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Matt

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Everything posted by Matt

  1. Matt
    As a true Devonian I'm all in favour of Cornish Independence. As long as they keep the londoners and grockles with them it's fine by me A true story for you.... When I worked for MAFF we had to go and survey a farm in North Cornwall. It was common practice (and good manners) to always make contact with the farmer before you started wandering around (even though they'd agreed beforehand). My colleague and I were sent to a farm near Launceston and we tried phoning ahead to warn them of our intentions. No answer. Not an unusual occurrence, so we headed off in the hope of finding
  2. Matt
    Interesting topic, with a few interesting answers. Over the years I've tried all sorts. I do have some 'strap on' knee pads (ooh, matron), but I fecking hate the things. Like Phil, most of the time I just wear waterproof leggings, but they really aren't enough when you are putting in hundreds of traps. I quite like the idea of some waterproof trousers with built in pads.
  3. Matt
    Yawn... Yes, of course it is.....
  4. Matt
    I vaguely remember someone on one of the pest control forums talking about a system where a text message was sent when a trap was activated. It was a few years ago now; but back then the opinion of certain civil servants was that in their opinion it wouldn't constitute 'trap checking', but that only a judge or magistrate could give a definitive ruling on it. I'm not sure that there is any real advantage when you take into account the lack of observation and field craft that there would be on the trap line. In my experience a line 'evolves' over a period of time and doesn't just 'happen'.
  5. Matt
    Buy yourself a bag of whole maize. It's bright yellow and squirrels can't resist it. Peanut butter is good in urban or suburban areas, but whole maize is much better in woodland. One trick I learnt years ago is to pick a few cobs before the forage maize is harvested and slice the cobs up. Thread some high tensile wire through the slices and hang them up to somewhere warm and dry and you've got enough bait to last the season. The cob slices are also ideal to wire above the trigger plate in cage traps and helps stop the problem of traps getting dug under and bait theft through th
  6. Matt
    Just to be clear; using live bait is illegal. There is however, an exemption for the use of corvids in larsen traps providing certain conditions are met. Anyone using a chicken (for example) to attract a fox into a cage trap would end up in serious trouble, and give law abiding trappers a bad name. The best success rates that I've seen on a keepers trap round were where the keeper had a huge line of tunnels and moved traps around depending on where he was working at that time and where vermin had been seen.
  7. Matt
    My mole contracts are free. The only conditions are that I can turn up when I like, go where I like, and get paid for each mole I catch. Sometimes keeping things simple is the way forward.
  8. Matt
    Sorry to sound negative, but you'll not make a fortune out of this product... It's about as effective as mothballs against moles, and expensive for rabbits given the number of people prepared to do rabbit work for free. Good luck nevertheless.
  9. Matt
    You see, that, is part of the problem.... Molecatching, using the humble trap developed by Mr Duffus, has only been around since 1922. Hardly an 'ancient art'... Is molecatching an art? I don't think so. It's a skill, honed with experience and helped by instinct. An art? No. I also object (admittedly because I'm a grumpy old git) to people forking out money to take a short cut to learning how to do it. When I started out, back as a schoolboy, it was with scissor traps. Like most trappers of that time, I had to learn which runs to trap, how to place that trap, and how t
  10. Matt
    I can't speak for the US situation, but nothing could be further from the truth here in the UK. There are more people than ever trapping moles, and quite a few who make a living from it. The 'myth' that molecatching is a dying art still persists here, and some see it as an easy buck. The situation has not been helped by certain self proclaimed celebrities running courses and giving anyone with a spare £100 the impression that it's a romantic and easy living that's waiting for them. When strychnine was on it's way out, one of the reasons used to defend it was that there was a short
  11. Matt
    Only because so many people sell themselves and their skills short up there. Believe it or not, I actually get a few farmers trying it on down here. Given the fact that one competitor is charging £16 per mole plus travel expenses, I usually persuade them to use me. The thing is, in the grand scheme of things, £10 per mole isn't actually that much when you compare it to all the other costs in producing grass these days. I've just cleared one large 25 acre field here which was un-mowable before I started. I've taken 32 moles off that field, so it's cost the farmer £320. How much will the
  12. Matt
    The tenant farmer only has the right to give permission to 'take' rabbits and hares unless the full sporting rights are included within the tenancy (Ground Game Act 1881).
  13. Matt
    I thought it might be of help to have a list of quick links to interesting threads and frequently asked questions, so here goes: Ditchshitters guide to keeping rats away from chickens This excellent thread applies to anyone who keeps livestock and gives good advice on keeping rats at bay. Trapping foxes in the garden Mole trapping for a living Mole trapping accreditation Mole Trapping, Spring 2013 Which trap is best for rats? Strychnine V Traps for moles Post any requests and I'll add the links in.
