Gophers are a problem in our alfalfa field as well. To date I've relied on trapping, but have almost given up on controlling them. I have a gopher poisoning machine that I use in bermudagrass fields, but I won't use it in alfalfa for fear of tearing up the alfalfa roots. I've heard of a pellet that can be dropped into a gopher tunnel and when it reacts with soil water, it rapidly forms a deadly gas that kills gophers. I'm not sure of the type of gas formed but have been advised to be very careful when using it. Phosgene gas???

 

Sorry just had to throw that out there... best of luck...

OL J R

 

Gophers are a problem in our alfalfa field as well. To date I've relied on trapping, but have almost given up on controlling them. I have a gopher poisoning machine that I use in bermudagrass fields, but I won't use it in alfalfa for fear of tearing up the alfalfa roots. I've heard of a pellet that can be dropped into a gopher tunnel and when it reacts with soil water, it rapidly forms a deadly gas that kills gophers. I'm not sure of the type of gas formed but have been advised to be very careful when using it. Phosgene gas???

Aluminum Phosphide.one of the trade names is Phostec.I used it before a fumigation lisence was required for it.Ive enquires about a lisence but found it to be a PIA to get.

 

Hey guys,
I was wondering what methods you guys use to fight that little devil creature. Granted I have use everything poison, blowing them up, and trapping. I have found trapping them to be the best method and using bacon grease has a great bait. I am a professional trapper (not really but I fell like I am). I saw a article in farm show for a gassing unit called the Cheetah looks pretty cool. I like the idea of how fast I can move through my fields instead of setting 10-50 traps a day.
Thanks
Ryan

Really,bacon grease for bait?

I've tried everything and have went back to trapping.Its actually as fast as anything and I can set 20 traps in about a hr if I time it right to hit freshly dug holes.Around 9 AM I usually find them digging and some time holes are even open so it's a lot faster setting traps then when they are totally plugged.

 

We own a professional blower upper it is good it is most effective when they are nursing there pups once the babys are gone you never know if there home . We have 30- 220 Conibear traps . I agree with many others trapping is best

Aluminum Phosphide.one of the trade names is Phostec.I used it before a fumigation lisence was required for it.Ive enquires about a lisence but found it to be a PIA to get.

I tried that not impressed

 

When I lived in Minnesota as a kid, I would trap pocket gophers in the roadside ditches and turn in the front feet for $.25-.50 pair. I assume those are the little buggers you are referring to? Or are they more of a prairie dog type critter?

In PA, groundhogs are the 'gopher' that digs and mounds in the hay fields. I've been thinning mine out with conibear traps like endrow. I hit them hard in early spring while they are still carrying their young. It's like a 3 for 1 happy hour getting those momma's before they drop the next generation.

 

I also use the conibear traps in early spring. The only thing I don't like is it seams every year a trap or metal stake disappear. I don't know what happens to them, or where they go...I just know I will find one with the baler or mower sometime down the line...

 

I like to put a marking flag alongside the trap stake(s) so I don't forget where I have traps set, and so they are visible to the spray company in case they are in the fields while I have traps set. So far that has kept my trap inventory count accurate .

 

We use a gopher machine in our alfalfa twice a year to control the dam things we use strychnine poison for bait. I have to much ground to do the trapping thing