How to Set a Macabee Gopher Trap
Gophers are destructive little rodents. They tear up sod and lawns, eat garden seedlings and in general leave a churned mass of dirt wherever they dig their tunnels. The only practical way to remove gophers is to trap them. The Macabee Gopher Trap is a standard model for gopher trapping. Unlike other models that are made with square frames, the Macabee is made of twisted and tempered heavy wire. It may look like a puzzle to set, but in reality it is a simple procedure. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Position the Macabee trap in your hands. The trigger rod comes up through the bottom of the trap. Hold the trap so that the two wire prong jaws point toward you. There is a coil spring and a loop spring that comes off of it. The loop spring is what is compressed.
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2
Place fingers of both hands against the underside of the trap. Place both thumbs on the upraised loop spring and squeeze your fingers and thumbs together, pushing the loop spring down even with the bottom frame of the trap.
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3
Hold the loop spring down with one hand. Let go with the other hand, and push the two prong jaws open. Where the trigger rod is attached to the trap frame with a twist there is a small end of the wire sticking up out of the twist. Lift the trigger rod up through the trap frame with your free hand, hooking the end piece over the end of the trap's loop spring.
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4
Keep holding the loop spring against the frame, and with your free hand continue lifting the trigger rod up and between the trap frame. Shift the two fingers of your hand, holding the loop spring down so as to lift the trigger rod farther up.
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5
Move your free hand to the square trap pan, and lift the pan to a vertical position, 90 degrees to the trap. Push the end of the trigger rod into the hole at the bottom of the trap pan. Let up the thumb that is holding the loop spring down while holding the frame of the trap in your free hand. The spring tension will hold the trap pan upright and keep the trap set.
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Tips & Warnings
The loop spring is tension-loaded and will need some effort to push it down.
You can maneuver your fingers around the trap as is most comfortable for you. The setting technique remains the same.
Illustrated instructions will come with the trap.
The trap is made to exact tolerances in order to make all the parts perform properly when a gopher trips the trap pan. Do not bend the frame, trigger rod or pan to force it to fit. This can result in the trap being ineffective and dangerous to try and set.
To prevent injury, keep your hands and fingers out from between the prong jaws and away from the trap pan once the trap is set.