  14. Matt
    The trouble with the internet is that everyone suddenly becomes an 'expert' with the help of google.... So, in your considered, extensive experience, a rat infestation isn't a threat to the health of your family? Are you for real? So you are going to jeopardize the health of your family and the lives of your livestock so that you've got more money to spend on the lash? Don't be so silly. If the council is charging £65, then that's a subsidised price. It's cheap, NOT overpriced. Let's just make this clear for the hard of thinking; I've got no interest in
  15. Matt
    If you think that £65 is a rip off, then you really need to get out more.... On the subject of going out, how much would be a reasonable amount to spend on a night out these days? £65 to visit at least twice, and supply materials and everything else? Peanuts... What price do you put on the health of your family, your livestock and your pets???
  16. Matt
    Just to pick you up on that one Matt, she had to talked down from a massive closure of the railways that would have made the infamous Beeching Axe of the 60's pale in comparison.. Bit much to put her up as the saviour of the railways when she wanted most of them gone mate.. It's not the railways she wanted gone mate, it was the huge expense of running such a lumbering, unionised, inefficient beast..... Thankfully, like most nationalised industries of the day, she found a way to unburden the state of it. Our modern railway may not be perfect, but it's nothing lik
  17. Matt
    This reminds me of the sketch in the film 'The life of Brian'..... So, what, apart from breaking the union stranglehold, letting millions of people buy their council houses, making our utilities efficient, lowering taxes, deregulating the city, kicking the argies out of the Falklands and generally making everyone more wealthy did Thatcher do for this country? Let's just be clear; without her, millions of people wouldn't have had the opportunity to buy their council house at a 75% discount on the true market value.... Even more coal mines would have been closed (Wilson closed down f
  18. Matt
    Don't bother ringing around other pest controllers; that would just tell you what they charge which may not relate to what you need to charge to run a business and earn a wage. Work out what you need to earn and what it's going to cost you and then work out what the potential for that area is. As others have already said; there's lots of posts in this section on this subject; one in the last few days. Do a search and have a read.
  19. Matt
    I hate to say it; but obviously not.... While I accept that AP is a tool, just one of many that needs to be kept available, I'll never accept that gassing moles is in any way, shape, or form, more appropriate than trapping. Why? Because I don't like 'toxic' products? Because it's dangerous to pets and non targets? Because it's expensive to use? No. Because it is so ineffective against moles. That is my opinion, based on extensive use over a long period of time. As I said earlier, I'm quite happy that so many people still plug away at moles with AP. Their frequent f
  20. Matt
    You don't need anything complicated to catch squirrels. A three sided wooden tunnel which has internal dimensions just big enough for the trap to go off is fine. Don't forget that squirrels spend most of their foraging time on the ground; they are ground vermin, so that's the logical place to trap them. Squirrels are naturally inquisitive, so they'll investigate any run through tunnel without the need for bait. A few hazel sticks to restrict the entrance provide natural looking protection for non targets. Like most trapping situations, keeping things simple usually provides th
  21. Matt
    See previous posts on rats. They should not be tolerated anywhere near you, your family, or your livestock. Most local authorities still offer subsidised pest control services. They should be your first port of call, not the local DIY store. Properly laid traps and rodenticide bait are no threat to domestic animals. Stop fannying around risking the health of you and yours and call in a professional.
  22. Matt
    Part of me wants to say, "AP is fantastic for moles; carry on and use it whenever you can." That way those of us who use the cheaper, more effective option of trapping moles will always have business from the AP failures... Crack on lads and lasses; gas away!
  23. Matt
    Skin the breast of a pheasant or pigeon and stick the skin onto the plate of the Fenn in it's tunnel. A few plucked feathers around the entrances of the tunnel (straight run through is best) as an added bit of eye candy and you should score if they are around. Stoats aren't too keen on carrion, so any meat type bait will be a waste of time in my opinion.
  24. Matt
    The main route of entry is through cuts and abrasions, so it's essential that you use plasters, gloves and good hand hygiene. It's also well worth while carrying one of the (free) information cards, as few medical professionals are really aware of it. If you haven't got a card then let me know and I'll post you one when I'm back at home in ten days or so.
  25. Matt
    I god, where do I find a Scotch/English dictionary.... You'd better bring a translator..... Seriously, if you want a couple of days out you'd be very welcome; my training fees are negotiable
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