Often I run into new gopher areas that only have 2 or 3 mounds. I usually assume there is only one gopher, and so far the damage ceases 90% of the time with that one catch.

I'm using Gophinators, so each "set" is 2 traps.

My question is, am I wasting my time setting 2+ trap sets on only 2 or 3 mounds? Would one set work just as well?

terrier,

I like two traps at these types of mounds, I'm a gopher rookie but use the gophinator as well. My feeling is, if I hit a recently moving litter, I may have
others coming in on their heels so just one will take one, but not 2 and 3 behind that one.

I suppose it is like many forms of trapping, when I first started I put a trap everywhere when after coyote or fox, after learning more and getting some intel from the likes of Ron Leggett I settled in to finding quality locations and setting smart.

Now of course, we are talking about a much smaller home range in the p. gopher, but I think I'm learning the same lesson, I started by blasting the place
with a grid, now I put 2 max per set of holes and move 20-30 feet to the next set. Many of my clients have just a couple, but I've got a few with 2+ acres and they can have 12-14 depending on the season and recent litter dispersal.

Love p. gopher work, don't do enough of it - like a small trapline!



Good luck!

Justin

P.S. One way to eat up 2 traps in the same tunnel area is to do the 2 way set, and I prefer that to setting one trap per exit or push out hole if that makes sense. A two way can catch two, and can get the gopher coming from either direction. A little more digging but I have some nice soil!

Thanks for the reassurance.

I'm of the mindset of if its worth setting one trap, its worth setting two.

And I've made myself superstitious, because 9 times out of 10, I catch them in the 2nd set up.

I try to set as many of Steve's Gophinator traps in any recent occurrence.

The Southern Pocket Gopher likes most roots, tubers and greens and can become a critter of economic importance quickly. If given a chance they can be a serious problem around peanut and sweet potatoe crops around here. They love fields planted with alfalfa.

The Southern Pocket Gopher is protected in Alabama and requires a special permit to trap. I was requested to “live trap” and relocate, if possible, for the only call I have ever gotten for them. Quite a job!

Started a new job this weekend. There was an area that had a little horseshoe of about 5 mounds. Only about 8 feet across. I placed a set in the middle, and one on each end. When I checked the next day, each set had a catch. Glad I bombed that spot.

Still, every other area of activity that received 2 or more sets only produced one gopher.

I'll still continue to bomb away with multiple sets just in case, though. Can't hurt and only takes a minute or 2 on good soil.

Terrier, on a job where I think there is one gopher, I would still set at least two sets. You'd probably catch it with just one set, but sometimes you do get a miss, and the few minutes it takes to throw down a couple more traps is time well spent if it helps avoid a miss and an additional service call. Also, some customers are going to start worrying if you just put down a single set of traps.

Nice pictures, Ron, I never saw anyone trap a gopher in a live trap like that.