Goodnature A18 Squirrel Trap.
- Thread starter hunta
- Start date
Yes I was a bit concerned about them going missing. Fortunately the woodland is isolated and the trap would be well off any rides.
Have used the A24.
For what it's worth, they do work, but two big problems:
1- You are tied into them for the lure and CO2 canisters, if they go bust or products are out of stock then you are stuck.
2- The CO2 needs to be purged from the system once you unscrew the cartridge, they are a one use deal.
All in all, a very clever mousetrap for catching people (i.e paying too much!)
Ok. Both good points. My main concern was not being able to visit daily so was looking for a humane dispatch. I have only used live traps in the past. I was a bit concerned about using Fen traps as I want to minimise the chance of killing non target species.
Danny25790
Well-Known Member
Great bit of kit, been using them this year to manage rats and squirrels and have had great results. I have used fenn traps for a few years but the bugger is keep having to reset them after each use where as you set these things up and just check the counter every few days. I tend to just use peanut butter as bait rather than their stuff.
Expensive yes but will resolve the problem
Expensive yes but will resolve the problem
jimmer.13
Well-Known Member
Good bits of kit but like all traps its about positioning to where they will be most effective and out of sight to would be rural terrorists.
You can get metal protective covers that provide a bit of camouflage from prying eyes but determined bell ends are still a threat for expensive traps such as these.
Set them up wisely and I think you will be impressed with the lure and the kill rate, initially I heard they were not that successful but so far I've been impressed.
If you want some more information on the products PM me and I will put you in touch with the chap who is in charge of marketing and sales. He actually came out and demonstrated the product and is quite a ninja on squirrel control .... as always just when you think you cant learn much more on a subject...
You can get metal protective covers that provide a bit of camouflage from prying eyes but determined bell ends are still a threat for expensive traps such as these.
Set them up wisely and I think you will be impressed with the lure and the kill rate, initially I heard they were not that successful but so far I've been impressed.
If you want some more information on the products PM me and I will put you in touch with the chap who is in charge of marketing and sales. He actually came out and demonstrated the product and is quite a ninja on squirrel control .... as always just when you think you cant learn much more on a subject...
Shootgun
Well-Known Member
I got one as a present from one of my landowners and is sitting on a tree in the garden for about 3 weeks...
I’ve seen loads of squirrels having a nose in but none of them went all the way in so it can trigger the trap, despite refreshing the bait every week...
It caught none so far, so not impressed .
I’ve seen loads of squirrels having a nose in but none of them went all the way in so it can trigger the trap, despite refreshing the bait every week...
It caught none so far, so not impressed .
So far, mine has yet to score, but there's so much natural food around this year I've not been surprised by the lack of interest.
I plan to refresh the lure in the next couple of days, and see if I can do any better now they're spending time digging up caches rather than making them.
Also, I set mine up using the black plastic back plate that's supposed to prevent non-target species entering. I have no idea what would be able to get in without the plate being there that can't get in once it is there, but the trail camera suggests that squirrels don't like it. I'm tempted to remove it, but would rather do so knowing what species other than squirrels might get zapped if I do.
I plan to refresh the lure in the next couple of days, and see if I can do any better now they're spending time digging up caches rather than making them.
Also, I set mine up using the black plastic back plate that's supposed to prevent non-target species entering. I have no idea what would be able to get in without the plate being there that can't get in once it is there, but the trail camera suggests that squirrels don't like it. I'm tempted to remove it, but would rather do so knowing what species other than squirrels might get zapped if I do.
Thanks for your reply. In your professional judgement what would you recommend that I do to reduce the squirrel population bearing in mind I that I can't be there every day. I'm intending to have several goes at the drays this winter and to shoot what I can. I have considered putting up a feeder in front of a hide to bring them in and then shoot what I can before moving to a different position.
shakey jake
Well-Known Member
if you can set up baited tunnels they will soon get used to them, then set fenns in the tunnel one evening and return the next
Setting up feeders will enable you to shoot lots of squirrels, but may also draw them into your woods from the surrounding area. It's probably helpful on balance, but may be best to place them with diversionary intent wherever the collateral damage from squirrels is likely to be least serious.
