(Ok, so I stole the idea from the Alaskans...)

This is a thread that I would like to start for all the mole trappers out there on the ADC, as well as other trapping forums. I have noticed in the year that I have been on here, that there has been a great interest in mole trapping but it seems to get bounced around and eventually fades into oblivion...

There are some great mole trappers on here to be sure. Jameson, Barkstone, Albano, Moley (in the UK)...just to name a few. Some new innovations in trap design,(Albano's new mole trap), mole poisons, as well as techniques in catching them. Much of what we know can benefit those who follow in our footsteps. I invite all of you to join in with photos (and maybe even some short films) in your daily mole runs. A lot can be learned from how you set up a service contract, choose the best places to set traps over others, different techniques for soil conditions, etc. I hope to hear from everyone on here who pursue the mighty mole as a livelihood.

A few photos from today's run!


Case of 50 ready to go. The number one trap I use.








Always puts a smile on my face...."Come on, be there...Yes!"


Victor spear traps...Don't use as many of these. I know many trappers like them...even some even prefer them. I'm not one of them, although I used them for years.
Re-painted with "Kentucky chrome"!



I set up even small jobs heavy. I have killed moles even before I got done setting the last trap.



NO-MOL trap...Yeah, I use a few dozen of them at times.

You da man General Grey. :)You have come a long way over the years pilgrim.

I like those spear traps that use steroids.. They sure drive them home dont they.

You may have noticed the Formula 1 on those Victor O-S_O traps. I really like it on them and plan to show how I do them here in the future. Some will require some trigger scraping but work well after that and handle the damp weather conditions real well. We've had over 19" of rain this spring...."Enough all ready"!

Yes I knew that. I use it on all mine as well and treat the spear plate and spears with it as well.

Like everyone here, I use all the popular ones. O.O.S., no-mol, and even ordered some of Steve's new traps. What I'm curious about is what everybody prefers and why. Where do the different ones shine?

Hi everyone I just mole trap around our yard and have caught 19 moles so far in o-o-s's and nash loop traps. I am consistent with both but use loop traps more because of ease of setting. I do have a question on how people set the out o sites. Do you dig it out and then cover it back up or can you just stick in the ground like with nash traps? So far I have dug them out then covered them back up and have done well but was just wondering how you guys set em.

I'd like to see how someone uses a Nash trap! I've never set one but have a few that people gave me....How 'bout it mole trapper?
19 in one yard? You're mole poor!

Hey Jameson, Give us a few pics on "your techniques" on those spear traps when you get a chance, will ya?

I will try and get a program together today. I am off to check my traps in my nursery area in a little while and see if I connected with Steves traps.

My compliments to LT on an excellent choice of topics!

We do about half and half moles and gophers, with a few voles and other things thrown in as well. I have also been a die hard Out-o-Sight user. I've used that trap for 16 years, with great success.

Hey LT, exactly what kind of paint is that you're using. That sure would make it a lot easier to find a trap when a coon has dragged off a mole with trap attached. I gotta start doing that.

I took LT's advice on the orange paint last year too. I stake mine down so coons were'nt the issue. It was the, apparently, blind mower drivers on the golf course. Even painting them and putting white and orange survey flags next to them I still lose a few. Maybe the guys just a mole hugger.

I have most of the current mole traps on the market & use them all in the right places that warrent them. I do not how ever use the victor spear trap to much because of libility reasons,just me. My go to trap is the Nash Loop. Works well here with my soil conditions & is fast to set. The draw back is if your using numbers they take up a lot of space because of it's size. I like the under ground traps in places where I think I will have a problem with some one taking them or a high traffic area.

I have found out yself that those orange flags don't always help. A Nash Loop makes a lot of noise coming out the side of a 3 blade 46" cut deck. cer-chunk-chunk-chunk.

Well LT GREY with the nash traps when you compress the springs the 2 loops come out the bottom that you push into the mole tunnel. The trigger two set off the trap is about the same as an out o site. I hope this clarifies it a little bit. If I have time I will post some pics of my catches.

Lt Grey I commend you it has been along time since I have seen you post such an informative thread and its just getting started.

I have never trapped moles but there is a good need for mole trapping here in the "GRASS SEED CAPITAL OF THE WORLD". The critters mounds tend to break the cutter bars on the swathers and that is expensive to the farmers. They pay pretty good to get rid of them. This is a continuous commitment that I have not had time for but plan on doing some in the near future. I could use all the information I can get on "Mole Trapping".
Nineteen inches of rain is a good start for Sping. We do not have good soil, mostly clay base and that may make a difference in the type of trap??????
I have seen set-gun types also. Do not think they are legal though.

I have got to figure the out o sight trap out. I have caught lots and lots of moles using mostly spears and EZ set traps. I only own 1 out o sight trap and have never caught a mole in it. I would like to figure it out and buy a bunch more as they will take up less room than the other traps. I know how to catch moles,,just not with the out o sight. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks,,,Rickey

I posted an invitation on a British forum to see if any mole trappers from the UK want to compare techniques. Hopefully some of the lads will be along shortly. There's a long tradition of mole trapping in the UK, and some of those guys really know what they're doing. And they have some interesting traps.

Not much of a mole trapper here, though I almost always get the mole or two I'm after. I would like to here more on the service contracts as we don't seem to have the ongoing mole problems others are reporting.
Typical job down here is brand new activity in a small yard. Catch your one or two moles all activity ceases and no recurring problems.
We do have moles down here but they seem to prefer sticking to the woodlands. It's only the one that ventures into the lawns that get our attention.

The first step in setting a spear trap is lubrication. This allows less drag through the soil upon firing and better penetration into the animal for a clean fast kill.Also make sure your tines remain as straight and as sharp as possible. The needle point type spear points I find to be the better trap. The shear point I dont believe is as good as the older model.



The spikes when they are fully coated and ready for setting.





Probing the tunnel to determine use, depth and tunnel direction.



Marking the tunnel direction prior to setting the trap position in relation to the tunnel run.



Positioning the trap legs to straddle the run and ensureing the trap tines will penetrate the needed depth to pierce the tunnel completely and continue to pass thru the bottom of the tunnel to allow a good strike and to allow complete penetration of the mole.



Clearing a pilot shaft for each spear tine to follow without any obstruction or drag of the tines upon firing thru the soil.



Trap setting is now completed. One test fire is always done to guarantee a metal clang noise is established.If the clang is not heard then you need to reopen the tine passages once again and reset and fire again. If a thud noise is heard the trap is encountering too much resistance and it will not function properly to allow for a good clean kill and capture.

Once the trap legs are anchored to the proper depth to allow the tine plate to be pushed into the mole run this is the time I run the dandelion tool down each tine to open a good passage. Be careful not to move the anchor legs too much as this may effect the strike force of the tine plate and cause a poor catch or miss.

These are the tools I use for spear trap work and I also use the dandelion tool to cut my jaw path for the O/S traps as well. This tool serves different purposes for me. Opening the mole runs for inspection, mole removal after capture and to cut pilot holes and jaw paths for each trap.

Ok Lt thats what I do with spear traps.

Good info Bob Jameson,,,Rickey