Victor The Black Box Gopher Trap 0625 - Reusable - Weather-Resistant
Brand | Victor |
Color | Black |
Style | Box |
Material | Plastic |
Item Weight | 0.37 Kilograms |
Number of Pieces | 1 |
Is Electric | No |
Target Species | Gopher |
About this item
- Choker loop-style trap quickly and effectively eliminates gophers
- More effective than conventional wire claw and box traps
- Weather-resistant plastic and galvanized steel construction offers superior durability
- Can be used in all soil types, including sandy soil
- Moving parts are below ground away from children and pets
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Price | Currently unavailable. | $44.99$44.99 | $25.99$25.99 | -13% $39.99$39.99 Typical: $45.99 | $26.95$26.95 | -25% $20.99$20.99 Typical: $27.99 |
Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Easy to use | 4.5 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 3.1 | 3.9 |
Easy to remove | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.1 | — | 3.7 | 3.9 |
Value for money | 4.2 | 4.2 | 3.7 | — | — | 3.6 |
Sturdiness | — | 4.3 | 3.7 | 5.0 | — | 4.7 |
Scent | — | 3.9 | 3.9 | — | — | 3.9 |
Sold By | — | POlAFLEX | Dycoe Inc | AMVOG HOUSEWARE INC. | Southern Snares and Supply | Allroad Store |
style | Box | Modern | Modern | Normal | Classic | Scissor Mole Trap |
number of pieces | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
material | Plastic | Iron | Alloy Steel | Iron | Alloy Steel | Alloy Steel |
electric | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
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Product guides and documents
From the manufacturer
Victor The Black Box Gopher Trap
Take care of your gopher problem as soon as it starts with the Victor Black Box Gopher Trap. It uses a choker loop-style design to effectively eliminate gophers. When placed properly inside gopher tunnels, the trap’s spring-triggered loop will snare the unsuspecting gopher as it moves along the runway. Best of all, it works without the use of poisons or chemicals and moving parts are kept completely below the ground for safety.
How to Place Your Victor Black Box Gopher Trap
To locate tunnels in frequent use, clear away a mound of soil and probe for the opening, which is usually a short passage that leads down a few inches to the main tunnel. Once you have located the tunnel, dig a hole down into it, and then place the Victor Black Box Gopher Trap inside. The trap should be in line with the straight section of the tunnel. Cover the hole with dirt so the trap appears as though it is part of the runway. When used correctly, traps produce a catch within 48 hours. It is best to move the trap to another location in the runway if you do not catch a gopher in this timeframe.
About Gopher Damage
You’ll know if you have gophers if you see fan shaped mounds with an exit hole to the side. Gopher mounds are typically larger than molehills. They often create multiple mounds a day, so they can quickly do major damage.
Product information
Brand | Victor |
---|---|
Color | Black |
Style | Box |
Material | Plastic |
Item Weight | 0.37 Kilograms |
Number of Pieces | 1 |
Is Electric | No |
Target Species | Gopher |
Product Dimensions | 4 x 6.6 x 6.4 inches |
Item Weight | 13 ounces |
Manufacturer | Victor |
ASIN | B000FBMFDO |
Item model number | 0625 |
Customer Reviews |
4.1 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #276,186 in Patio, Lawn & Garden (See Top 100 in Patio, Lawn & Garden) #2,639 in Pest Control Traps |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
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Product Description
Gopher holes popping up is probably one of the last sights you want to see in your yard. With the Victor the Black Box Gopher Trap, you can be prepared when the worst happens. This convenient choker loop-style trap quickly and effectively kills nuisance gophers before they can continue wreaking havoc on your property.
The Black Box Gopher Trap is constructed of weather-resistant plastic and galvanized steel to offer superior durability for use in the outdoors. To offer peace of mind, when installed properly inside a gopher tunnel, all the traps moving parts are located safely below ground away from children and pets. It’s a great alternative to chemical and poisons. When used correctly, traps can produce a catch within 48 hours. It is best to move the trap to another location in the runway if you do not catch a gopher in this timeframe.
