I have been having good results using pure peanut oil for gophers. Just put some on a piece of cloth or anything that will absorb it and drop it in the hole behind the trap or traps if a double set. Available at the grocery store cooking section.

I used peanut butter when I first started. In some areas my sets were getting dug up... I think squirrels so I quit using it. I don't see any difference in my catch ratio.

Coast, what made you add the bait to your sets.
One thing of many I like about pocket gopher work is blind sets or I guess you could say positive sets. Since gopher run such a small home range can't see the need myself.

Like putting human sized gophinators between my fridge and bed and bathroom. No need for bait as I'm walking through eventually.
I leave mine two days and have 95-100% take in that first effort. The other 5-10% is when the time of year coincides with a pre dispersal treatment.

Not saying its wrong to bait just wondering what prompted you. How's the weather up there?

Justin

Because I use a single trap set on gophers 90% of time and when I have to target gophers I want the best possible results. My records show about 45% not using bait and 83% using bait over last 10 years. So I use bait. Oregon coast is not a big gopher area. Oregon wco laws say the trap must be checked every 24 hours. Rainy, 1 1/2 inch last night. good for moles, not so good for gophers. I keep records of all my trapping. Location, weather, temp., type of soil, depth of run where trap placed, any pertinent info about each set. I carry a small tape recorder in the field and transcribe the info later.

I like your reasons coast! Also like the way you are tracking what you do.

Wonder who wrote the trap check law for lethal gopher and mole sets.

That's crazy, though I bet someone from "keep Portland weird" helped write that!

Coast, the wco law (OAR 635-435-0025 (2) and (3)) says that you must deal with animals caught within 24 hours, but leaves the trap checking up to the furbearer regulations. The furbearer regs on trap checks (OAR 635-050-0045 (15)) say that they "do not apply to gophers, moles, ground squirrels and mountain beaver."

You are right. My mistake because around the homeowner you have to be careful as to who is watching so I use the 24 hrs. That is a 2 edged law because of the part about when you come into possession you have 24 hours to take care of the animal and that is what the anti's are using to get their ideas into law. You are right about those times, but their idea is does possession starts with the 24 hr time when the animal is first caught or after the 48 hrs when you check the trap. I could not find the exclusion for the animals you mention in my wco manual. Do you have a page number? I wish people wouldn't screw around with the best possible way to take care of wildlife problems and the regulations we work with. I only work with moles and gophers but that is enough. This will probably get some comments but I do not charge the homeowner to trap moles and gophers on their property. I do get some tips for doing it and this covers gas and expenses. I just do this for fun and for something to do. I do work for a golf course on their payroll and that is my only real income. At my age, soon to be 80, I really don't need the money but I've proved to myself I can still do it.

Coast, I hope when I'm approaching 80 I'm still out doing something I enjoy! While most of the time guys would give you a hard time, most of the folks the group would tend to try to educate are those trying to make a go of a business versus enjoying the hobby as you are.

So enjoy!

Justin

Well, that just sucks. Oregon isn't even one of the top ten states for longevity and this guy is nearly ten years older than me. It's not my fault that I was born in the beer capitol of the world.

Justin, the only trouble with doing something that you enjoy at 80, is that you don't even remember what Viagra is used for anymore.

Well thanks fellas. I've always felt I would be condemned for doing free work. I don't think there are any mole or gopher trappers in this area so I felt this would be a good project to volunteer my services. If I am wrong and there is someone in the area send me a pm and I would be glad to share my knowledge of years of mole and gopher trapping.

Paul!

Coast, My mom's father, my grandad "Pa" worked his whole life as most of his generation, he was a town supervisor for 16 years and ran a family business for 30 along with raising a family. When he stopped running the business and didn't keep moving, was the worst thing for him. I've seen this time and time again in folks I've met along the way. I've seen dairymen in their 80+ years out chopping wood and driving fence posts in northern Michigan and met ranchers here in NM that are well over 100 and still look 100%.

My point in all of that is while retirement is meant to be enjoyed and nice, it is important to keep doing something that keeps you moving. My Dad retired his Xerox career which he hated for 20+ years more than a decade ago. He and a few guys from his church do odd jobs for folks in their community that can't do it themselves or can't afford it. He has never been a happier guy.

I don't miss the Oregon winter (spent 4 years in Portland 05-09' but the green lush landscape and coastal range is something worth staying there for!

Glad your out there enjoying what you are doing, can't imagine anyone wanting to adjust that.

Best,

Justin

I dont know if the pic will show up but I caught these three today. My first black.

Oh well.. didnt show up. I cant figure it out from my phone

Justin:
You are 100% right. I retired at 56. Did a few things I always wanted to. But found myself sitting around more all the time. I have alway trapped some now and then.
So four years ago I started doing some ADC work. Not on a big scale. I have had a motorcycle for years, got that out and running. I am 70 and still an active fireman.
As they say in the Army, off your [Please excuse my language... I'm an idiot] and on your feet! Stay Safe! I see you are from Michigan, where?

Here's a hot tip: If you want to remain active in those after 65 years, DO NOT buy a new 70 inch Sharp TV. The picture is so good that you end up watching reruns so you can see all that you missed the first time around. The outdoor scenes are especially beautiful.

Another good morning laugh Paul!

Everet, While we would have stayed in Michigan forever, we only passed through for 4-5 years on the bovine tb project. We lived in Curtisville, rented a house for $350.00 a month that backed up to the Huron Natl. Forest and was less than 1/4 mile through the woods to walk to the Au Sable river. Beautiful country and outside of the "tourist" season, very quiet and like you had the whole forest to yourself.

Plus of course beaver, badger, bobcat, coyote, weasel, skunk, raccoon, otter and so forth..... Great place!! We've been "transients" for about 15 years together, starting in UT, then NY, MI, OR and finally NM. Think I'm stayin, though you never know....

Justin

Ok Coast, here goes. Relevant page numbers in the WCO manual are page 10 for the definition of possession, which says "possession begins once the trap has been checked by the permittee or subpermittee" and page 13 for the rules on checking and ownership "Within 24 hours after coming into possession of wildlife as part of wildlife control activity, the permittee must release, relocate, or humanely euthanize the wildlife" and "Traps must be checked within the time periods specified in OAR Chapter 635 Division 50." They didn't include a copy of OAR 635 Division 50 with the manual, but if you read it, what it says (paraphrased) is, live traps set for predatory animals must be checked within every 76 hours, and lethal traps must be checked within every 30 days, for furbearing and unprotected mammals, traps must be checked every 48 hours. The exclusion is a little further down, which says "These general furbearer regulations do not apply to the trapping of gophers, moles, ground squirrels and mountain beaver." Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying don't check your traps every 24 hours, I'm just saying that you don't have to. I'm glad you're having a good time at it though!

I use bait for pocket gophers. It tends to take their minds off pushing dirt. Catch rate on adults normally 100% within two days. When little ones show up may take a couple of more days and a modified trap. I use Cinch traps. Baited sets with little ones using a trap with original factory setup usually gets the bait eaten and the trap buried. Using a trap with a modified trigger , push/pull instead of just push, will take the little ones first time they work the bait. The bait I use is what ever they are eating in the area I set. Around here it is usually Dandelions.

Martins?