Often times the best way to avoid trouble is to be invisible. We've talked about camouflaging yourself, your vehicle and even buildings, but what about camouflaging your weapon? I recently read a post on a survival blog wherein a poster stated that MultiCam camouflage was so effective that often the only way he and his buddy could keep track of each other while hunting was to look for the black barrels of each other's rifles. As usual, there's an app for that.
Soldiers have a virtually unlimited supply of ammunition and fully automatic weapons, which can get very hot when firing full auto, so you don't see much about using strips of burlap or cloth to camouflage military weapons. Also, if you're not careful burlap can move around on the weapon during handling and obscure the sights.
[Here's a slightly redacted portion of the US Army's take on camouflaging weapons.]
"Rationale: You must be able to conduct tactical operations while reducing/limiting detection by the threat. Camouflage paints provide for reduced visual detection and enhanced survivability via neutral, non-reflective, and predominantly non-black colors. Weapon signature reduction (i.e., outline, and contrast with background, texture and color) aids in limiting your visual signature and makes it more difficult for the enemy to detect your position."
"The color, black, is highly infra red reflective and black-colored weapons provide a high degree of visual contrast when you carry it even if your are camouflaged. Not only is the weapon itself more visible, but the type of weapon and type of accessories are more easily identified providing indicators of your capabilities and position. Additionally, black color is more conducive to solar-loading (heat retention)" [don't you just love "Army talk"?] "than earth-tone colors. Some limited black color in irregular black shapes/patterns does provide for weapon outline breakup."
"TIPS: Good camouflage can be achieved many ways. Some may want to place netting or foliage such as grass or leaves on the weapon and paint around it to better blend into the environment."
"Others may just want to use a blending technique. When using the blending technique coat the weapon with the lightest color you will be using. Next take a darker shade that blends with your environment and paint stripes about 4 inches apart at a 45 degree angle. You can do this with 1 to 2 colors. Next you need to blend it in. Take a dark color like green or brown and from about 6 to 8 inches away from the weapon lightly dust the gun. After that take a lighter color (khaki, or tan) and lightly dust the gun from 6 to 8 inches away. This will blend everything together and dull the finish. Colors will depend on operational environment."
Notes for Soldiers – Weapons Painting 101
There are other reasons you may wish to camouflage your rifle or shotgun. Black stands out in a natural environment because it rarely occurs in nature, except in shadows, and black is among the easiest colors to see in movement. That fact renders even the best camo relatively ineffective if a black weapon like the "black guns" (M-4, AR-15 etc.) is visible; there is no black in the MultiCam pattern.
Black is highly reflective through infrared viewing devices and provides a high degree of visual contrast when carried by camouflaged persons.
Pretty’ is not the objective of good camouflage. The goal is to break up the visual signature of the weapon by blending your weapon in with your environment and clothing. No matter how pretty a weapon looks, it is more important that it work.
Remember to pick colors best suited to blend with the terrain where you are operating. If you'll be operating in a primarily green environment greens and maybe a bit of brown might be your best choice. If you'll be working in chiefly semi-arid or desert surroundings the colors you'd choose might be primarily tan, brown and gray.
Neither tape nor paint will stick to oil so you'll need to thoroughly clean the weapon and let it dry before taping or painting.
If your operating environment has just light sand, then just paint your weapon tan with limited black breakup. If you are operating in a woodland environment, brown and olive drab with limited black breakup may be appropriate.
Looking for a template? Look to your local environment. One option is to layer local foliage or grasses on the weapon and paint around them to leave a natural-looking pattern.
To blend colors effectively, first coat the weapon with the lightest color you will be using. Next take a darker shade that blends with your environment and paint stripes about four inches apart at a 45 degree angle. You can do this with one or two colors. Next, you need to blend it in. Take a dark color like green or brown and from about six to eight inches away from the weapon lightly dust the gun. After that, take a lighter color (khaki, or tan) and lightly dust the gun. This will blend everything together and dull the finish. Your color palette will depend on the operational environment.
Civilians may want to use the Rustoleum "camo" set, which is black, green, brown, and tan in ultra flat and plain Rustoleum primer for gray.
Remember there's not much room for artistic masterpieces on a rifle stock and the smaller the camo pattern the more the pattern disappears into a big blob at distances.