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the performance, quality and ease of use of the pest control device. They mention that it definitely works, is excellent and a good addition to their trapping tools. They appreciate the ease of cleaning, and ease to removal. However, some customers are disappointed with the size and value of the product.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the performance of the pest control device. They say that it works well, but some customers are squeamish about inflicting pain. The new plastic version works well and doesn't get damaged by weather, but it costs significantly more than the metal version.
"...Happy Gopher Hunting, THESE TRAPS WORK GREAT!03-26-13..." Read more
"...Traps are the only way to go and are extremely effective. Yes, you have to tear up the lawn a bit but is not the gopher doing that anyway?..." Read more
"...A war zone!This new plastic version works as well and doesn't get damaged by weather but costs significantly more than other open trap..." Read more
"...They work really well. I've lost a few over the years due to mountain lion or coyotes carrying away my traps with their meal...." Read more
Customers generally like the quality of the pest control device. They say it's excellent, effective, and the best overall traps on the market. Some say that the sprung trap makes a very nice handle and is a good addition to their trapping tools. Some customers also mention that the pincer traps are good, but quite difficult to set if the hole is too wide. Overall, customers are satisfied with the quality and functionality of the product.
"...The sprung trap makes a very nice and ironically convenient handle to just grab and removed the whole thing from the ground with the butt of the..." Read more
"...I still think these are the best overall traps on the market; however, I also think they have two problems...." Read more
"...these traps will last almost forever. I'm still using an original wood box trap from the 1960s...." Read more
"...That's very effective for catching chipmunks; Squirrels will sometimes trip those jaws traps, but they are strong enough to quickly escape...." Read more
Customers find the product easy to use. They mention that it is significantly easier to set than other similar products, and it is relatively easy to set once you understand how to find a good spot. Some customers also say that the trap is practically foolproof to use and that it's easy to lay the trap down.
"...It is extremely well made and will last for many years. It is easy to set and the strength of the spring is definitely strong enough to kill the..." Read more
"...However, they work better than any other trap I've used as they are easy to set, no wounded gophers (never seen a live one yet)and will get the..." Read more
"Gophers aren't a protected species are they?Traps are easy to use, digging out the hole to place the trap is problematic......" Read more
"...quickly and I was immediately impressed with how incredibly easy this thing was to set and trip yet difficult to accidentally trip...." Read more
Customers like the sturdiness of the product. They mention that the spring action is strong, resulting in a near instant death to 7 inch pocket gopher. The trap is very sturdy and should last for years, and because of the strong and quick snap, it is a humane kill for the gophe.
"...It is easy to set and the strength of the spring is definitely strong enough to kill the rodent. This is it. The ONLY thing that truly works!..." Read more
"...to be a very quick death for the creature, as the metal lever spring is incredible forceful and instantly snapped its neck...." Read more
"...It works each time, and because of strong and quick snap, it is humane kill for the rodent...." Read more
"...Box trip lever has a very slight bend in it that seems to make the trap harder to spring...." Read more
Customers like the ease of cleaning the pest control device. They mention that it was a humane catch and there was no messy cleanup or the need to touch the dead. They also mention that the device is easy to empty and that the disposal of the dead was very simple.
"...Dead gopher. Disposal was very simple - a little gross for a city boy - just dislodge gopher...." Read more
"...Nice and clean w/out a mess too. I pushed the top spring down and the corpse slid right out...." Read more
"...saw alot of mounds and plugged holes in one area, the dirt plugging the holes looked fresh/powdery (not stuck together) - means gophers are active..." Read more
"...Clean, kill, not messy. As humane as you can be, killing an animal. Not something I wanted to do, but can't have the little bugger wrecking my yard...." Read more
Customers like the ease of removal of the pest control device. They say that it is much easier to release the dead gopher from the blackbox than with other methods, and the disposal of the dead rodent was painless.
