November 24, 2002

Traps & Snares

(Photos and report by Walter Muma)

 

Between 5 and 7 people met at Walter & Julie's place to work on traps and snares. Altogether, 5 people built about 20 traps, of 12 different types (including variations) in total.

Here is a sampling of what we did.

For more info about Traps and Snares, please visit the Wildwood Survival website, Traps and Snares sections.

  


Trap by Julia Kristof

First, most of us built a Figure-4 deadfall to warm up to the subject.

Here is one of the Figure-4 Deadfall traps.

Please note that no animals were trapped or harmed in any way during the day. The day was meant for practice in building the traps and snares only.

 

  


Trap by Rob Bicevskis

Rob made this Paiute Trap variation. The right-hand diagonal stick is under spring tension, and the end is fashioned into a small spike. When the trap is released, this stick will impale the animal under it.

  

Two of the group at work.

  


Trap by Walter Muma

We worked on a deadfall design from John McPherson (outlined in his books).

Here, a stick is placed on the ground and is kept under tension. When the trigger is released, the spring stick pulls the supporting stick out and the weight falls.

 

  


Trap by Walter Muma 

Several of us tried out hand at a Split Stick deadfall.  VERY tricky to set this one.

  


Snare by Rob Bicevskis

We also turned our attention to snares. Here is a simple bird snare.

Note that in all cases we have used much heavier cord than we would if actually building a real snare to catch something. This is so the design of the snare is readily visible.

  


Snare by Eric Quesnelle

A Pencil snare.

  


Snare by Rob Bicevskis

And another type of bird snare.

  

For more info about Traps and Snares, please visit the Wildwood Survival website, Wilderness Survival - Traps and Snares sections. There are 23 photos from today's exercises there.

  

All in all, we made a LOT of traps and snares in a very short time, and learned a lot. And afterwards, we had some tracking discussions, examined the tracking box, and more. A very productive day.

 

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