Mole Traps, Probes and markers

[Axholme Ferreter 0]

I have used Flatpack Mole traps for about 18 months now and have been very impressed with their quality. I was lucky enough a couple of weeks ago to visit the company in North Yorkshire. It consists of a husband and wife team based at an old dales farmhouse. Chris the owner is an engineer and has designed and made the tooling to produce the traps based of course originally on the Duffus trap. The componets are produced by them in Yorkshire and they assemble the traps by hand in an old farm outbulding at their home. They have apparently only been producing traps a couple of years and after some initial problems with a faulty rust control process have now cracked both the design and production of the traps. They have also just started selling mole probes which are powder coated with a slightly larger tip and also some high tensile wire marker pins. I have been tying hazard tape to them for marking mole traps but I also tie short pieces of string to them and use them as snare markers as well. I was making my own from fencing wire but these are high tensile and cheap so it is hardly worth the bother. They also make and sell Larsen trap springs.

I have no financial interest in this company other than being a very satisfied customer but I think as a small British family business who have provided me with excellent products and service they deserved a mention so other people can find out about them

www.theflatpack.co.uk

 

All the best

 

AF

Edited June 16, 2008 by Axholme Ferreter

[TOMO 29,274]

I have used Flatpack Mole traps for about 18 months now and have been very impressed with their quality. I was lucky enough a couple of weeks ago to visit the company in North Yorkshire. It consists of a husband and wife team based at an old dales farmhouse. Chris the owner is an engineer and has designed and made the tooling to produce the traps based of course originally on the Duffus trap. The componets are produced by them in Yorkshire and they assemble the traps by hand in an old farm outbulding at their home. They have apparently only been producing traps a couple of years and after some initial problems with a faulty rust control process have now cracked both the design and production of the traps. They have also just started selling mole probes which are powder coated with a slightly larger tip and also some high tensile wire marker pins. I have been tying hazard tape to them for marking mole traps but I also tie short pieces of string to them and use them as snare markers as well. I was making my own from fencing wire but these are high tensile and cheap so it is hardly worth the bother. They also make and sell Larsen trap springs.

I have no financial interest in this company other than being a very satisfied customer but I think as a small British family business who have provided me with excellent products and service they deserved a mention so other people can find out about them

www.theflatpack.co.uk

 

All the best

 

AF

 

 

 

lets see some pics of these traps

[Axholme Ferreter 0]

 

 

Things I like about this trap compared to many others on sale are Thicker top and not as wide as some, stronger wire on trigger loops (high tensile?) short trigger hook so no need to cut them down, short end on spring retaining bar so no need to cut them down, bottom of catching loop flat so is tighter to top when sprung and trigger loop not too wide so moles head doesn't fit through. I use these straight out of the box with no need for any tweaks or modifications

[Holdaway 2]

Excellent feedback Axholme. Nice to know a bit of history behind the company too. Have you tried the springs for larsons at all? I recently purchased a few pairs from Solway Feeders (not the cheap ones) and found them to be very good.

 

I don't have any experience with moling except when using strychnine a few years back, and am thinking of using the talpex, any advice? Worth going with the talpex or should a beginner start wih duffus?

 

H

[Matt 160]

Worth going with the talpex or should a beginner start wih duffus?

 

Dont discount the Fenn scissor type. They are reasonably priced, and are excellent in shallow runs. They also live forever........

 

Talpex are about the best all round trap these days IMHO - they also seem to be becoming the choice of professionals.

 

On the subject of probes - I use the dibber provided by Certis (formally Luxan) which they do supply seperately to the gas applicator. The bar is just the right length with a 'bullet' shaped end, and the T piece is the ideal size to flatten the run once you've opened it up.

[Axholme Ferreter 0]

I think trap type is a matter of personal preference. I like the Duffus type as it is the trap I was taught with and in my opinion it is the most versatile. Other people have different opinions and I would not argue with them, it is a case of what works best for you.

As regards the mole probe or dibber the one they have on sale at Flatpack is similar to the ones supplied with Talunex but the bulb on the point is not as big, it does not need to be because it is not making a hole for the applicator. It means that it is easier to push in the ground particularly when it is hard but you still get the feel when it breaks in to the tunnel. I find the handle is just right to tamp down the run bottom when setting duffus type traps but may be a bit too wide for scissor type.

 

Edited to say:

I havent tried the Larsen springs but given the quality of their other gear I would expect them to be fine. If not let them know. When I saw them I mentioned about their early rust problems with the traps, they said that it was quite a few months until they knew about it but as soon as they got the feedback they changed the process, this is the advantage of dealing with a good small business.

 

All the best AF

Edited June 16, 2008 by Axholme Ferreter

[Matt 160]

think trap type is a matter of personal preference. I like the Duffus type as it is the trap I was taught with and in my opinion it is the most versatile. Other people have different opinions and I would not argue with them, it is a case of what works best for you.

 

Quite right! The Duffus type trap is still the favourite trap in the UK, although its not one I've ever really got on well with.

 

Each to his/her own, if it works for you then so be it.

[OldTrapCollector 377]

Just bought one to have a look at (and a copy of their little mole trap book)

 

Thanks AF for the tip

 

OTC