"...It was a clean kill, broke its back, no blood or guts, and easy to remove the dead rodent after it sprung the trap...." Read more
"...Crows got mine, moved the trap about 50 feet! At least it is easy to remove the gopher." Read more
"...Ants all over it though was stiff and hard to remove...." Read more
"...It is also much easier to "release" the dead gopher from the blackbox than with the macabee traps since the blackbox always leaves the rodent in one..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the value of the product. Some mention that it's worth the price, while others say that the packaging really doesn't give you any valuable or extensive information on how to use it. Some customers also say that it is too expensive to just toss with the rat and a waste of time and money.
"...These are inexpensive enough, that I bought two so I can set one in each direction, and that solves that problem.Another hint...." Read more
"...Don’t waste your money on the solar buzzing stakes. Totally useless. Trying to repel them or relocate them is not going to work...." Read more
"...It was WAY cheaper than I could get it in stores and I thought ‘sure why not?’. Clicked purchase and went to sleep...." Read more
"...I was not overly impressed with the packaging as it really doesn't give you any valuable or extensive information on how to use...." Read more
Customers are not satisfied with the size of the pest control device. They mention that it's a bit too large for some Pocket gophers, and is very bulky. They also say that the traps are simply too small for their mega-gophers, and difficult to bury it in such a way that the gophers can't escape.
"...First, they are a bit too large for some Pocket gophers...." Read more
"...One downside of this trap is that it is somewhat large...." Read more
"...It would seem this trap is far too small for the large gray squirrels patrolling my neighborhood, but it works nicely...." Read more
"I really don't like how everyone makes it seem so easy to use. This box is large...." Read more
Reviews with images
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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THESE TRAPS HOWEVER: WORK GREAT
Ive never liked traps because theyd say something like "find the main gopher tunnel, and then place it in there...etc" And Id think "ya right, point ONE out to me and Id be GLAD to do just that..."
Ive killed 4 gophers so far using these traps. Two yesterday, and one so far today (=3 dead gophers) and one a couple days ago...
What I have found effective SO FAR (still getting the "hang of it") is to EITHER:
1) find an OPEN HOLE and use a stick and "TRY TO" determine which direction it leads, and THEN dig an opening in that direction about 1-2 feet AWAY from its opening large enough to put TWO of these traps inside it BACK TO BACK. THEN (set the traps) put them inside, cover up ALL the holes so NO LIGHT PASSES INTO the tunnel. And WAIT - come back in an hour Im sure MOST LIKELY you got one! no kidding, see my uploaded pictures.
Ive gotten 1 this way
2) IF YOU FIND A HOLE THAT IS CLOSED / PLUGGED **AND** THE DIRT PLUGGING IT IS "POWDERY" (is literally the consistency of powder) THEN (most likely) a gopher is INSIDE THAT TUNNEL.
In THIS SCENARIO put ONE TRAP facing INTO the tunnel, cover up all holes so NO LIGHT can enter. Come back in about an hour, or the next day (for me 1 hour is suffice) AND *ALMOST CERTAIN* YOU CAUGHT ONE! no kidding, Ive gotten 3 this way (1 yesterday, one today within 1 hour of setting this trap this way).
ONE THING TO CONSIDER ALSO: THREE GOPHERS SO FAR were not dead when I pulled the traps out of the ground so I had to kill them myself... they were hurt but no way dead - all others were dead (fyi)
NEW TECHNIQUE 03-01-13:
BEFORE setting the trap against the hole, take dirt and rub the entire inside of the trap with it. This will make the inside of the trap more like the tunnel the gopher has dug, so when they come to the trap portion of their tunnel they wont notice any difference - it will also be dirty of the same earth - WHY? - because several gopher are SMART and wont go into the trap and they will backfill into the trap plugging it up into one big heavy chunk of dirt (trap PACKED TIGHTLY with dirt - like a brick). Since I started using this technique no gophers have back filled and all have been caught. FYI - good luck
AND A NICE POINT / IN ADDITION:
IF you see the spring portion UP IN THE AIR when you approach your trap after youve set it in place, this means 100% you caught a gopher. SPRINGS UP = CAUGHT GOPHER
FINAL POINT / IN CONCLUSION:
GREAT TRAPS! THEY WORK BY FAR THE BEST OUT OF ANYTHING IVE TRIED SO FAR... BY FAR
GREAT GREAT TRAPS!
remember find and ACTIVE HOLE, and set them in there using the methods above and YOU WILL kill gophers!
