Here we do about 5 mole jobs to 1 gopher job. O.o.s. is my "go to" mole trap in most cases. I started using Steves gopher trap about 2 months ago and it is, with out a doubt, the best gopher trap I've ever used, bar none. About a month ago I ordered a dozen of his mole traps and after using them on quite a few jobs we talked on the phone a bit discussing how they performed and we both felt that they needed a bit of "tweeking" and after he had done some retooling he sent me a dozen of the new ones. I'am happy to say in my humble opnion his mole trap blows all the rest of the "in ground" traps out of the water. I have had no snapped empty traps or no plugged traps at all. When they are tripped there is a dead mole in it every time. They won't take the place of my o.o.s.'s but in places where I need a in line trap that's the one I'll be using. For you guys that use a below ground trap such as the no-mole do yourself a favor and try some of Steves traps I think you'll be really pleased.

Bob

I have over 300 NoMol's , it is my trap of choice.

Just got some traps from Steve....can't wait to bury them.


Don't worry Steve , when people want to bury your product , it's all good.....Except for Mr. Mole....LOL !!!

Ahh man, How will I ever get any work done now? I have mole traps in 3 counties to run today... and here I am , reading Jameon's post... I love it!

Hey Bob, can you down side those photos any? They're runnin' off the screen!



Steve, All my traps are dipped 3 times in Formula 1 , once dry, they are painted with the brightest floresant orange paint I can find. Then, the bottom half is re-dipped in Formula 1 again. Occasionally I may have to scrape a trigger or two...and yes, the 'coons seemed to like to drag off a caught mole, trap and all, so this makes them easier to locate most times. Hey Jameson...any mole scented'coon baits in the works? Ha!

LT,,do you dig to install the OS traps or do you set them into the run without digging? Thanks,,,Rickey

I figured I wouldnt make you use your trifocals today.

I have done it both ways. Depending on soil conditions,(Moisture content), soil types, grass/root thickness and depth of run...and no one can explain what I mean better than Bob Jameson!

Has any of the UK mole trappers or anyone tried the Duffus tunnel trap? I've read some good reviews from [url=http://www.warrenfarm.co.uk/trapreview.htm ]

They seem to be a common trap in the UK, but for some reason, I can't find a supplier in the US. If they worked well, I'd pay the extra shipping to get them here.

Let me know if anyone has worked with these,
Thanks,
Ryan

Why not just order them from the U.K. ?

Ryan, I had some Duffus traps shipped over from the UK a few years back, and didn't get very far with them, though I later found out I wasn't placing them right. I was filling up the tunnel like an out of sight set, and then pushing the set Duffus trap into that blockage. Found you you should set the duffus into an opened up section of tunnel, with the roof of the trap forming a sort of artificial burrow, and then filter in some loose dirt over the set trap.

I actually had a couple more duffus made by the Flatpack co arrive today from a guy over there who swapped me for a couple of the traps I manufacture, so I'm all charged up to get out and give them another go.

A lot of guys in the UK swear by those traps.

As far as I know there is not US distributor for them, and shipping them in from the UK is a bit pricey, but not out of the question.

Let me know what you think of the Duffus' when you try them out.

Another question for everyone. Do you charge the customer when you catch a vole? And what is Formula 1 that LT talks about dipping on his o.o.s. traps?

That would depend on how you base your pricing, and if you are clear on your pricing BEFORE you start a job. Voles frequently use mole tunnels for travel and feeding purposes, but in many of those cases the voles are not causing the damage that the property owner "sees". Voles definitely dig tunnels and create above-ground runways in the grass, and I do a lot of vole trapping programs (without moles involved).

If you're one of the people who apply "per animal" charges, you would need to have that very clear in your printed or written info if you are going to charge for voles. However, if you are using OOS or harpoon mole traps, you're not going to catch voles. I have caught them in NoMols (often intentionally) but vole trapping is done with mouse traps (Snap-E's prefered).

Taking this a step further..... would you charge for a shrew? Shrews are a very effective predator for vole elimination, so by charging for the shrew (also a "non-target" when trapping moles) you are in fact charging money to remove a BENEFICIAL animal. It gets a bit difficult when trying to decide.

I guess that's another reason I have standard pricing "by the job" and don't care if it's one or 20 moles...same cost. Based on distance to site, size of area, and duration of program. Customer knows it up front, everyone's happy. They are also aware that future mole activity WILL happen eventually, and that will require another program (usually shorter time period).

Well said Ron.

Hi Steve
Thanks for the invite just registered thought I would say hello,Started pestiing with my grandad at the age of seven in the South Wales Valleys United Kingdom,done everything from fox to rat moles.
See your traps with intrest I tend to use Duffus,have 140 of this type and another type called TALPEX.
If I could put photos up I would show you

Heart of Wales, thanks for responding--it's great to hear from people who are catching moles with different tools that what are available here. We'd all love to see some pictures, and to post them here, you first have to put them on a photo hosting site like photobucket.com or imageshack.com, and then copy and paste the URL into the image feature of this forum. It's pretty easy, but alternatively, if you want to email me some pictures , I'd be happy to post them for you here.

The Duffus is completely different from any traps commonly used in the USA, however the Talpex is fairly similar to the Out-o-Sight traps LT Grey showed at the start of this thread. The outwards appearance is a little different, but the principle is that same.

Hey Bob J, and LT, would you guys have any objection to me re-posting some of your above photos to a British forum, and try to generate some more interest from some of the other guys in the UK?

Ok by me....always enjoy sharing trapping information with trappers across the globe.


Ryan75....I thought Bob Jameson would have responded, since he is the one I get Formula1 from. As many of you know, I have never liked "Trap Dips"....However, Formula1 is mixed with water NOT gasoline, as most are. I now use it for mole traps, water traps, kill traps and snares. Most of those will be also camo painted...the mole traps however are painted bright orange, that's to keep the mowers off them...(Well, it's supposed to work)

Fine by me Steve to post the photos.Is anyone else haveing problems with viewing my photos on my last post on spear traps.I am told there may be size problem like being too large.?

here you go pics of duffus traps
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u203/1fishat/2007_0210house0006-1.jpg

Heart of Wales, and Weasel, here's a picture of some moles in a trap that I've just started manufacturing. I'd be happy to send over some free samples if you want to give them a try. They're very small and light, so shipping is cheap. All I would ask in return is that you take some pictures, as it would be a thrill for me to see my trap in use in Wales or France. Thanks.