Caddyshack

I’m over 20yrs in and have probably caught >3000 between MN/WI where I used to get paid for them (bounty and farmers) and now in ID where I’ve gotten over 200 off my 5 acres in the 4 summers we’ve lived on it. Pocket gophers in Idaho are WAY smaller than midwestern pocket gophers.

some little Idaho gophers
IMG_2589.jpegIMG_0289.jpeg

Big MN male from a hay field
IMG_2560.jpeg
 
Anyone ever used the exploding thingy? Pumps a bunch of propane into the holes and then ignites it.

When I was in college I worked at a golf course for a summer and I used one. It was quite fun but if you let too much gas down the hole before you ignite it, you end up doing some turf repair. Probably not the best thing to turn a college age student loose with but it was fun and satisfying! The carbon monoxide engine pump works pretty well, local farmers have had significant reduction in gopher activity with it. Just takes a crap ton of time.
 
I’m over 20yrs in and have probably caught >3000 between MN/WI where I used to get paid for them (bounty and farmers) and now in ID where I’ve gotten over 200 off my 5 acres in the 4 summers we’ve lived on it. Pocket gophers in Idaho are WAY smaller than midwestern pocket gophers.

some little Idaho gophers
View attachment 854627View attachment 854628

Big MN male from a hay field
View attachment 854629

3000! This is possibly the greatest "Hold my beer" comment of all time.

Great idea starting those trappers young.
 
When we lived in the Midwest, I always enjoyed the spring for gopher trapping season! I went to war with a couple of them in my early days of trapping, don’t worry though, I always won! Haha

Juicy fruit and wintergreen gum are also ways to kill them, they love it, but can’t digest it so it’ll eventually kill them. You also don’t get the satisfaction of knowing if it’s a confirmed kill or not. Each time I did it, the gum was gone, so they did something with it and no other mounds popped up.
 
We have moles here in western WA and I haven't kept an exact count but I've trapped hundreds of them. My kids always want to go on "mole patrol" with me and walk the trap line.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20250317_062343.jpg
    IMG_20250317_062343.jpg
    542.3 KB · Views: 5
  • IMG_5407.jpg
    IMG_5407.jpg
    303.2 KB · Views: 5
Back
Top