GREAT TRAPS, wish I knew of them 15 years ago!
I hope this review helps! I think these traps work GREAT
**update**
killed 29 gophers so far (as of 03-XX-15)
Caught three more March 2015. Didnt document the exact days or take pictures, but caught (killed) more.... same story as below!
01-09-14
The Gophers have returned! And so has the implementation of the Victor Black Gopher Trap; Hence Gopher #26! Another one caught (found it today - noticed spring was up in the air). Actually set two traps about a week ago, and noticed today one was sprung. Must have been dead several hours because thousands of ants were all over the dead gopher carcass. Didnt smell of death yet so still must have been caught fairly recent (no stench). Ants all over it though was stiff and hard to remove. So as of today 1-9-14 Gopher #26, still more activity will be setting more, surely will post/update all kills. Happy Gopher Hunting, THESE TRAPS WORK GREAT!
03-26-13
Caught gopher #25 - same story basically... saw alot of mounds and plugged holes in one area, the dirt plugging the holes looked fresh/powdery (not stuck together) - means gophers are active right there. SET 3 TRAPS, 20min-30min later checked them and caught #25. Was a small gopher, wasnt dead just caught, wasnt pleasant but had to kill myself. Like in my review if the gopher isnt big enough itll catch its tail end and still be alive, youll need to kill it yourself, see my review for "how to" suggestion, again not enjoyable but what can you do. THESE TRAPS WORK! bad day to be a gopher!
03-01-13 caught gopher #24
I saw a large hole in the ground near a tree, when I walked back by it a few minutes later it had a mound of dirt over it / covering it up. I looked closely and could see dirth moving underneath, this had to be the gopher plugging it from inside.
I waited about 10 min, came back and dug it open, found the hole - set the trap and a couple hours later checked back and the spring was upwards in the air, again means only one thing, caught the gopher. SEE UPLOADED PICS
12-12-12 bad day to be a gopher, just caught #23...
after having caught/killed 22 they slowed... I saw alot of activity the last few weeks in the same area, so I started digging into the new holes, all led nowhere - until I was feeling around and found a deeper tunnel in one of them. Set a trap and w/in 2 hours caught #23 - Ill upload the pictures later today or sometime tomorrow. happy gopher hunting! - pictures uploaded
1 4-5-12 gopher leaving tunnel
2 4-8-12 (one of these was killed using 2 traps back to back when gopher was re-entering the hole, the other gopher leaving tunnel)
1 4-9-12 gopher leaving tunnel
1 4-10-12 gopher leaving tunnel
1 4-11-12 gopher leaving tunnel
2 4-12-12 gophers leaving (separate) tunnels
1 4-14-12 gopher leaving tunnel
2 4-21-12 gopher inside tunnel / leaving tunnel - one was caught in SAME TUNNEL as previous caught 4-12-12. The second today was caught in a different area of the yard when my foot sank into the ground, I dug the area and found a large "fresh" looking tunnel - within 2 hours I checked back (daily routine) and caught a gopher - took pictures and uploaded them, set the trap and within 2 hours caught a gopher
1 4-25-12 gopher inside tunnel / leaving tunnel - one trap near opening, inside tunnel
1 4-28-12 gopher leaving tunnel
1 4-03-12 gopher leaving tunnel / 2nd kill SAME tunnel - took about 7-8 days, left trap in tunel, surprised to have caught another in the SAME tunnel (about 7-8 days later)
1 5-05-12 gopher leaving tunnel - saw a fresh / new hole back filled with LOOSE / POWDERY dirt, set trap, about 6 hours later (I check every couple-few hours regularly) CAUGHT GOPHER #15
1 5-6-12 (same tunnel / hole as #15... there was no other hole to set this trap in, so I reset it in the same hole
2 5-9-12 gopher within tunnel AND the second gopher THIS day was same tunnel as #15 and #16 (3rd gopher in SAME TUNNEL) 18 gophers so far
1 5-12-12 gopher inside tunnel - used two traps
