Caught My First Mole

Is human scent a big deal for moles? If so I better clean my traps

I catch plenty without thinking about it.

I have a large pickle jar in the back of my truck to pitch the used traps in. Just like to keep them clean for handling. Never know what is in the soil. I wear gloves JMO.

I wear rubber gloves, they hunt with their nose. I used to think that it didnt matter with coons. If your a numbers man and fur tapping you might not notice the % try killing the the 1-3 in a large warehouse I want all the odds stacked in my favor goes for any species.

I wore rubber gloves when I set. I had messed with the trap A LOT with bare hands a few days before. Is the set okay or should I pull and do scent free stuff?

You could pee in the set and still catch them.

Well, I'll give it a few days, and if I catch nothing I'll de-scent again.

Dave I take it you have never flagged your sets and had fluffy mark them all for a week and scratch your head as to why you werent catchin ???? It has happened.

On the other forum, he said he is using a #11 for the mole.

Okay, that's true It's all I had right now, so I thought I'd try. Just trying to get some general info right now, gonna get some real mole traps soon

I wash my traps before they are set again but that's because a clean trap set is a better set. Dried mud can be the difference whether the next animal trips it or not. Also I don't know if any blood from the previous animal caught is a turn off or not but I don't take the chance. Human scent on mole or gopher traps is not a concern with me at this time. I handle no wild animals without gloves.

I also don't think human scent on traps makes much difference for moles and gophers. But I do wash the traps in warm soapy water between sets, because just like coast trapper said, I think the traps set and trip better when they are clean. And if I run low on washed traps and set dirty ones, I know I can still catch plenty of moles.

I cut my fingers the other day while setting traps, when I went to dig them up I found that far more traps than usual had been ‘filled’ by the moles, so there might be something in it. Apart from that, clean or muddy traps and gloves or no gloves has never made any difference to me.
I always try to use clean traps around crops & livestock for fear of spreading diseases in the soil.

I wear nitrile coated gloves to keep my hands clean but I don't think that humsn scent matters at all. I've set plenty bare handed and had sweat dripping off my head into the set and still caught moles. However, I'm pretty adamant about clean traps and when I have 30-40 dirty ones I stop at a car wash to rinse the mud and clay off them.

I wear disposable gloves. Just do not like digging in the dirt with out gloves. I like to keep the trap clean,just easier that way. I do not like to have dirty hands when I meet people, and who knows when that will be, it is wet know and everything is muddy. For guys in Mi. I go to, I think it is BJ on the South end of Schoolcraft
You can get the real cheap by the case, ALWAYS ask for a discount! Just ask for the case price. I use the non-powered ones and are clear, easy to get on. Also I do not want to spread any lawn diseases. Just a good selling point.

I like them spear type traps . No gloves no scent and can be checked from a distance , fast setup , no cleaning , no flags , work well on killing moles , for the deeper runs I like the Steve's and they seem to work better mud and scent free . Moles have a great sniffer

I look at it this way. Gloves may not help but they don't hurt and they keep my hands clean

I read that moles sniff in stereo. But, they must only use it to locate food and women.

Well, until I buy myself some real mole traps I'm using a #11 and a rat trap I modified (Put an extra spring on it from another rat trap. Set the rat trap with the pan sitting just under the lower level of the hole sidways with a mound built around it to fix the tunnel. The #11 is set with the pan in front of a hole and mound flipped back over it. Adding pics in a minute.

Why are you worried about odor, when you do not even have a mole trap? You will have better luck putting juicy fruit in the tunnel.

The funny thing, is that the little bugger will probably plow dirt around the pan before he crosses it. I remember trying creative ways to catch star nose moles (Pre nomole). I burried a coffee can in the tunnel, thinking he would fall into in and be trapped. The funny thing, they always filled the can before crossing.

Just trying to get some basic info.




Maybe you guys will get a kick out of my unorthodox mole set It'd be cool if it actually worked.

Man, I would not set a spear trap any place with in sight of the public. JMO

Never know , you better have a MIGHTY light pan tension . I d set it so they gotta go over the dog and bump the pan if they come from the other way your screwed though.

Nothing this morning. Maybe I'll order some traps today.

A good rule of thumb....let it sit 3 days.

Man, get some real mole trap. I would never pay a person that put something like that in my yard. More damage than the moles do. JMO Good luck.

Okay, those are on my property anyway. Gonna try to order some traps today or tomorrow.

You do not have to worry about human odors on mole traps. If it were taht easy I would simply put pieces of my socks in the mole runs and scare them to the next county. Trap placement and ground prep are the key. I have caught moles within minutes of setting them.

Got a real mole trap today. Washed and boiled. Will set out when this storm passes.

What kind did you get?

Well, wasn't much selection but I got a Victor Plunger Trap. Got a break in the storm and set out. Is it okay to get a little rain on the traps or should I pull it back in? Will they rust quickly?

Would not have been my first choice. But they will work if set right.

Cool. I'll give this spot a few days and let you guys know how it goes. Hopefully the rain lets up so I can go check without getting soaked

Should be able to check from the house, or at least from a long ways. If the trap is sprung. dig down on each side, do not pull out of the ground until you are sur no mole is in it

NFT are you just looking for a trap to use for yourself or business?

Never worried about it,,,,.......

I'm trapping for some family and friends this year for a little pocket money. Its not really a business, but I would like to make enough to buy some new mole traps.

NFT, my wife tells me I stink most of the time and I catch a lot of anniemules. Maybe it's a good thing. ( But don't ask the Mrs. )

Was just barely alive when I checked the trap. The plunger hit the upper head/neck. A few whacks on the head and he was done, wouldn't have made it anyway. Pretty pumped since it's my first.

Just realized I look a little stupid in that pic, oh well

WTG. I hope it is the first of many!

NFT I'll be back up in Ithaca working pretty soon, I could show you a thing or two about moles if you want me too. I trapped quite a few for friends in Mt Pleasant last year, just to give myself something to do on the weekends and evenings.....B.....

Alright!

The right trap, set by the right hands, and there you go! You made quick work of him!

Way to go. Did you skin it? They have about the soflest fur of anything I know.