Want'a see a beautifully camouflaged rifle? Take a look at the picture in Gunnery Sergeant ryanm's second post on this page.
A tan or gray rifle or shotgun with (as seen from the side) brown or green blobs that DON'T go above or below the halfway point will help turn a long straight weapon into an indistinct group of blobs. Particularly if multi colored burlap is warped around the barrel.
Painting an all black rifle or shotgun gray or tan helps make it harder for the human eye to distinguish from the background. Adding a few splashes of other colors works even better.
If, like me, you don't want to spend hundreds of dollars pimping up your gun you can (when push comes to shove) simply keep a roll of OD duct tape handy so as to wrap parts of the forearm and stock when the balloon goes up.
On AR-15 type guns just replacing the black "plastic" parts (stock, pistol grip, forearm and forward pistol grip) with gray, tan or OD green parts will go a long way towards breaking up the outline of the weapon. Gray, green or tan 30 round magazines will help a lot too. If you use duct tape on your mags remember it too comes in gray (not silver) green and tan.
Just tying a bit of burlap (it too comes in camo colors) around parts of the weapon not normally handled will help break up the weapons shape (long black thing that looks like a gun becomes several little dark things) and outline (straight lines like rifle barrels seldom exist in nature bumpy branches do).
Whether using paint or tape you've got to be sure your coverings don't interfere with the weapon's operation (feeding/ejecting) or your operation (aiming, loading and clearing it). Use a foam ear plug to keep paint out of the barrel while painting the rifle. "Before you break out the spray paint, be sure to protect your weapon so that your weapon continues to protect you."
The bottom line is that it’s more important for a weapon be functional than invisible.
There are also several Self-cling Camouflage Wraps: McNett Camo Tape and Marine Digital camo tape are just two examples.
The advantage of wraps is that you don't have to permanently paint your gun to camouflage it in the field. And you don't have to contend with all that sticky stuff you'd get if you used camouflage duct tape.
The disadvantage of foam is that if left on for long periods of time moisture may collect under the wrap which could damage the finish on your weapon or even cause rust. Fortunately wrap tape is advertised as being reusable.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
J writes:
"I look at camouflage of weapons from a more utilitarian standpoint which impacts me more often. That's how to camouflage an appropriate weapon in one's position as a hidden or "mistaken identity" article that will be unlikely to attract attention (unless that is deemed desirable). Since the weapon has to be capable of projecting sufficient damage to neutralize a threat of a likely order of magnitude, it requires imagination.
Nowadays, with the frequency of weapon's checks, it is far more difficult to get away with this sort of thing as getting caught with a weapon specifically designed to evade metal detectors, etc. is too difficult to explain. That means that weapons tend to be quickly detachable parts of carrying cases which are edged or designed to be swung and not likely to be picked up by various detectors. "
J is, of course, writing about carrying concealed weapons in cities in our civilized society whereas I was writing about camouflaging battle rifles and carbines in the field.
"The key is to make all similar parts appear the same on a symmetrical basis so edges don't stand out on a scan bet look like simple chamfers. While traditional coiled springs are generally metallic, and plastic helical ones can only be used for "advancement" purposes, flexed plastic bars can substitute in various designs as long as the tendency of "form memory" of most plastics is taken into account."
By eschewing firearms J exchanges the option of striking beyond (I think) arms length for concealability in populated areas.
"The above does not apply to [gun] powder actuated firearms as the risk of getting caught with one designed to be concealed in a covert fashion is generally greater than the threat you are trying to defend yourself from (and there are plenty of non-powder actuated weapons that approach the same effectiveness at close ranges with a bit of practice)."
Right, illegally carrying a concealed firearm is a good way to get arrested.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
K writes:
Reminded me of Sniper School. During field trials, many of the sniper students were spotted because they failed to camouflage the heel of their boots! When the sniper student is in the prone position the heel is easily identifiable to an observer / counter-sniper.
Yes, BLACK is seldom found in nature. Likewise movement attracts the eye and since the heel has to move when the boot wearer does…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
J.R. writes:
One caution about the Kane Gun Covers. My brother left his on a Remington 600 stocked rifle which (presumably) has an RKW finish. The cover over several months damaged the synthetic wood sealer. If you plan on using covers on your firearms, consider they may damage the finish on them as well.
J.R.
Thanks, J.R.; According to Randy Rowley Kane has gone out of business.