1 5-18-12 GOPHER #20!!! :-) gopher inside tunnel... was walking and heel sank, dug into ground and found hole, set ONE TRAP, a few hours later was on the computer looked out window and saw the spring was up in the air (only means ONE thing) = caught gopher #20 - happy happy day (see uploaded pic)
1 6-3-12 gopher inside tunnel - was leaving tunnel - saw a new / fresh powdery dirt plugged hole and set trap - next day spring was up
1 6-29-12 OLD TUNNEL, two traps had been in their for a couple weeks and I never took them out, today ONE of the springs was up, caught another one a small one but a dead one (gopher #22)
WHAT IVE LEARNED AFTER KILLING 22 GOPHERS:
It *SEEMS* as if each gopher has its own set of tunnels which ARE NOT shared by other gophers... (W/ FEW Exceptions that is). Gophers went unchecked / ignored and RUINED our entire yard, and front of house - HUGE "gulleys and VERY uneven ground is what remains, you walk around out there and sometimes your entire foot sinks to your ankle...
After having caught a gopher in pretty much most of the tunneled areas, NONE have come back so far... SO FAR
BUT: IT DOES SEEM as if each gopher has its own tunnel system. I have ONLY caught gophers in different tunnels areas, NEVER in the same tunnel system / area.
It just seems this way, and like mentioned none have come back as of yet, and I am going to be digging into ALL tunnels and back filling them with dirt... of course THEN EVEN MORE SO a new opening / entrance will mean an active tunnel - this was how I caught my 9th gopher... it dug a hole and then back filled its opening, then later below it on a hill, it dug another and I could see its head shooting in and out throwing out dirt - I stood over witha shovel and made eye contact... I then came back in about 10 min and set a trap in the FIRST backfilled hole, about 45 min later I checked and the spring had popped up - caught that gopher #9
ALSO - and END OF THIS POST (for now) - 8 of 9 gophers only ONE TRAP was used, saw a fresh hole which was plugged from the inside, which I also now know / feel means it is an active hole / tunnel - set ONE TRAP FOR WHEN IT LEFT - 8 out of 9 kills went THIS WAY
I CAUGHT ONLY ONE GOPHER USING TWO TRAPS BACK TO BACK: gopher hole was OPEN, I dug infront of it about 1-2 feet, set TWO traps and the gopher was caught on the way back in
MY CONCLUSION: if a hole is OPEN set two, and youll most likely catch it upon its re entrance
If a hole looks fresh, and plugged, dig it open wide enough to set one trap, then WAIT, just go about your day, and come back later, almost certain you caught one if its an active hole
"ACTIVE HOLE" = a hole that is OPEN or PLUGGED FROM THE INSIDE and the dirt that is plugging it is POWDERY *NOT* compacted like the desert ground all cracked looking, it will look like fresh dirt was used to plug it VERY RECENTLY meaning that SAME DAY
take all of this info and use it, it worked for me! 8 out of 9 were killed using ONE TRAP when the gopher was LEAVING its tunnel - I literally destroyed its opening by digging it open with a shovel, the felt for a hole, found the tunnel using a stick made sure it went on for some ways, then I set a trap butted up against the opening that I widened - used some leaves to cover the holes in the set trap, sprinkled loose dirt lightly and MADE SURE NO LIGHT ENTERED FROM OUTSIDE INTO THE TUNNEL - then waited / went about my day - EVERY TIME SPRING WAS UP = caught gopher. 3 of 9 werent dead had to kill myself, but they were caught in the trap. The sprung trap makes a very nice and ironically convenient handle to just grab and removed the whole thing from the ground with the butt of the gopher staring you in the face when you pull it up - you NEVER even have to touch the gopher, I never cleaned mine off, just reset the spring and reused the trap - if it was an "active hole" I caught another
SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE
good luck!
