We compared the effectiveness and efficiency of three terrestrial salamander and gastropod trapping techniques: pitfall traps, ground searches and cover boards. The study was conducted on 18 stands with three management histories in the Umpqua National Forest, southern Oregon Cascades. A total of 648 pitfall traps were open for 28 consecutive days in fall 1999. Two hundred twelve amphibians (eight species) and 202 gastropods (six species) were captured. Also in fall 1999, 36 h of ground searches covering 3600 m² resulted in the detection of 19 amphibians (two species) and 130 gastropods (six species). Four cover boards (100 × 100 cm) in stacks of two were placed in each stand and checked four times in fall 1999 and once in spring 2000 after snow melt. Cover boards concealed no amphibians and only two gastropods (one species). Pitfall traps were more efficient at capturing amphibians than ground searches (0.41 vs. 0.25 captures per hour of effort), but less efficient at capturing gastropods than ground searches (0.39 vs. 1.73 captures per hour of effort). Cover boards as used were ineffective at capturing either amphibians or gastropods. Climatic conditions of the southern Oregon Cascades likely influenced the results.