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earth-thrower

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Everything posted by earth-thrower

  1. Matt,i did this a couple of times as an adult.Hard work trying to get a good load,and trying to walk in the turned over soil ! Someone i worked for had us using strychnine, for a brief period.We stored the worms in a plastic drum ,filled with layers of turf.You could store a good quantity of worms,and they kept for quite a while.Plenty of drainage holes, and lid off,obviously.
  2. One or two near me used a syringe.I take it they mixed strychnine with water, then apparently injected the worm. I guess the worm lasted longer, and appeared more natural.Im guessing their method actually,but they definately used the syringe.
  3. " Bridging " under the trigger of the talpex trap, is definately advantagous to achieving success with it.I cant help but feel sometimes though,if the trigger is set too lightly (trigger pin just held in hole,and no more ! ) this is then responsible, for some failures.
  4. For those of you who used the poison, ( before 2006) can anyone answer honestly ,whether you prefered it to the traps,or not ? Also, anyone have any opinions, on the ban of it ?
  5. Matt, thanks for the info,although i find it all interesting,some of it is way above my head. he-he Youll appreciate im just a humble mole catcher ! LOL
  6. I was taught how to catch moles by Jeff Nichols, and have not looked back since. This year has been one of the best years so far for catching moles so bring on the wet weather as the moles love it.I have a certain amount of respect for him.He done his bit, as far as the demise of strychnine, was concerned. Jeff Nichols is now known as the leading light within the mole catching ( not killing ) community, he is well known as a knowlegable and respected professional. Who told you that Snakey? Jeff by any chance? Funny you should mention that Earthy; at that time I sat on the Servicing Co
  7. If i remember correctly somebody from Rentokil,also argued against its retention.I wonder why ? ha-ha.
  8. " He did nothing to help or hinder the withdrawal of strychnine " When the BPCA (or some other body) tried to get it retained under " essential use " status, the relevant dept at the european commission,invited comments from interested parties/individuals.Jeff,along with myself, and the PAN group, and possibly one or two others, submitted our arguments about why it shouldnt be retained.I think more argued for it though.I remember Jeffs reply being comprehensive ( unlike my own ha-ha ) In the end the commision decided,the case wasnt proven........this is all i meant........... " It was withd
  9. I was taught how to catch moles by Jeff Nichols, and have not looked back since. This year has been one of the best years so far for catching moles so bring on the wet weather as the moles love it.I have a certain amount of respect for him.He done his bit, as far as the demise of strychnine, was concerned.
  10. What about Jeff Nichols latest offering, whats it called ' a year of wanting ' anyone indulged ?
  11. Please give us poor elderly folk, an honest account of the contents,..if it is educational,.I shall start saving for a copy. Many thanks,.Chalkwarren.. Yes Chalkwarren, I pondered this myself,whether there will be anything new,or just more of the same.........
  12. I got loaned that book once Matt,and it is a fascinating account , about what it was like to be a mole catcher, in the old days.You have to admire them making their own traps by hand,and using a length of willow ( i think !) as a spring for it.
  13. Yes Moxy, it can get to you sometimes.Remember those two severe winters we had ,a few years ago ? The first winter i couldnt work for the best part of three months,i never caught up that year,and no money either ! LOL
  14. Woke up to snow covered ground today, its about 4 inches deep now.Thats about half a dozen places,where the traps wont be getting checked today.Worst time too,end of march. Anyone else the same, LOL. What a pain !
  15. Hi Matt, I found it on 'Amazon', its called 'How to catch a mole' by Armour Roberts. Welsh mole catcher of 25 years , apparently.Just out this year,it seems.
  16. Probably the first proper book i read, on moles and mole catching.Interestingly enough ive just come across , a new book just out , by a mole catcher.
  17. Be nice to see a picture ,when its done mate.
  18. Hope youve got it in the freezer now. LOL
  19. Congratulations mate ! I always rated Adrian johnstones moles,had a couple normal ones mounted years ago.Felt his prices were reasonable at the time.Think he has a website,where you might see an example.
  20. I've done quite a bit of reading on the subject and most of the scientists I read stated that there were an average of 3 moles per hectare and that moles are solitary other then the breeding season. Just shows that scientists don't have a flipping clue! As earth-thrower has said above you never really know until you put the traps in. I took 6 from a 25 sq m garden and have been back twice for another 3. The field at the back of our house is absolutely riddled with tumps and yet I only got about 1 mole per 200 sq m. It beats me. Interesting stuff.
  21. You cant exactly.(most of the time) When your experienced,you can estimate,and you often get it pretty close.For example, i recently completed a garden job, " how many do you think youll catch " asked the householder.Based on the activity levels,and the size of the area,i said between 6 to 12 moles.Turned out i got 12 ,her man cleared the hills,and it was clear for three weeks.Then a few hills were heaved up again, i got two more.This was new moles moving into the cleared territory.
  22. Id quite enjoy moling down your end, plenty of nice flat land,id bet.I need a break from all these scottish hills up here, LOL
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