***ALSO see my uploaded pictures
ALSO: IF YOU GUYS WANT ME TO POST A VIDEO OF HOW TO (HOW I USE THESE PUPPIES) LEAVE A COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW - COULD SHOW A FRESH KILL AS WELL ALONG WITH CARCASS REMOVAL
HIT ME UP IF YOUD LIKE A VIDEO
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2012
THESE TRAPS HOWEVER: WORK GREAT
Ive never liked traps because theyd say something like "find the main gopher tunnel, and then place it in there...etc" And Id think "ya right, point ONE out to me and Id be GLAD to do just that..."
Ive killed 4 gophers so far using these traps. Two yesterday, and one so far today (=3 dead gophers) and one a couple days ago...
What I have found effective SO FAR (still getting the "hang of it") is to EITHER:
1) find an OPEN HOLE and use a stick and "TRY TO" determine which direction it leads, and THEN dig an opening in that direction about 1-2 feet AWAY from its opening large enough to put TWO of these traps inside it BACK TO BACK. THEN (set the traps) put them inside, cover up ALL the holes so NO LIGHT PASSES INTO the tunnel. And WAIT - come back in an hour Im sure MOST LIKELY you got one! no kidding, see my uploaded pictures.
Ive gotten 1 this way
2) IF YOU FIND A HOLE THAT IS CLOSED / PLUGGED **AND** THE DIRT PLUGGING IT IS "POWDERY" (is literally the consistency of powder) THEN (most likely) a gopher is INSIDE THAT TUNNEL.
In THIS SCENARIO put ONE TRAP facing INTO the tunnel, cover up all holes so NO LIGHT can enter. Come back in about an hour, or the next day (for me 1 hour is suffice) AND *ALMOST CERTAIN* YOU CAUGHT ONE! no kidding, Ive gotten 3 this way (1 yesterday, one today within 1 hour of setting this trap this way).
ONE THING TO CONSIDER ALSO: THREE GOPHERS SO FAR were not dead when I pulled the traps out of the ground so I had to kill them myself... they were hurt but no way dead - all others were dead (fyi)
NEW TECHNIQUE 03-01-13:
BEFORE setting the trap against the hole, take dirt and rub the entire inside of the trap with it. This will make the inside of the trap more like the tunnel the gopher has dug, so when they come to the trap portion of their tunnel they wont notice any difference - it will also be dirty of the same earth - WHY? - because several gopher are SMART and wont go into the trap and they will backfill into the trap plugging it up into one big heavy chunk of dirt (trap PACKED TIGHTLY with dirt - like a brick). Since I started using this technique no gophers have back filled and all have been caught. FYI - good luck
AND A NICE POINT / IN ADDITION:
IF you see the spring portion UP IN THE AIR when you approach your trap after youve set it in place, this means 100% you caught a gopher. SPRINGS UP = CAUGHT GOPHER
FINAL POINT / IN CONCLUSION:
GREAT TRAPS! THEY WORK BY FAR THE BEST OUT OF ANYTHING IVE TRIED SO FAR... BY FAR
GREAT GREAT TRAPS!
remember find and ACTIVE HOLE, and set them in there using the methods above and YOU WILL kill gophers!
GREAT TRAPS, wish I knew of them 15 years ago!
I hope this review helps! I think these traps work GREAT
**update**
killed 29 gophers so far (as of 03-XX-15)
Caught three more March 2015. Didnt document the exact days or take pictures, but caught (killed) more.... same story as below!
01-09-14
The Gophers have returned! And so has the implementation of the Victor Black Gopher Trap; Hence Gopher #26! Another one caught (found it today - noticed spring was up in the air). Actually set two traps about a week ago, and noticed today one was sprung. Must have been dead several hours because thousands of ants were all over the dead gopher carcass. Didnt smell of death yet so still must have been caught fairly recent (no stench). Ants all over it though was stiff and hard to remove. So as of today 1-9-14 Gopher #26, still more activity will be setting more, surely will post/update all kills. Happy Gopher Hunting, THESE TRAPS WORK GREAT!