To Comment on this article
E-Mail Me
(If that link doesn't work for you try sending your comments to me, DesertDave@aol.com please put "Blog" in the subject line, thanks, Dave.)
Unless you specifically ask me not to, I'll post your reply here in the blog so everyone can read it. Of course I'll remove your name, email address and any other specific information for privacy purposes.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
Moles, Voles and Pocket Gophers
(Y'all be sure to check out the picture of the squirrel cook, by clicking on the link, in the recipes section at the bottom of this piece. A picture is indeed worth 1000 words.)
Zombie Gopher and the 22 mag Derringer
Once many years ago, when I was working at the jail, I came home one afternoon and was engaged in conversation by my neighbor across the street. As we spoke, literally over her fence, we noticed a common pocket gopher bobbing its head up out of its hole in her flowerbed inches from my feet. He was chewing on one of her flowers!
Since the cultivated rockless ground offered no ricochet potential, I slowly drew my .22 mag derringer and, taking careful aim, fired one shot from approximately 18 inches (muzzle to varmint). The shock to the gopher was so great it actually bounced partway up out of the hole with a small drop of blood where the .22 magnum hollow point bullet had entered the little beastie's cheek and, I presumed, gone on in to finish the rodent off.
My neighbor congratulated me on my shooting skill and I felt rather proud of myself as I went over to my place, grabbed a shovel, went back and scooped up the gopher. I took it to a spot behind my place and started to dig a hole to bury it in.
Imagine my surprise when I glanced up from my grave digging duties to see the intended internee crawling away! No time for fancy shooting now! I took the flat of the shovel and whacked it a couple of times returning the situation to the point I'd thought it had been a few minutes before. When I was sure it was really dead this time I examined the zombie gopher to determine what had happened.
My field autopsy revealed the hollow point .22 magnum bullet had entered its left cheek pouch and expanded against the hard seeds the critter was storing in the pocket. The flattened bullet had transmitted all its power, through the seeds, to the varmint's skull knocking it out. The shock of the shot had caused the gopher's body to spasm, tossing it out of the hole.
And people wonder why I carry a .45 now.
Many of us (me included) don't see the coming troubles as a Mad Max movie or a No Blade of Grass world, but rather a slow lowering of living standards as availability of resources contracts and our infrastructure collapses probably due to hyperinflation or other economic malfeasances by our leaders.
Think Argentina nine years after their economic collapse.
In the aftermath of an Argentina style economic breakdown food and / or the wherewithal to purchase food may become scarce. Hunting in remote areas is a gamble which involves expenditures that often won't be recovered by the value of the game (if any) harvested. Hence hunting in urban areas may appear desirable until you consider the complications arising from carrying guns around and shooting in an urban or suburban environment.
There's also the problem of size. Any animal (pets or wildlife) large enough to be loose on urban/suburban streets is likely to be hunted in hard times. (There are precious few stray dogs on the streets of cities in countries where dog is on the menu.) As the sole predator of any urban / suburban creature you're likely to do better than if you duke it out with all the other predators for popular game.
As a retired businessman I can tell you that you don't want to be competing -- head to head – with a crowd. For the small businessman success if found along the edges of markets. Find the part of the market that isn't being exploited and market into that void. The little guys who go head – to – head against Walmart go under while the little guys who sell something Walmart doesn't sell thrive right next door to the big boxes.
Hence the desirability of urban trapping and snaring to supplement your diet. If you find yourself looking for protein in all the uncivilized places and wish to forgo Fricasseed Fluffy or Roast Rover traps & snares have several advantages over hunting in an suburban environment:
• Traps & snares can be in as many places as you set them so you can be hunting in dozens of places at the same time.
• Traps & snares operate 24 hours a day so you can be gathering food while you're sleeping.
The disadvantages of traps and snares are:
• Traps and snares have to be checked every day.
• Traps and snares can be stolen when you're not around.
First the quarry
Gophers
Gophers (sometimes called "Pocket Gophers" because they store food in fur lined pockets in their cheeks) can be up to 12 inches long and may weigh up to two pounds. Their fur is semi-water repellent and they are vegetarians eating the roots of plants then sometimes pulling the upper part of the plant underground to eat it too.
Gophers will do serious damage to your garden so trapping them not only protects your vegetables, but can add protein to your diet.
Moles
Moles are carnivorous eating worms and insects found underground. In ancient times moles were caught in water filled clay pots dug into the ground to a level just below a mole tunnel so that the mole, walking along the tunnel, would fall into the pot and drown.
Although they won't actually eat your garden plants moles can damage plant roots as they pursue their prey. You'll want to balance the need for worms in your food garden with the need for moles to eat those grubs that eat your plant's roots. Or the mole could add protein to your vegetarian diet.
Voles
Voles, also known as field mice, differ from the mouse in your house mainly in that voles seem to prefer living in holes in the ground instead of holes in your walls.
Rats
Rats are an important food source in some cultures and rats living in underground burrows can be trapped the way you'd trap voles, but with larger traps. Norway rats and Roof rats are prevalent here in America and you can add them to your larder with traditional mouse & rat traps both inside and out of your home.
Ground squirrels (prairie dogs)
Farmers hate them because they ruin fields and eat the crops. Farmers and ranchers often let "varmint" hunters onto their property to kill a few hundred a day. Unfortunately in a prolonged economic crisis the bullets to shoot the little critters may not only be too expensive, but wounded and dying squirrels tend to crawl back into their holes taking their meat and hide with them. An anchored trap, on the other hand… If you have traps and you're fortunate enough to live near a field full of the little beasties you're assured a meat supply.
Tree Squirrels (rats with fluffy tails)
Are beyond the scope of this little treatise, but you can click HERE for information on snaring squirrels on your backyard fence (being sure that the squirrels fall inside the fence so the neighbors won't learn of (and compete for) your protein supply. If you live in an area with enough squirrels you can eat the meat & sell the pelts and maybe even support yourself.
Getting back to trapping underground varmints, in THIS video you'll note that he marks his sets with little red flags (the wire poles of which serve as anchors to keep a wounded varmint from pulling the trap back down into the hole) and in some cases spray paints around the hole. That's great when you're marking something that most people don't want to touch.
But if people start getting hungry that inhibition may tend to get lost among stomach growls so less obvious markers might be in order.
I want to emphasize the importance of anchoring your traps. Many years ago while trapping coyotes in Texas I ran across a trap-wise coyote who evidently scented my trap and dug a hole nearby throwing dirt onto my set until the weight of the dirt triggered the trap.
Not wanting to be outsmarted by a dog I reset the original trap exactly like before; then set a second trap in the sand where the coyote had dug to set it off. It worked the coyote got caught in the second trap while trying to trigger the first one again.
Only one minor little problem, I'd failed to securely anchor the second trap and the dog dragged my trap off through the sagebrush. It was easy to follow the trap's marks in the sand and I eventually found the coyote where the trap's chain had got caught in some railroad tracks. I was lucky, secure your traps!
To avoid detection you'll want traps that can be set completely underground in the gopher's hole so avoid "Box Traps" and those things that look like a guillotine with sharpened prongs in place of a blade.
You'll need two traps for each set since you've no way of knowing from which direction the gopher will come. Also, a bit of bait (dab of peanut butter, sliver of Juicy Fruit gum, slice of fruit) between the two traps may entice the varmint to the traps quicker.
The Macabee gopher trap has been around for over 100 years so you know the design works. Sweeney and Victor both make good wire traps very similar to the Macabee. All of these traps will work on gophers, voles and moles.
The Gophinator gopher trap also sets completely underground and is constructed entirely out of high temper stainless steel wire so it may last longer than the others.
Macabee and the others are sold at local hardware & feed stores, Granger, Sears and lots of places online. Happy hunting and bon appetit
Recipes
Squirrel
She ain't glad ta see ya' 'cause that's a Squirrel in the Dutch oven and a pistol in her pocket.
Mice
Dipped in honey with a sprinkling of poppy seeds.
Gopher
Gopher stew.
Moles
Just cook like chicken Mole
Voles
Voles Souris Cordon Bleu
================
JRG writes:
You can also ‘create’ tunnels by stacking a length or lengths of plywood along a building foundation. Many ‘vermin’ often use protected routes of travel, and this would funnel them into your trap areas.
Good idea, JRG, I've used obstacles to guide field mice into the "right" side of traps in my wife's garden. Your idea not only guides them into the proper part of the trap, but gathers them in from a much larger area.
DD
To Comment on this article
E-Mail Me
(If that link doesn't work for you try sending your comments to me, DesertDave@aol.com please put "Blog" in the subject line, thanks, Dave.)
Unless you specifically ask me not to, I'll post your reply here in the blog so everyone can read it. Of course I'll remove your name, email address and any other specific information for privacy purposes.
Zombie Gopher and the 22 mag Derringer
Once many years ago, when I was working at the jail, I came home one afternoon and was engaged in conversation by my neighbor across the street. As we spoke, literally over her fence, we noticed a common pocket gopher bobbing its head up out of its hole in her flowerbed inches from my feet. He was chewing on one of her flowers!
Since the cultivated rockless ground offered no ricochet potential, I slowly drew my .22 mag derringer and, taking careful aim, fired one shot from approximately 18 inches (muzzle to varmint). The shock to the gopher was so great it actually bounced partway up out of the hole with a small drop of blood where the .22 magnum hollow point bullet had entered the little beastie's cheek and, I presumed, gone on in to finish the rodent off.
My neighbor congratulated me on my shooting skill and I felt rather proud of myself as I went over to my place, grabbed a shovel, went back and scooped up the gopher. I took it to a spot behind my place and started to dig a hole to bury it in.
Imagine my surprise when I glanced up from my grave digging duties to see the intended internee crawling away! No time for fancy shooting now! I took the flat of the shovel and whacked it a couple of times returning the situation to the point I'd thought it had been a few minutes before. When I was sure it was really dead this time I examined the zombie gopher to determine what had happened.
My field autopsy revealed the hollow point .22 magnum bullet had entered its left cheek pouch and expanded against the hard seeds the critter was storing in the pocket. The flattened bullet had transmitted all its power, through the seeds, to the varmint's skull knocking it out. The shock of the shot had caused the gopher's body to spasm, tossing it out of the hole.
And people wonder why I carry a .45 now.
Many of us (me included) don't see the coming troubles as a Mad Max movie or a No Blade of Grass world, but rather a slow lowering of living standards as availability of resources contracts and our infrastructure collapses probably due to hyperinflation or other economic malfeasances by our leaders.
Think Argentina nine years after their economic collapse.
In the aftermath of an Argentina style economic breakdown food and / or the wherewithal to purchase food may become scarce. Hunting in remote areas is a gamble which involves expenditures that often won't be recovered by the value of the game (if any) harvested. Hence hunting in urban areas may appear desirable until you consider the complications arising from carrying guns around and shooting in an urban or suburban environment.
There's also the problem of size. Any animal (pets or wildlife) large enough to be loose on urban/suburban streets is likely to be hunted in hard times. (There are precious few stray dogs on the streets of cities in countries where dog is on the menu.) As the sole predator of any urban / suburban creature you're likely to do better than if you duke it out with all the other predators for popular game.
As a retired businessman I can tell you that you don't want to be competing -- head to head – with a crowd. For the small businessman success if found along the edges of markets. Find the part of the market that isn't being exploited and market into that void. The little guys who go head – to – head against Walmart go under while the little guys who sell something Walmart doesn't sell thrive right next door to the big boxes.
Hence the desirability of urban trapping and snaring to supplement your diet. If you find yourself looking for protein in all the uncivilized places and wish to forgo Fricasseed Fluffy or Roast Rover traps & snares have several advantages over hunting in an suburban environment:
• Traps & snares can be in as many places as you set them so you can be hunting in dozens of places at the same time.
• Traps & snares operate 24 hours a day so you can be gathering food while you're sleeping.
The disadvantages of traps and snares are:
• Traps and snares have to be checked every day.
• Traps and snares can be stolen when you're not around.
First the quarry
Gophers
Gophers (sometimes called "Pocket Gophers" because they store food in fur lined pockets in their cheeks) can be up to 12 inches long and may weigh up to two pounds. Their fur is semi-water repellent and they are vegetarians eating the roots of plants then sometimes pulling the upper part of the plant underground to eat it too.
Gophers will do serious damage to your garden so trapping them not only protects your vegetables, but can add protein to your diet.
Moles
Moles are carnivorous eating worms and insects found underground. In ancient times moles were caught in water filled clay pots dug into the ground to a level just below a mole tunnel so that the mole, walking along the tunnel, would fall into the pot and drown.
