Mole traps

[cocpops 19]

I`m a keen Airgunner, and have over 30 years experience of vermin control, frankly I could be doing with more ground. I have noticed that there`s now more mole hills than ever before in my area.

I`m thinking of approaching farmers ,offering to remove the moles from their land if they allow me to shoot the rabbits as well?

 

What I need is is a supply of mole traps, Help!

 

You think this might work?

[swanseajack 227]

no!

 

charge em for doing it !

[cocpops 19]

I am charging them, the hunting of their vermin which I really enjoy, for the time ridding them of their mole problems. Sounds good business to me.

[Oildriller 2]

no!

 

charge em for doing it !I would rather be black than a Swansea Jack

[ratattack 111]

And another one jumps on the mole trapping bandwagon thinking it is easy! It can be more time consuming than you think at times and farmers are quite the task master if you've offered to do it for free!! Do you even know how much a mole trap costs or how many you will need?

[davedavedave 69]

Mole trapping is straight forward enough with a bit of practice and the right traps and trading mole trapping for permissions makes perfect sense. I have caught 60 in 12 months with out trying too hard for my brother and in return I get all the wheat I want for pheasant shooting over 250 acres.

 

My advice is get about 10 talpex (www.ratbait.co.uk) or talpa mole traps (www.magnumtrap.com) - the latter do a deal on 10 or more. Get an old spade and grind it down to about 4 inches wide so about the same width as the traps as you should only make the holes just big enough for the traps. Invest in a good dibber (probe) plus some maker pegs (www.flatpack.co.uk) and a pair of gloves. Finally and this is the key bit of kit when setting Talpex or Talpa traps - buy a garden sieve/riddle as you will need to sieve the soil back into the hole once you have set your traps. Mine was a couple of quid but made all the difference. Sieve enough soil so only the top of the trap is exposed so you can see when you have a catch. Level all the mole hills where you intend to trap then set your trap and when more appear - set your trap between 2 of the newest hills.

 

Beware though - you might like mole catching so much your air rifle might get neglected - lol !!!

 

Once you have these good quality traps they will last many years and you never know the next door farmer might employ your services too - if you charge him £10 per mole you will soon recoup the money on the traps and kit.

Edited February 8, 2011 by davedavedave

[cocpops 19]

Mole trapping is straight forward enough with a bit of practice and the right traps and trading mole trapping for permissions makes perfect sense. I have caught 60 in 12 months with out trying too hard for my brother and in return I get all the wheat I want for pheasant shooting over 250 acres.

 

My advice is get about 10 talpex (www.ratbait.co.uk) or talpa mole traps (www.magnumtrap.com) - the latter do a deal on 10 or more. Get an old spade and grind it down to about 4 inches wide so about the same width as the traps as you should only make the holes just big enough for the traps. Invest in a good dibber (probe) plus some maker pegs (www.flatpack.co.uk) and a pair of gloves. Finally and this is the key bit of kit when setting Talpex or Talpa traps - buy a garden sieve/riddle as you will need to sieve the soil back into the hole once you have set your traps. Mine was a couple of quid but made all the difference. Sieve enough soil so only the top of the trap is exposed so you can see when you have a catch. Level all the mole hills where you intend to trap then set your trap and when more appear - set your trap between 2 of the newest hills.

 

Beware though - you might like mole catching so much your air rifle might get neglected - lol !!!

 

Once you have these good quality traps they will last many years and you never know the next door farmer might employ your services too - if you charge him £10 per mole you will soon recoup the money on the traps and kit.

Thank you very much for that information/instruction.

Some folk think only they know how some things are done, and enjoy telling everyone they cant do it. whats difficult to them can be straight forward to others though.

That said I see no problems in particular when helpful chaps like Davie are on here to advise others.

Edited February 8, 2011 by cocpops

[davedavedave 69]

Glad to help.

 

Anyone with the knowledge, kit and respect for their quarry and surroundings can and should catch moles if they want - whether as a favour, for shooting permissions or as a living. It seems to me on this forum here that those who make money at it seem to think that those who dont should not do it. To be honest there are many landowners who would never consider paying for mole catching anyway but will pay in kind. Therefore amateur mole catchers like me aren't doing the professionals out of a job as we get access to land they would never be invited on anyway. Besides which next time you are driving in the countryside look at each grass field you pass I bet you dont see many fields without loads of mole hills on so plenty of moles to go around whatever your motivation for catching them.

 

Ta,

Dave.

[swanseajack 227]

if you want to do something for free, knowing that you would get paid for it that's your choice I didn't say don't catch their moles, I said charge em for it!

 

I've gained more permission over the last few months than you could shake a stick at, oops, sorry not permission (they want you there!!) The farmers ask you can you do their rabbits and you say, yup but I will charge you for it or I'll come back with some ferrets and sort out a day where I can clear a load and thin them out for you, your choice, then have a days sport or do it professionally !!

 

I'm new to moling as a paid job, but you'd be surprised how many farmers are glad to get rid of rabbits, foxes, deer !! you gain their trust by doing the moles, they give you free range on their land...

 

 

ps if anyone fancies a day Rabbiting in Cornwall pm me!!

[Phil Lloyd 10,736]

if you want to do something for free, knowing that you would get paid for it that's your choice I didn't say don't catch their moles, I said charge em for it!

 

I've gained more permission over the last few months than you could shake a stick at, oops, sorry not permission (they want you there!!) The farmers ask you can you do their rabbits and you say, yup but I will charge you for it or I'll come back with some ferrets and sort out a day where I can clear a load and thin them out for you, your choice, then have a days sport or do it professionally !!

 

I'm new to moling as a paid job, but you'd be surprised how many farmers are glad to get rid of rabbits, foxes, deer !! you gain their trust by doing the moles, they give you free range on their land...

 

 

ps if anyone fancies a day Rabbiting in Cornwall pm me!!

 

Me and the Fat Whippet are on our way...

 

I've never been to Cornwall,....

 

[J Darcy 5,871]

if you want to do something for free, knowing that you would get paid for it that's your choice I didn't say don't catch their moles, I said charge em for it!

 

I've gained more permission over the last few months than you could shake a stick at, oops, sorry not permission (they want you there!!) The farmers ask you can you do their rabbits and you say, yup but I will charge you for it or I'll come back with some ferrets and sort out a day where I can clear a load and thin them out for you, your choice, then have a days sport or do it professionally !!

 

I'm new to moling as a paid job, but you'd be surprised how many farmers are glad to get rid of rabbits, foxes, deer !! you gain their trust by doing the moles, they give you free range on their land...

 

 

ps if anyone fancies a day Rabbiting in Cornwall pm me!!

 

Me and the Fat Whippet are on our way...

 

I've never been to Cornwall,....

 

 

 

I'm surprised theres any rabbits left in the 'Bricks' county....

[morton 5,367]

I do a lot of trapping for permission,on decent game holding ground,you do have to set tight rules or the arrangements can become problematic.I will be trapping this weekend for a 12 month old Lakey bitch,id like to be paid for every job but there can be more fruitful rewards.

[davedavedave 69]

Yes spot on mate - sometimes money is not everything.