03-26-13
Caught gopher #25 - same story basically... saw alot of mounds and plugged holes in one area, the dirt plugging the holes looked fresh/powdery (not stuck together) - means gophers are active right there. SET 3 TRAPS, 20min-30min later checked them and caught #25. Was a small gopher, wasnt dead just caught, wasnt pleasant but had to kill myself. Like in my review if the gopher isnt big enough itll catch its tail end and still be alive, youll need to kill it yourself, see my review for "how to" suggestion, again not enjoyable but what can you do. THESE TRAPS WORK! bad day to be a gopher!
03-01-13 caught gopher #24
I saw a large hole in the ground near a tree, when I walked back by it a few minutes later it had a mound of dirt over it / covering it up. I looked closely and could see dirth moving underneath, this had to be the gopher plugging it from inside.
I waited about 10 min, came back and dug it open, found the hole - set the trap and a couple hours later checked back and the spring was upwards in the air, again means only one thing, caught the gopher. SEE UPLOADED PICS
12-12-12 bad day to be a gopher, just caught #23...
after having caught/killed 22 they slowed... I saw alot of activity the last few weeks in the same area, so I started digging into the new holes, all led nowhere - until I was feeling around and found a deeper tunnel in one of them. Set a trap and w/in 2 hours caught #23 - Ill upload the pictures later today or sometime tomorrow. happy gopher hunting! - pictures uploaded
1 4-5-12 gopher leaving tunnel
2 4-8-12 (one of these was killed using 2 traps back to back when gopher was re-entering the hole, the other gopher leaving tunnel)
1 4-9-12 gopher leaving tunnel
1 4-10-12 gopher leaving tunnel
1 4-11-12 gopher leaving tunnel
2 4-12-12 gophers leaving (separate) tunnels
1 4-14-12 gopher leaving tunnel
2 4-21-12 gopher inside tunnel / leaving tunnel - one was caught in SAME TUNNEL as previous caught 4-12-12. The second today was caught in a different area of the yard when my foot sank into the ground, I dug the area and found a large "fresh" looking tunnel - within 2 hours I checked back (daily routine) and caught a gopher - took pictures and uploaded them, set the trap and within 2 hours caught a gopher
1 4-25-12 gopher inside tunnel / leaving tunnel - one trap near opening, inside tunnel
1 4-28-12 gopher leaving tunnel
1 4-03-12 gopher leaving tunnel / 2nd kill SAME tunnel - took about 7-8 days, left trap in tunel, surprised to have caught another in the SAME tunnel (about 7-8 days later)
1 5-05-12 gopher leaving tunnel - saw a fresh / new hole back filled with LOOSE / POWDERY dirt, set trap, about 6 hours later (I check every couple-few hours regularly) CAUGHT GOPHER #15
1 5-6-12 (same tunnel / hole as #15... there was no other hole to set this trap in, so I reset it in the same hole
2 5-9-12 gopher within tunnel AND the second gopher THIS day was same tunnel as #15 and #16 (3rd gopher in SAME TUNNEL) 18 gophers so far
1 5-12-12 gopher inside tunnel - used two traps
1 5-18-12 GOPHER #20!!! :-) gopher inside tunnel... was walking and heel sank, dug into ground and found hole, set ONE TRAP, a few hours later was on the computer looked out window and saw the spring was up in the air (only means ONE thing) = caught gopher #20 - happy happy day (see uploaded pic)
1 6-3-12 gopher inside tunnel - was leaving tunnel - saw a new / fresh powdery dirt plugged hole and set trap - next day spring was up
1 6-29-12 OLD TUNNEL, two traps had been in their for a couple weeks and I never took them out, today ONE of the springs was up, caught another one a small one but a dead one (gopher #22)
WHAT IVE LEARNED AFTER KILLING 22 GOPHERS:
It *SEEMS* as if each gopher has its own set of tunnels which ARE NOT shared by other gophers... (W/ FEW Exceptions that is). Gophers went unchecked / ignored and RUINED our entire yard, and front of house - HUGE "gulleys and VERY uneven ground is what remains, you walk around out there and sometimes your entire foot sinks to your ankle...
