Jena Finally Killed a Mole!

[MossRoad]

I'm positive these are moles not voles. I've caught voles and shrews here before but they don't have the big digging feet and claws.

Kevin

That's a mole. You know it.
There's probably some good worms or grubs around your flowers and veggies that they're nosing around for. I've got a few videos of them moving plants around in my garden. I'll have to look for them sometime. Its one of only two or three times I've seen them working in person. The other hundreds were dead in the traps.

So for the Victor out o sight traps, after I've found and active tunnel with the heel stomp and wait for pop up method, I set the trap across the tunnel to see where I need to make the two slits perpendicularly across the tunnel. Then I use a garden trowel to make the slits and press down the area of the tunnel between the two slits. That collapses the tunnel. Then I arm the trap, set the safety, push the scissors into each slit until the pan is resting firmly against the collapsed part of the tunnel. Here's the hair trigger part.... gripping the cocking levers I push the trap deeper until the pan trips the trigger. I then lift up just a bit, reset the trigger on the very edge of the pan and ever so slowly release the cocking arms just until there's enough pressure on the trigger to hold. Then I remove the safety, then I let go of the cocking arms and let them fall to either side. I keep my hands away from the trigger bar. That thing hurts like heck if the trap trips and it flips up and smacks your fingers!

Then the trap is set.

For very soft soil or sand, you can pop-rivet a canning jar lid to the trigger to increase its surface area. I think this increases the chances of it getting tripped before the sand falls away from the trip pan.

I'll bet I averaged 19 out of 20 sets catching a mole with only 1 in 20 false triggers back when I had the original infestation. I was quite proud of those numbers. :laughing:

 

[NoTrespassing]

Thanks for the trap setting tips. I think that will work better than what we've been doing. On the other hand, Jena just got MOLE #4 today! She popped it out of the ground with a shovel again and then chopped it with the shovel. It was in her vegetable garden.

Now she want to get another rabbit that's been in one of her flower gardens. We got one with the air rifle but there's one more.

Kevin

 

[the old grind]

Sear rabbit parts (back, hind quarters) in skillet. Cover in OJ and simmer/stir as the juice cooks down. Top up juice (once) and reduce liquid to a sort of a glaze. Add onion, if desired, and stir/sear to pick up the glaze. (2-3 hrs total).

Serve solo or combine with rice, stir fried, stewed vegetables of choice and 'get even' for the critter(s) eating the Mrs' garden. btw, the cook earns/deserves dibs on the back (best) part.

You knew that.

Happy hunting, folks.

 

[NoTrespassing]

Sear rabbit parts in skillet. Cover in OJ and simmer till juice cooks down. Stir and top up once and cook down to a sort of glaze. (2-3 hrs total). Add stir fried or stewed vegetables of choice and get even for eating the Mrs' plants. btw, the cook earns/deserves dibs on the back (best) part.

Happy hunting, folks.

Before the first frost?

Kevin

 

[the old grind]

Get 'im yet? ()

OK ... live trap, add flea collar, feed til cooler weather when you can bag a few more for the freezer or a feast?

I mean, ... the lady isn't digging up the bait ...

jon

 

[MossRoad]

Thanks for the trap setting tips. I think that will work better than what we've been doing. On the other hand, Jena just got MOLE #4 today! She popped it out of the ground with a shovel again and then chopped it with the shovel. It was in her vegetable garden.

Now she want to get another rabbit that's been in one of her flower gardens. We got one with the air rifle but there's one more.

Kevin

DANG! I've seen exactly TWO active moles in the ground in my entire life and she gets 4 in a couple weeks! Perhaps she has a wee bit more patience than me. :laughing:

 

[RandyT]

All you have to do is what the ends of the tunnels and you can see the dirt moving. I got one this past Friday, but i used a Ruger 1022 auto rifle.

I have been known to use a 12 gauge.