Seriously?...Mole Trapping Illegal in Washington

[Humptulips]

The really sad part about the whole thing is that eveeryone doesn't already know this especially on a forum like this. We have been telling people this ever since the inititive was validated for the ballot.
You can thank Lisa Watne who was the leader of HSUS in the state at the time. They brought you the Initiative and lied to the voters about the consequences of the Inititive. They received a big fine from the Election Commission but because they set up a shell organization to run the campaign the fine was never paid and they suffered no consequences. Guess they knew they were going to lie and get fined.
And yes they give out tickets but it seems  only to people that made a living trapping moles.
Think this is fair. A trapper in Grays Harbor gets an $11,000 fine for breaking the law on a first offence but the grounds crew for the Capitol gets a warning.
We been trying to fix this for 10 years with no luck. You can thank Rep. Hans Dunshee and Rep. Kevin Van De Wege for blocking any efforts to change the law.

[D360]

Shotgun is the best way to go, and after you dig the little sucker out tan the hide and it looks like a pocket sized bear rug.

[Curly]

The governor uses scissor traps for moles, so I think everyone should be able to.

Doesn't being Native American give you any defense for using traps? ..............

Anyway, on all seriousness, I'd use the scissor trap if I were you and not worry about it too much.  The state is likely not going to enforce the law on you.  They have gone after professional mole exterminators that use the traps but I haven't heard about them ticketing a homeowner.  Hell, they didn't even write-up the governor.

[pianoman9701]

Poison them. Easier, no digging, no prison terms!

[Coastal_native]

Thanks all, for the advice and history of the initiative.

No, Curley, I don't think mole control was a reserved right in our treaty

Yes, pianoman, I'll give the poison peanuts a try, but I haven't heard anything positive about them...and hopefully I don't kill my dog in the process.  I'll post pics of my success...after I iron the kinks out of his carcass that is
 

[JimmyHoffa]

You can use an arrow to probe the ground and find where the tunnel is.  Then find approximate ends of said tunnel and put some gasoline in there.  If the fumes don't drive them out, you can light it.  There is someone on here that I've heard makes stuff out of mole pelts...like clothing or something.

[rasbo]

heck got a pair this morning,lil guys but two is two...get them anyway you can,they are quite the pests,also got 6 rats this week,a few more pelts might have enough for a new catfishing vest...

[Coastal_native]

He didn't last much longer after my OP...sure wish I could've used a trap.  How much $ will you give me for the pelt rasbo?

[furbearer365]

Just because some idiot with a suit on says it is a law, sometimes turning the other cheek is what has to be done.  You pay for your property, do as you wish.

[Blacktail Sniper]

Thanks all, for the advice and history of the initiative.

No, Curley, I don't think mole control was a reserved right in our treaty

Yes, pianoman, I'll give the poison peanuts a try, but I haven't heard anything positive about them...and hopefully I don't kill my dog in the process.  I'll post pics of my success...after I iron the kinks out of his carcass that is

A friend of mine tried the little poison peanuts on her place, when she checked to see if any had been taken, she found a bunch of broken shells, some little tiny, crushed beer cans and a note asking if they could get some more by Friday night to go with the game.....

[Bofire]

I used to have  heavy trap I could set over mole hills, held a 12 gauge shell pointed straight down and had a little foot trigger that released  trip hammer with a sharp point, shot the shell straight down, killed the mole when he moved the dirt!! Loaned it to a friend, when his neighbor found out what it was he called the cops and they stole my trap!! 
  Another way is a 30/06 or so size of empty brass, fill it with black powder, get some Rocket igniters at the hobby store, put tape on the metal ends bend them over and shove the igniter into the powder, pinch the case mouth shut, wrap a couple wires on the igniter leads, get yer radio shack mecury switch, run a wire to it and the a lead from it (long lead!!) run both the wires to yer truck battery, stuff the shell and the switch in to dirt hill, make sure the mecury switch is set, go to yer truck, hook the wires to yer battery (50 feet away or more) sit in yer chair, open a cold one and wait for Mr mole to set off the mine. or the lawn chair and 12 gauge works, 410 is too small!!
Carl

[jackelope]

I've gotten rid of about 3 moles so far this year by using a road flare.  Dig out the mound and find the tunnel, light the flare and stick it down the tunnel flame end 1st. I put a bucket over the hole. You have to plug any leaks you have or find to keep the smoke in the tunnel system. It seems to have worked. This was a couple weeks ago. I noticed this morning another mound. This time I think I'll try one of the smoke bombs intended for this application as they're a lot cheaper than road flares and see how they work.

[phishisgroovin]

fill mole hole with alot of propane and tape a sparkler on a long stick and light propane. Mole dead.

[Curly]

I used to have  heavy trap I could set over mole hills, held a 12 gauge shell pointed straight down and had a little foot trigger that released  trip hammer with a sharp point, shot the shell straight down, killed the mole when he moved the dirt!! Loaned it to a friend, when his neighbor found out what it was he called the cops and they stole my trap!! 
  Another way is a 30/06 or so size of empty brass, fill it with black powder, get some Rocket igniters at the hobby store, put tape on the metal ends bend them over and shove the igniter into the powder, pinch the case mouth shut, wrap a couple wires on the igniter leads, get yer radio shack mecury switch, run a wire to it and the a lead from it (long lead!!) run both the wires to yer truck battery, stuff the shell and the switch in to dirt hill, make sure the mecury switch is set, go to yer truck, hook the wires to yer battery (50 feet away or more) sit in yer chair, open a cold one and wait for Mr mole to set off the mine. or the lawn chair and 12 gauge works, 410 is too small!!
Carl

But I like the idea with the 30/06 brass and black powder.   

[Humptulips]

I used to have  heavy trap I could set over mole hills, held a 12 gauge shell pointed straight down and had a little foot trigger that released  trip hammer with a sharp point, shot the shell straight down, killed the mole when he moved the dirt!! Loaned it to a friend, when his neighbor found out what it was he called the cops and they stole my trap!! 
  Another way is a 30/06 or so size of empty brass, fill it with black powder, get some Rocket igniters at the hobby store, put tape on the metal ends bend them over and shove the igniter into the powder, pinch the case mouth shut, wrap a couple wires on the igniter leads, get yer radio shack mecury switch, run a wire to it and the a lead from it (long lead!!) run both the wires to yer truck battery, stuff the shell and the switch in to dirt hill, make sure the mecury switch is set, go to yer truck, hook the wires to yer battery (50 feet away or more) sit in yer chair, open a cold one and wait for Mr mole to set off the mine. or the lawn chair and 12 gauge works, 410 is too small!!
Carl

Lucky you and your neighbor didn't get arrested. Set guns have been illegal for a long long time and dangerous too. A couple years ago a kid got shot by his grandfathers mole set gun in GH County. 

fill mole hole with alot of propane and tape a sparkler on a long stick and light propane. Mole dead.

This sound pretty dangerous also. It's amazing what people are resorting to because of this law. Scary too!