After having caught a gopher in pretty much most of the tunneled areas, NONE have come back so far... SO FAR
BUT: IT DOES SEEM as if each gopher has its own tunnel system. I have ONLY caught gophers in different tunnels areas, NEVER in the same tunnel system / area.
It just seems this way, and like mentioned none have come back as of yet, and I am going to be digging into ALL tunnels and back filling them with dirt... of course THEN EVEN MORE SO a new opening / entrance will mean an active tunnel - this was how I caught my 9th gopher... it dug a hole and then back filled its opening, then later below it on a hill, it dug another and I could see its head shooting in and out throwing out dirt - I stood over witha shovel and made eye contact... I then came back in about 10 min and set a trap in the FIRST backfilled hole, about 45 min later I checked and the spring had popped up - caught that gopher #9
ALSO - and END OF THIS POST (for now) - 8 of 9 gophers only ONE TRAP was used, saw a fresh hole which was plugged from the inside, which I also now know / feel means it is an active hole / tunnel - set ONE TRAP FOR WHEN IT LEFT - 8 out of 9 kills went THIS WAY
I CAUGHT ONLY ONE GOPHER USING TWO TRAPS BACK TO BACK: gopher hole was OPEN, I dug infront of it about 1-2 feet, set TWO traps and the gopher was caught on the way back in
MY CONCLUSION: if a hole is OPEN set two, and youll most likely catch it upon its re entrance
If a hole looks fresh, and plugged, dig it open wide enough to set one trap, then WAIT, just go about your day, and come back later, almost certain you caught one if its an active hole
"ACTIVE HOLE" = a hole that is OPEN or PLUGGED FROM THE INSIDE and the dirt that is plugging it is POWDERY *NOT* compacted like the desert ground all cracked looking, it will look like fresh dirt was used to plug it VERY RECENTLY meaning that SAME DAY
take all of this info and use it, it worked for me! 8 out of 9 were killed using ONE TRAP when the gopher was LEAVING its tunnel - I literally destroyed its opening by digging it open with a shovel, the felt for a hole, found the tunnel using a stick made sure it went on for some ways, then I set a trap butted up against the opening that I widened - used some leaves to cover the holes in the set trap, sprinkled loose dirt lightly and MADE SURE NO LIGHT ENTERED FROM OUTSIDE INTO THE TUNNEL - then waited / went about my day - EVERY TIME SPRING WAS UP = caught gopher. 3 of 9 werent dead had to kill myself, but they were caught in the trap. The sprung trap makes a very nice and ironically convenient handle to just grab and removed the whole thing from the ground with the butt of the gopher staring you in the face when you pull it up - you NEVER even have to touch the gopher, I never cleaned mine off, just reset the spring and reused the trap - if it was an "active hole" I caught another
SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE
good luck!
***ALSO see my uploaded pictures
ALSO: IF YOU GUYS WANT ME TO POST A VIDEO OF HOW TO (HOW I USE THESE PUPPIES) LEAVE A COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW - COULD SHOW A FRESH KILL AS WELL ALONG WITH CARCASS REMOVAL
HIT ME UP IF YOUD LIKE A VIDEO
Edit: 3 July 2018. Thought I would update this a bit... Hose your traps down after use. Use gloves when handling and setting your traps (supposedly pocket gophers have poor sense of smell but why take chances). It's critical to keep light out of your trap site. I use cardboard weighted down with rocks. Check your traps to ensure trip wire and catch are straight as they tend to bend a bit after heavy use. I rub the trap with dirt from the site/mound then, after it is set, I will cover it with a thin layer of the dirt leaving nothing but the air hole in the rear uncovered. I still think these are the best overall traps on the market; however, I also think they have two problems. First, they are a bit too large for some Pocket gophers. Second, sometimes they are not sensitive enough when it comes to the small gophers, especially the Pocket gopher. What is needed is a smaller version of this trap... Are you listen Victor?