Gopher Trap - Application

Gophinator Placement Instructions

⚠️ This is a powerful trap capable of injuring hands or fingers. Always wear work or gardening gloves. Never place hands or fingers between the tines of a set trap. Do not allow the winder to slip while under tension. Do not set with wet or slippery fingers.
Setting the Gophinator

  1. Unhook the rear winder from the upright portion of the trap body at point A. (Traps ship in the unhooked position.)
  2. Open the front tines and hook the left tine (B) under the small nub on the front end of the trip wire at point C. Only the short nub goes over the tine — do not force the long length of the trip wire over the tine.
  3. Place the distant end of the trip wire under the inverted U-shaped hook on the left side of the wire trip pan at point D. The trap is now in the set position.
  4. Holding the wire pan down with the trip wire hooked in place, and keeping hands and fingers clear of the front tines, give the winder one full turn under tension. Hook the winder handle onto the upright trap body at point A. Do not turn the winder more than one full turn — over-tensioning will damage the spring.

Tip: Attach a small nylon string or cable just behind the spring before setting, so the trap can be staked down. This prevents loss if moles pull the trap into the tunnel or scavengers carry it off.

Placing the Trap

  1. Dig open a 4–5 inch section of tunnel.
  2. Hold the trap by the winder spring handle with thumb and index finger. Keep light pressure on the back of the wire trigger pan with your index finger to prevent accidental firing as you slide the trap in.
  3. Push the trap into the tunnel, tines upward, until the pan and at least part of the winder spring are inside the run. The fit is snug — do not enlarge the tunnel.
  4. Bed the trap slightly into the soil by applying gentle downward and forward pressure on the winder handle at point A. This drives the tines slightly into the soil. Do not push straight down on the winder spring — this can tip the front of the trap upward and block the mole's path.
  5. Fill in behind the trap with dirt clods and loose soil to block light from entering the tunnel end.

Note: Keep soil away from the end of the trip wire where it hooks under the U-shaped hook on the pan — soil buildup here will significantly reduce trigger sensitivity.