields between the farms. Brings a guy back to his youth and I enjoy it when its decent weather and no bugs. It was 75 cents a gopher when dad used to take us. Thought we were really in the money when it went to $2.

Funny how you never run out of gophers, or at least around here.

$3 township bounty around me and most of the farmers around here will match that so long as they come from there land. And yes, no license required.

I'm no expert, but I have trapped a lot of them over the years. I did this video a couple years ago, and since I did it, I have switched over to mostly EZ set traps. The black hole trap look intriguing.