Trapping?

['eyesmaster89]

Does anyone go trapping? I trap pocket gophers and the other night I caught an albino one. Has anyone else ever got an albino gopher or other wierd specimen?

[LaVoi]

I grew up on a farm, so as a kid that was my job. I have been trapping gophers for about thirteen years now (I am twenty) and I have caught one albino in all those years. I would like to know how rare that is in gophers. Sure was cool though. Never caught anything else other than a gopher in the trap, but last year when I was digging the hole I actually bumped a gopher in it's back end. That sent shivers down my spine for about a minute. I thought of myself lucky though, as my grandpa was bit by one back in his trapping days. Anyone else?

[This message has been edited by LaVoi (edited 04-03-2003).]

[Gissert]

I used to trap gophers a lot when I was a kid. My brother in law still does it for elk hunting money. He has his daughters into it now.

When time permits, I still like to trap beaver, mink and muskrats. Muskrats paid a good deal of my room and board when I was in tech school.

[protrapper]

I trap full time from the last week of October through January. I trap mink, muskrats, beaver, racoon, fisher, pine marten, and bobcats. Do alot of trapping up north as well as some in southern part of state. I took over 300 hundred rats this year and caught my first bobcat. Its good to see young kids still trap. speaking of being bitin I was bit by a pine marten and the fangs went in one side of my thumb and out the other. never bled so much in my life. good luck on your trapline.

[protrapper]

I trap full time from the last week of October through January. I trap mink, muskrats, beaver, racoon, fisher, pine marten, and bobcats. Do alot of trapping up north as well as some in southern part of state. I took over 300 hundred rats this year and caught my first bobcat. Its good to see young kids still trap. speaking of being bitin I was bit by a pine marten and the fangs went in one side of my thumb and out the other. never bled so much in my life. good luck on your trapline.

[rubber duck]

What is the best way to set up for pocket gophers?

[rubber duck]

protrapper do you ever trap coyotes?

[Gissert]

Rubber Duck -

There are special gopher traps you can purchase, but I had my best luck with a #0 or #1 jump trap. #0 long springs will work also. With either trap, the methods to place the traps are the same.

Take a piece of re-rod or an electric fence post. Probe around the perimeter of the mound until you feel that the rod is going into the gopher's tunnel. Dig a hole with a trowel, and then place the trap in the tunnel, leaving enough room for the jaws to close. Stake the trap ring above ground. Place a board over the hole that you dug, and then cover that with dirt to block out all the light.

Remove the dirt cover and board to check the trap. If you have caught a gopher, the hole will probably be plugged with dirt. Don't yank the trap chain, as the gopher may still be alive. If you yank the chain at this point, the foot may seperate and you will probably loos the gopher. Gently dig with your trowel until the trap is somewhat free. Be ready to rap the gopher on the head if it is still alive.

Good luck!

[collegeoutdoorsman]

A farmer told me when he trapped pocket gophers to put the plywood on the hole so just a little bit of light shows because he said they dont like sunlight and then they'll come up to that spot for sure...any truth to this??

[Gissert]

I suppose, but my experience has been that any light will make them start digging and moving dirt to plug the light source, which sometimes fires the trap causing a missed catch.

Six of one, a half dozen of the other. Sometimes a digger will cross the trap first and get caught. Trail and error will show what works best for each application. Soil types are also a factor.

Some of the specialty traps designed for gophers may work better for diggers than traditional foot holds.

[LaVoi]

It really all depends on the trap or situation. When finding somewhat straight single runways I will put a death clutch trap in the hole. For these you must leave the hole wide open. This trap is designed to to trap the gopher as it is pushing dirt up to plug the hole. This also applies for the big box traps. In most all cases with the foot hold or pan traps I like to keep the hole completely covered. However there are exceptions. Sometimes if I come across a hole that is straight for a bit and then meets up with a double runway, in other words the tunnel would look like a T. In this case I like to set a pan trap at the intersection of the three tunnels and cover the hole except for just a crack of like. The gopher will see that small amount of light and be caught before he ever gets a chance to push any dirt to block the hole. Hope this helps. Got out trapping this weekend, it's a great time of the year when you can get that first trap down and make that first trip on the soft water in the same week. Good luck trapping, LaVoi

[Guest]

hey lavoi i know a guy with a gopher prolbem that might pay you big money to get rid of them. I'll talk to him and get back to ya.

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take a kid hunting

[protrapper]

rubberduck,

Sorry for the late reply. To answer your question. No I really dont trap for yotes all though I have friends who do. I am mostly a water trapper and then late winter for the marten, fisher, and cats. yotes are really smart and they are a great challenge, and there pelt price is going up. wish I could help u on the gopher trapping but I dont do that. You could go too a trapping web page called trapperman and post a topic and guys will be glad to help you.. later

[CornPirateKiller]

I wish I'd have spotted this thread when it was active, I love talking trapping. I did some sideline trapping for rats, beaver, fox and coon in high school sand college for spending money. Had to quit when an accident messed me up. I still trap gophers for fun and pocket change, though. Bought a three acre lot and put a house on it several years back. It had been a pasture and was loaded with streakies and pocket gophers. I trapped over 100 pockets off my lot in one year. Had a blast stalking the streakies with the BB gun too. Now if I could just take care of those F***ing moles!

Wish I had the time and capability to run a line again. It takes a lot of skill to do it right. Guess I'll settle for gophers in the fields.

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Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati