Here in Tennessee worms are easily gathered by using two steel rods and you wet the area / or wait till it has rained (not a problem as of late) push the rods in the ground about 5 feet apart I like to do 4 rods in a pattern of a square and hook up a simple electrical source (I use a electric/extension cord ) and a small generator . by doing so I run it for about 5 minutes or so depending just how many worms have come to the surface of the ground . turn the generator off , and pick up the worms you can do this with out hurting the worms as it is a current of only 110 V and is dissipated into the ground to less then 40V over the area you are working . from an area of about a 10 X 10 area you will amass a few hundred worms or more . I separate the "red Wigglers from the Night crawlers and put them in a bin to them selves .
Use caution when doing so and DO NOT TOUCH the ground while the Generator is running , or if you use a hand crank type generator ( I.E. old Cranking type Phone ) you will get a minor shock if you do touch the wet ground . I have not done this but one time and learned to cut the Generator off first before gathering the worms
Sarge