OK, from when you first started trapping what have you done to improve your odd's of catching more mole from when you first started. I will start, I look over the area much better and read the runs and set accordingly.. I use OOS sites once in a while, I do not use them very often. Just not my cut of tee. I do not like setting that hair trigger so today I filed the lip on the pan where the pan and the dog meet so I do not have to set that hair trigger anymore it is a hair trigger when the dog is put in place now. We need rain bad!

If you don't use OOS...what do you use?
I set the straight runs only, they sposd to be the "highways" tween the bedroom and feeding area.
I use the spear type, and always trip it a few times to pre-poke pilot holes, in a spot I have pushed the tunnel about 1/2 way down, you DO NOT want to go too far or they will go around.
We want them to repair the tunnel by pushing it back up and tripping the pan....which I have barely engaged in the dog.

My go to trap is Steve A. and No-moles. It seem in this dry weather I am getting a lot of traps dug under. I am taking my time and bedding the traps. Just dry, dry.

Ask the customer to run the sprinklers.

The old plunger spear type are my favorite. I got the 7th mole in 1 yard today in less than a month. I lean a board on the top of the trap. It helps keep all the force going into the ground when the mole trips it.

I use a longer T bar on spear traps when I use them some. Staked down at an angle over the top of the frame which serves my purpose of keeping the force of firing the trap in a downward position with very little recoil in an upward manner. Good penetration assured doing any similar type of precaution.

AJE and Bob, does this result in a "shish ka bob" catch or is the mole laying dead in the tunnel to one side or the other of the trap?

The mole is hung up on 1 of the spikes.

When I set them, I firmly stamp down 1 spot in the tunnel. That's where I set the trap.

My absolute favorite mole trap to use is the OOS trap that another company left in a customer's yard that eventually got them dismissed from the job. The customer told me to take it with me. Whenever I set that trap I smile knowing I'm making money with their trap.

I have two very soft sandy yards. Getting dig unders using OOS. Probably switch over to Albanos. Any tips for dig unders? I do fine in normal soil

I have two very soft sandy yards. Getting dig unders using OOS. Probably switch over to Albanos. Any tips for dig unders? I do fine in normal soil

I hate to tell you this but it has been my experience that you will get more dig under with Albano's mole trap than with the OOS, in sandy soils. I'm speaking strictly to trapping moles in the their surface/foraging runs. I still use Albano's trap for the deeper runs for sure. I always use this trap upside down to help prevent the dig unders. You might try this technique.

My go to mole traps for sandy soils are the upgraded OOS and the genuine Talpex traps.

Yup. Steve's traps are tough in sand, but you can get them to work. For sandy soils, no mols are better.

I keep preaching about proper bedding and tunnel alignment with albano traps, particularly in sandy and mulch type loose soils. If you press/bed your trap jaw end just below the tunnel level into the bottom soil of the tunnel you will eliminate the problem. They cant react if they don't detect an obstruction. This isn't rocket science but it does require some understanding of the problem and how to correct it.

Most folks that I observe in training are very lax on this detail and can't or don't master this basic technique easily and continue to make the same mistake time and again. I can trap in any soil with this little trap successfully. You must prepare and keep your tunnel open to prevent it from collapsing or you need to pick another spot to set.

If you don't clearly understand this detail and fail to keep this in mind you take away the once clear established travel corridor of the mole. I rarely get dig unders. If I do it is my lazy, in a hurry fault for not paying attention to this simple detail. LOL

It does require establishing some good trap setting detail at first and to pay strict attention to this. If you stay on point with the front end bedding down of the trap jaws and frame you will avoid this problem. It isn't difficult to do nor does it take a lot of effort.

If you misalign the trap jaws and have one or the other jaw obstructing the tunnel or if you have the bottom of the trap frame above the tunnel grade, naturally the mole may react and is going to dig under, go around or plug the trap with dirt so it doesn't take this perceived obstructed route its next time through this area.

That is just their natural instinct to avoid the obstruction. This is the primary reason for your dig unders in my experience.

If you have your trap placed and aligned properly and bedded below the tunnel bottom grade why would the mole dig under? This problem is a human error problem not the fault of the trap itself. Re assess your technique in bedding and with proper tunnel alignment with your trap and this problem will stop.

Those experiencing the dig under reaction may wish to try setting your traps sideways placing the trap on the left or right side of the tunnel. This way the frame of the trap is on either side of tunnel and your jaws would be on the bottom of the tunnel and on the top of the tunnel. I rarely do this but this may be of some help to those who cant figure this problem out. Just press the trap into the side tunnel wall of the run. Just a different approach.

End of Story..

Bob
Thanks again for some good information. Bottom line is that the jaws have to be pushed completely under the bottom of the tunnel. Is that right?

The frame and jaws should be as compressed below grade of the tunnel. The moles will tell you when you didn't do your bedding job well. I know what is happening to everyone who has this problem. It is all about bedding the trap frame and lower jaws down below tunnel floor and establishing proper alignment in the tunnel.

This detail is what is needed to prevent issues of dig unders. Pay attention to it and you will solve your problems. We tend to get in a hurry when setting at times and think things are good enough. I had some of the same issues at first. That is why I developed my tool and system of setting that I have used for many years now.

Bob:
I have not been bedding to trap far enough in the bottom of the tunnel. I have been bedding the frame of the trap but not the jaws.
Thanks for taking the time to explain this to us hard heads. LOL

Let us know how things work out for you.

With Steve's trap, how do you know if the trap as been tripped? Isn't the trap below ground? Perhaps you watch for pushed up soil. The Albano trap sounds rigorous to set compared to the traditional spear type vertical plunger spike trap.

Here's what it looks like. I just got the 10th mole of the year in this particular yard this morning. They're still active. I think I need more traps. The moles seem more active than usual this year.