Moles

[Yale]

Talpex are the original (& best), but there are lots of cheaper versions available, mostly with weaker springs.

I’vs had great success with them in the past, but no good at all this Autumn. Duffus traps were far more successful for some reason, clearing 80 of a 60ac block. Plenty more to go at elsewhere though.
Maybe the Talpex work better in the winter, which is when I used them last?

As you know there’s not many things which give the satisfaction of transforming a molehill covered field into one which has not a one mole hill popped up in it.

And when mowing it makes it a lot more pleasant to know there is no soil in the swaths.Nothing worse in a damp summer than soil in silage.

 

[GAM]

Well, I have just received 24 new traps, 12 scissor and 12 tunnel, as the mole doesn't like vibration, I am going to use garden windmill spinners as locating markers! what's your thoughts?

 

[milkloss]

Well, I have just received 24 new traps, 12 scissor and 12 tunnel, as the mole doesn't like vibration, I am going to use garden windmill spinners as locating markers! what's your thoughts?

I wouldn’t, I’d use electric fence posts if you have them as they won’t rattle as much.

 

[GAM]

Well yesterday I proved all my own phycological theories wrong!

As WD40 is a wonder for most things, even cleaning toilets in the house, I decided to clean a mole trap, I wire brushed off, sprayed with WD40 hoping this would drive the moles away! and set it, leaving the top open and exposed to the elements, and Yes I caught one in it this morning!!!!

 

[sodbuster]

I've got a few traps now to have a go myself. Not had much success. I've been sitting the traps in the runs beneath the mole hills. How do you find "the main "runs ??

 

[GAM]

Hey, Im no experts, i have about 30 odd traps down, its not as easy as the youtube vids show it is, Im on heavy ground and my hands are covered in wet clay!
I have found that if poke around the mole hill about a foot or so away you usually find a run, I've had 11 this week, and 6 were out of two traps leading towards the hedge, I am going to concentrate on finding as many runs as I can about 2 to 3 feet from the hedge and see what that brings.

I've got a few traps now to have a go myself. Not had much success. I've been sitting the traps in the runs beneath the mole hills. How do you find "the main "runs ??

 

[Yale]

Hey, Im no experts, i have about 30 odd traps down, its not as easy as the youtube vids show it is, Im on heavy ground and my hands are covered in wet clay!
I have found that if poke around the mole hill about a foot or so away you usually find a run, I've had 11 this week, and 6 were out of two traps leading towards the hedge, I am going to concentrate on finding as many runs as I can about 2 to 3 feet from the hedge and see what that brings.

I try not to trap in heavy frost as if the soil around the trap freezes it prevents the trap from springing properly or quickly.

The mole then learns not to go near a trap or fill it with soil.

 

[GAM]

I had my best day yesterday, frosty morning 5 out of 11 traps in one field, Im finding a lot of my traps filled up, I put down to them digging and clearing the tunnel further along, what's your take on it?

I try not to trap in heavy frost as if the soil around the trap freezes it prevents the trap from springing properly or quickly.

The mole then learns not to go near a trap or fill it with soil.

 

[milkloss]

I had my best day yesterday, frosty morning 5 out of 11 traps in one field, Im finding a lot of my traps filled up, I put down to them digging and clearing the tunnel further along, what's your take on it?

Frosty mornings are really good for shooting moles as it’s easier to see where they are working.

I find they clean runs out when the weather makes a change: warm to cold and wet to dry....

 

[farmerm]

I've got a few traps now to have a go myself. Not had much success. I've been sitting the traps in the runs beneath the mole hills. How do you find "the main "runs ??

You wont catch them in the hills. You need to probe the ground with a pointy stick between the mounds until you find a void where the tunnel runs. Don't try trapping when the ground is going to freeze, you just educate the mole! I never have much success when the ground is really wet or really dry. Shooting is more fun than trapping....

 

[milkloss]

I've got a few traps now to have a go myself. Not had much success. I've been sitting the traps in the runs beneath the mole hills. How do you find "the main "runs ??

I find a metal electric fence post with a bead of mig weld round the tip 1/2 from the end is good. The ring of weld gives a sort of popping feeling as it enters the run.

 

[Yale]

I had my best day yesterday, frosty morning 5 out of 11 traps in one field, Im finding a lot of my traps filled up, I put down to them digging and clearing the tunnel further along, what's your take on it?

I prefer to trap when the weather is milder and drier as it’s no fun setting traps in cold wet sleety weather.

Like I say I try to avoid hard frost as especially with barrel traps as they can become frozen in.

 

[TexelBen]

We've subsoiled one big field and it's made a huge difference, all the molehills are in straight lines now [emoji23]

 

[Turnip_Head]

I'm not a mole expert but they can't be as bad as mole men.

 

[GAM]

Well at last, starting to get some results for my labour! nearly a month for 1, I was just about to give up!
who mentioned it was addictive? well they were right, each day I would think more logically, then it becomes a little easier, Friday I had 6, Saturday 5, Sunday 3, Monday 3, today 2, happy days.
I have found no real logic, if you locate the so called feeder run, you're in.. one of my traps has had 5 in it, and another 3, I have a couple of sore fingers from the bl**dy scissor traps, they are a real pain in the wet (literally)

 

[Spartacus]

I use these for marking after advice from a mole catching group on facbook https://www.amazon.co.uk/piece-chil...49390761&sr=8-3&keywords=balloon+stick+orange they work really well and are a lot stronger than I had expected for spiking into the ground.

 

[neilo]

I use these for marking after advice from a mole catching group on facbook https://www.amazon.co.uk/piece-chil...49390761&sr=8-3&keywords=balloon+stick+orange they work really well and are a lot stronger than I had expected for spiking into the ground.

That's a good idea. I cut some old plastic rods from electric netting into 10 inch lengths and sprayed the tips fluorescent orange. They work well but I don't have any more spare stakes and have been looking for something sensible (& cheap). The little flags they sell for the job at a £1 each are ludicrously priced.

Balloon sticks it is.

 

[Hilly]

My huntaway catches moles !

 

[hally]

We've subsoiled one big field and it's made a huge difference, all the molehills are in straight lines now [emoji23]

Aye but I bet you can’t find the runs to put the trap in, they just run up the subsoiler line

 

[hally]

I use these for marking after advice from a mole catching group on facbook https://www.amazon.co.uk/piece-chil...49390761&sr=8-3&keywords=balloon+stick+orange they work really well and are a lot stronger than I had expected for spiking into the ground.

Just put the lid of a cristalyx container over the run with a bit of soil on, keeps the light out and if you forget about the trap ( often happens here) they are still there months later. We find anything that sticks up is knocked over by the stock and often the trap gets lost if your busy and don’t get back every few days to check them.