Although they won't actually eat your garden plants moles can damage plant roots as they pursue their prey. You'll want to balance the need for worms in your food garden with the need for moles to eat those grubs that eat your plant's roots. Or the mole could add protein to your vegetarian diet.
Voles
Voles, also known as field mice, differ from the mouse in your house mainly in that voles seem to prefer living in holes in the ground instead of holes in your walls.
Rats
Rats are an important food source in some cultures and rats living in underground burrows can be trapped the way you'd trap voles, but with larger traps. Norway rats and Roof rats are prevalent here in America and you can add them to your larder with traditional mouse & rat traps both inside and out of your home.
Ground squirrels (prairie dogs)
Farmers hate them because they ruin fields and eat the crops. Farmers and ranchers often let "varmint" hunters onto their property to kill a few hundred a day. Unfortunately in a prolonged economic crisis the bullets to shoot the little critters may not only be too expensive, but wounded and dying squirrels tend to crawl back into their holes taking their meat and hide with them. An anchored trap, on the other hand… If you have traps and you're fortunate enough to live near a field full of the little beasties you're assured a meat supply.
Tree Squirrels (rats with fluffy tails)
Are beyond the scope of this little treatise, but you can click HERE for information on snaring squirrels on your backyard fence (being sure that the squirrels fall inside the fence so the neighbors won't learn of (and compete for) your protein supply. If you live in an area with enough squirrels you can eat the meat & sell the pelts and maybe even support yourself.
Getting back to trapping underground varmints, in THIS video you'll note that he marks his sets with little red flags (the wire poles of which serve as anchors to keep a wounded varmint from pulling the trap back down into the hole) and in some cases spray paints around the hole. That's great when you're marking something that most people don't want to touch.
But if people start getting hungry that inhibition may tend to get lost among stomach growls so less obvious markers might be in order.
I want to emphasize the importance of anchoring your traps. Many years ago while trapping coyotes in Texas I ran across a trap-wise coyote who evidently scented my trap and dug a hole nearby throwing dirt onto my set until the weight of the dirt triggered the trap.
Not wanting to be outsmarted by a dog I reset the original trap exactly like before; then set a second trap in the sand where the coyote had dug to set it off. It worked the coyote got caught in the second trap while trying to trigger the first one again.
Only one minor little problem, I'd failed to securely anchor the second trap and the dog dragged my trap off through the sagebrush. It was easy to follow the trap's marks in the sand and I eventually found the coyote where the trap's chain had got caught in some railroad tracks. I was lucky, secure your traps!
To avoid detection you'll want traps that can be set completely underground in the gopher's hole so avoid "Box Traps" and those things that look like a guillotine with sharpened prongs in place of a blade.
You'll need two traps for each set since you've no way of knowing from which direction the gopher will come. Also, a bit of bait (dab of peanut butter, sliver of Juicy Fruit gum, slice of fruit) between the two traps may entice the varmint to the traps quicker.
The Macabee gopher trap has been around for over 100 years so you know the design works. Sweeney and Victor both make good wire traps very similar to the Macabee. All of these traps will work on gophers, voles and moles.
The Gophinator gopher trap also sets completely underground and is constructed entirely out of high temper stainless steel wire so it may last longer than the others.
Macabee and the others are sold at local hardware & feed stores, Granger, Sears and lots of places online. Happy hunting and bon appetit
Recipes
Squirrel
She ain't glad ta see ya' 'cause that's a Squirrel in the Dutch oven and a pistol in her pocket.
Mice
Dipped in honey with a sprinkling of poppy seeds.
Gopher
Gopher stew.
Moles
Just cook like chicken Mole
Voles
Voles Souris Cordon Bleu
================
JRG writes:
You can also ‘create’ tunnels by stacking a length or lengths of plywood along a building foundation. Many ‘vermin’ often use protected routes of travel, and this would funnel them into your trap areas.
Good idea, JRG, I've used obstacles to guide field mice into the "right" side of traps in my wife's garden. Your idea not only guides them into the proper part of the trap, but gathers them in from a much larger area.
DD
To Comment on this article
E-Mail Me
(If that link doesn't work for you try sending your comments to me, DesertDave@aol.com please put "Blog" in the subject line, thanks, Dave.)
Unless you specifically ask me not to, I'll post your reply here in the blog so everyone can read it. Of course I'll remove your name, email address and any other specific information for privacy purposes.
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