Gophers

[trappingaddiction]

Anyone trap them in the spring/summer/fall? Does your area have a bounty on them? If so what is the bounty? Do you do it for fun, or for ADC? My area has a $2 per gopher bounty and I just do it for something to do, outside of the regular trapping season. I put out 8 traps just a few hours ago and will check them later this evening, but dont have my hopes up too much, since they just started popping up and are just starting to move.

[whiskeyriver]

I don't call trapping gophers ADC, I call it survival and paying the bills.
No bounties in the counties I work in. There are some counties around that do a bounty system but not worth the travel time or worrying about theft.
Heavy frost this morning just waiting for it to leave then go hit the hay fields. You get on the fields with alfalfa and frost you'll kill it so fast it isn't funny. I don't need that and lost farms.
Been going at it since last of Feb. if and when we ever warm up the race with the plant/weeds is on then it'll be over with for this season.

[trappingaddiction]

Picked up the first one of the year! Pretty early here yet, so I was thinking I would have one, but didn't have all my hopes up. How long do you usually leave trap set? I set it pretty heavily with 8 traps and about 12-15 fresh (within the last 4 or so days) mound. How many would you expect out of this many traps? I was thinking 2-5 gophers, dont really know what to expect.

[whiskeyriver]

What kind of traps are you using TA?
You need to be up first light in the fields and set on fresh mounds only.
Also need to realize that 2-8 mounds can be the same gopher.
Put a foot print on the old mounds to mark them and wait for the fresh mounds.
What is your set up? How do you open the runs? Do you prod the runs? How to you stake your traps?
When I was a youngster I caught 158 gophers one spring with 12 DK-1's and thought I was something. But I would check and reset morning and night. Don't remember how long it took me.
Now if I can't do 100 plus gophers a day it isn't worth my time.
My best day was 98 gophers out of 100 traps. Haven't done that again, but nice to do it once.
Don't use haven't used and won't use DK-1's anymore. With only a catch ratio of 25% or less they are not worth my time. They are a good trap for a home owner needing to catch a gopher here or there.
I check and reset every morning, unless it raining.
Gotta go.

[trappingaddiction]

I use Death Klutches and whenever the hole is plugged or is snapped is when I have one. I am aware that this is probably 1 or 2 gophers, and I would not have time to check a reset but maybe twice a week. I figured it might be 2 gophers, since there was around 12-15 fresh mounds there, so I am hopefully going to move them tomorrow. I also have been checking every day.

[whiskeyriver]

One gopher per mounds until the females and the kids get up and running.
We have little ones up and running now.
The first to move in the spring is usually the boars/males.
Death Klutch is also known as DK-! the old red box trap is the DK-2.
Worthless traps for what is out there now.

[trappingaddiction]

Just curious as to why they are worthless?

[whiskeyriver]

25% or less catch ratio to cinch 75%-80% catch ratio.
They are a nice cheap trap for novices and home owners who only need to catch A gopher.
I know at one time owned over a couple hundred and couldn't get anywhere in a field, took to long to set. I figure I can set 50 cinch traps an hour in a good field.
I'm just trying to get you to open up your mind, but you're dead set on keeping with the DK-1 no problems with that. Good luck.

[trappingaddiction]

Had 6 of 9 traps plugged up. I dont know if it was from the trap not firing, or another tunnel I did not find. Were can you buy the Cinch traps whiskeyriver?

[whiskeyriver]

Try MTP been a while since I looked at their catalog
There is 2 types ones made in USA at about $15 a trap and there are some china made ones at about $9 a trap.
There is a learning curve with these traps.
Also there are a couple different sizes(jaw width) you will want XL not regular unless you have the smaller gopher.
At my place I have the regular valley type gopher and a mountain gopher. A adult mtn gopher looks like a baby valley type gopher.
Most people don't like the cinch as they aren't smart enough to figure out how to operate them and there are more moving parts.
Farm stores are the best source for cinch traps.

[trappingaddiction]

I am guessing the USA ones are better? Is the China one a good trap? Is the China one worse or better than the DK traps?

[trappingaddiction]

Picked of 1 out of 3 traps today. Put most of the plugged ones in the same general area (different mounds) and 2 in a new spot with a couple mounds from the last 3-5 days, but many old ones, that the tunnels seem to be getting some use.

[resoman]

I trap gophers in Becker CO Minn every year in the end of June 1st July they pay $2.00 bounty its fun. I picked up 6 no 1s New house from the 30s 40s man o man are they strong traps No Dukes for me. Get my bounty for the feet and freeze the carcass and bring back to MO for bait ( cat fox coyote).

[trappingaddiction]

I also get a $2 bounty here and am going to use them for bait. How do #1s and #0s work for gopher traps, as I have quite a few of those I could put out?

[trappingaddiction]

Also, these would be Victor and Blake and Lamb brand if that would change anything.

[trappingaddiction]

2 more today in 2 checks.

[resoman]

Find a gopher mound and dig it out .Clean out runway and set a No. one in the run way. Plug the mound hole with a wad of hay Grass. Put some dirt on top of hay wad so light can't shine in to mound and mark with X or put a small rock over trap to mark ware trap is. When gopher comes running down the runway they step in trap. A lot more work then a death-clutch. I like to think of it as antique trapping its fun. Give it at try

[trappingaddiction]

I might try it, but bought 2 more dozen DK traps, so I am set for now.

[gophernator]

i have used every gopher trap known to man,i give the cinch traps 5 stars,gophernators 4 stars and the rest 3 stars except DK`s i give 1 star
go in the day before and kick down all the mounds you can then set up the next day on new mounds,if you are setting a bunch use little flags on a piece of wire .
with the cinch you don`t have to dig out much,just clear opening and set,with the rest clear out and try to get the trap fairly deep into the run,leave hole opened and after you make all your sets go back around and check(i usually have several within 10 minutes, especially if its early in the morning when they are working)
if you have a lot of dogs,cats,etc around stake traps or throw a board over holes.
someone talked about the old newhouse traps...send those to me and i`ll send you a new trap ;D
they do work well though

[trappingaddiction]

Why are DK just a 1 star? Does WD 40 spook them, as I heard it speeds up the trap?