Leupsak
Well-Known Member
Im also a vermin controller and have a number of A18s and have found them very good but ......... need to be mounted out of sight or use a ladder up the tree to get them out of reach as they are expensive if they walk or if little fingers could be poked inside.
Peanut butter is a good bait.
Threaded tyre inflation 16 gram Co2 canisters from eBay work and are just over £1 each.
A canister will kill 18 squirrels before a change of cylinder is required.
You can buy 15 Mk4 Fenn traps or 5 Fenn traps with cages for the same price as one A18, its down to what you need and the size of woodland, I would personally go for Mk4 Fenn traps and build the tunnels or boxes yourself and mount them off the ground if you can and make the boxes with entry holes to rule out birds and hedgehogs etc.
Light feeding and shooting them on feed stations is good from January to March, just don't overfeed or transient populations will be drawn to the woods.
Peanut butter is a good bait.
Threaded tyre inflation 16 gram Co2 canisters from eBay work and are just over £1 each.
A canister will kill 18 squirrels before a change of cylinder is required.
You can buy 15 Mk4 Fenn traps or 5 Fenn traps with cages for the same price as one A18, its down to what you need and the size of woodland, I would personally go for Mk4 Fenn traps and build the tunnels or boxes yourself and mount them off the ground if you can and make the boxes with entry holes to rule out birds and hedgehogs etc.
Light feeding and shooting them on feed stations is good from January to March, just don't overfeed or transient populations will be drawn to the woods.
jimmer.13
Well-Known Member
Mine have slowed up recently probably as you say loads of food around this year and still plenty of full pheasant feeders.
I think the plate is to stop birds like nuthatches and woodpeckers and tree creepers and such, i found that smearing a bit of the lure at the base of the tree and on the plastic pad encouraged them a bit more. Its a bit of trial and error and they are not as effective as fenns in tunnels or a steady rifle shot but they are working 24/7 and humane and your not checking them every day. If you are looking after a huge acreage as I do and struggle to find enough hours in the day to do every thing you want and need to do, then they are a good tool to have in your box to free up a bit more time.
Horses for courses as in all the things we do.... if it works for you then stick with it. I've learnt a lot over the years by trial and error and I would say in most things my error was not to ask some one to show or teach me in the first place.
Best of luck
I’ve 2 set up close to peanut feeders. In a few weeks I’ve had one take the bait. I’m going to smear some peanut butter on the back plate and hope this speeds things up. So far the 22 has claimed 150 odd in the last few months the very expensive traps 1! I’m sure at some point they will produce though
Sorry missed this! As mentioned by Shakey Jake set traps! I get on well with WCS tunnel traps, you can hang them up on trunks and branches well. I always find peanut butter a great bait.
Jimmer13, thanks. There are plenty of nuthatches, woodpeckers and treecreepers in that part of the wood... perhaps because I sited my trap next to one of my feeders! I thought that as the feeder was already drawing squirrels in, they would get curious enough about the A18 to pop their heads in for a sniff. The trail camera caught them checking it out, but my counter remained resolutely at "0".
I did try smearing lure on the trunk and on the black plate, but I supect this is easily washed away by the rain.
I may try relocating the trap to an adjacent area of hazel coppice which hosts fewer creeping birds... but then there's the dormice to think about! Are they hibernating at this time of year? (Google beckons)
I did try smearing lure on the trunk and on the black plate, but I supect this is easily washed away by the rain.
I may try relocating the trap to an adjacent area of hazel coppice which hosts fewer creeping birds... but then there's the dormice to think about! Are they hibernating at this time of year? (Google beckons)
Like the OP, I don't use spring traps in the wood because I can't be there every day, hence the unequal combination of shooting over feeders and using the A18.
I do manage to keep my garden free of squirrels using a Fenn in a metal bird-box enclosure, however. The enclosure is very well designed to position the squirrel for an instant neck kill, and very discreet, because the body remains hidden inside the trap. It's easy to check, too: I just open a window and point my thermal spotter down the garden. A warm bird-box means a fresh kill!
I do manage to keep my garden free of squirrels using a Fenn in a metal bird-box enclosure, however. The enclosure is very well designed to position the squirrel for an instant neck kill, and very discreet, because the body remains hidden inside the trap. It's easy to check, too: I just open a window and point my thermal spotter down the garden. A warm bird-box means a fresh kill!
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