Playing with some Traps

[Pandabean]

THESE TRAPS CAN BE DEADLY AND ARE ILLEGAL IN MANY PLACES INCLUDING THE UK. THESE TRAPS WERE NOT & WILL NOT BE USED FOR ANIMALS BUT AS AN EXPERIMENT TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY WORK.

Thats the disclaimer out the way.

I decided to have a play today at making a few traps. As mentioned above they were just done for the "try it out and see how they work" kind of thing and were not used for actual trapping.

I mainly got the ideas from reading Graves' section on traps.
http://chrismolloy.com/www/p139

And:
http://www.i4at.org/surv/traps.htm

I found some pieces of wood on a wander this morning that would be ideal and I had a springy ash branch that was chopped off a tree last year by the council and used that as the "springy sapling"

Baited Whip Snare


2011-04-30 11.40.44 by pandabean2010, on Flickr


2011-04-30 11.40.57 by pandabean2010, on Flickr

Changed it to a weight instead of a whippy stick.

2011-04-30 11.32.12 by pandabean2010, on Flickr



Tried the Hook and Spring Pole Snare.....attached to the top toggle would be the snare which would pull the cirtter up.
I found this a bit tight to trigger but I guess with a snare attached it would work once there is weight pulling on it.


209348_10150167695887979_611672978_6816781_1771480_o by pandabean2010, on Flickr


218870_10150167695952979_611672978_6816782_6936930_o by pandabean2010, on Flickr


No bottles were harmed in the making of these pictures.

 

[Lee Wright]

I find these quite therapeutic to make when I'm out, add the figure 4 deadfall to it too, far more satisfying than a spoon!

Nice work

 

[Pandabean]

Thanks Lee, seems more interesting to me than a spoon as well.

Going to try a few more at the weekend so I will post some up, that is if anyone is interested.

What I am mainly interested in here is the trigger mechanisims and how they work.

 

[Bushwhacker]

They look good.
Here's a pic of another trigger to try. Hopefully it's clear enough - theres the loop and a pin.

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[Qwerty]

Good post, looking forward to seeing some more experiments!

 

[Ogri the trog]

Hey Bushwhacker,
I've not seen that style of trigger before, is there a knot in the standing part - around which the loop catches before the pin is inserted? It looks like its made out of "farmers friend" - of which there is plenty around here!

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[Bushwhacker]

Hey Bushwhacker,
I've not seen that style of trigger before, is there a knot in the standing part - around which the loop catches before the pin is inserted?

That's pretty much it.
The cordage is the inner bark of a jungle tree, which we called 'The Stevie Wonder' tree due to it's braille like outer bark, it was a good name for remembering it, don't know what the real name was, don't think the amerindians knew either.

 

[Pandabean]

Looks interesting.
Can anyone explain the trigger where you use a ring and two sticks? Seems to me they are held in by tension.
I would post a pic of what iam reffering to but I am using the phone to post.

 

[Pandabean]

Pretty feeble attempt at the bow trap. The bow was too thin and bent after a few test firings. Obviously the line isnlt lined up properly but it should be in front of the trap.

Based on the Bow Trap in Richard Graves book...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrismolloy/5270320322/
http://chrismolloy.com/www/p139



241230_10150174621227979_611672978_6890196_2821284_o by pandabean2010, on Flickr


I also tried the fig-4 trap today, first time in a long while for making one but I couldnt get it to sit right. Perhaps I might try again when I am next out in the woods.

 

[Bushwhacker]

Here's another bow trap trigger mechanism.
I also reckon it's simpler to put a split in the posts holding the bow and wedge the bow into the splits rather than tying it on.

 

[leahcim]

the thing I dont understand people study traps, but not trapping. What I mean they go out of the way to skill themselves at traps but dont know anything about animals habits. a well made trap in the wrong area is pointless. How many videos I see for raccons and opposums set in trees and backyards, when in reality they need to be on a river bottom or creek bottom with a source of fish, crayfish, calms, oysters, etc. dug into a bank placing the bait inside, then building a wall of debris, to force animal to go into the trap. the list goes on and on, but I believe traps are not really the issue as studying real trappers and watchwhat they are doing. I use common rabbit snares in fences, you can snare deer on tied fences as well. as they will natirally walk over tied down fence over jumping a fence. Use the Promontory Peg Dead fall from mice to bear. The burrow log snare, which is a 'Y' stick in ground with large heavy log balanced on Y and then tips of log under other T stake, the log has a stick over burrow the animal pushes out of way setting snare around neck, and pushing log up fast, choking animal. A African Bird snare is good, and Objiwa Bird Snare. it reality that is all you need, if placed right, in the right spot. Not being negative, but I just see so many people focused on traps, but not the art of trapping.

 

[Native Nathan]

@ Pandabean & @ Bushwaker those look cool thanks for sharing them with us

@ Leahcim I think those traps may have been set up that way for training and demonstration purposes

 

[The Lord Poncho]

Not being negative,.......

Really? Are you sure?!

 

[santaman2000]

@ Pandabean & @ Bushwaker those look cool thanks for sharing them with us

@ Leahcim I think those traps may have been set up that way for training and demonstration purposes

I don't think he's commenting on the individual traps in the photos per se. I think he's referring to the lack of threads discussing trapping as such. Most of the threads I've seen are indeed about the traps rather than trapping. I enjoy them and had never noticed until now but he's right; there are no tutorial threads on trapping (placement and baiting skills)

 

[Native Nathan]

@ Santaman2000 I have just done a quick search and I see what you mean mate, Perhaps we should write an article in Siting Traps and how to spot fresh game trails etc..