I like your style! I have no experience with Gophers but Moles aplenty and have become quite proficient trapping them with a Cinch trap. I had one show up along a sidewalk yesterday morning, set a trap at noon and had him/her by 3 pm
Here is a video setting a Gopher Cinch trap...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQbZ4Z_3uXU