Hi folks, last week I had a go at making a different deadfall trap and I thought I would post up the results.
The trap is a spring load deadfall, the beauty of this trap is that you dont need any real carving skills, plus when setting the trigger mechanism, you also dont have the tricky act of trying to hold up the heavy rock and set the trigger at the same time.Saving on skint knuckles and bruises.
Anyway they say a picture speaks a thousand words, so hopefully you will get the idea. The components are really simple affairs.
Heres what you need. A heavy rock, a sapling, 5 sticks, a small piece of cordage tied into a small hoop, and another piece about 12 to 15 inches long.
First off take a stick and whittle it into a small trigger, top of picture. Then taking another stick, on left of pic, drive it into the ground until nearly level with the soil,this is important as you dont want it sticking up to much,because when the trap fires, you want the rock to fall flat on your intended prey.
Once youve got the stick driven into the soil place the small hooped cord around the stick.
Next drive in 2 sticks.
Then place in you sapling.
Next tie the small trigger onto the end of the long cord,at this point you would tie your bait onto the trigger at the same time,but I left the bait out so you can see how the trigger is tied on.
Then tie the long cord onto the sapling, leaving an end of cord which will be used later.
Now bend the sapling and place the baited trigger into the small hoop of cord.
Then slowly release the sapling so it tensions up the long cord,now you essentially have a set trigger ,without having the fiddly part to deal with that I mentioned earlier.
Now using the loose end of cord tie the last stick to it,this stick is the one which will prop up the rock. When setting the trap keep the trigger to one side of the rock,I will explain why later.
The finished trap.
Now if you choose you can make a wall on the same side as the trigger,the reason for the wall is so that your prey has to get right under the stone to get at the bait,and also it has to run farther to escape when the trap is fired.
Just make sure the none of the wall sticks touch the rock,as you dont want to slow up the rock when it falls.
The trap is all set,now we just need to wait and see if anything takes the bait
Ah ha we have interest.
WOOHOO, the traps fired.
And theres even a meal ..
If the soil is soft,you could bury another rock under the top one so your prey doesnt just get squished into the mud,but is dispatched quickly.
Disclaimer, this trap is illegal to use and should only be used in a real survival situation.
Plus no stuffed toys were harmed in making of this thread,cos ITS A PUPPET!!!!!!!
All credit must go to John and Geri McPherson for the inspiration for this trap.
Anyway thanks for looking,and I hope it makes some sense.
Cheers Stuart.
The trap is a spring load deadfall, the beauty of this trap is that you dont need any real carving skills, plus when setting the trigger mechanism, you also dont have the tricky act of trying to hold up the heavy rock and set the trigger at the same time.Saving on skint knuckles and bruises.
Anyway they say a picture speaks a thousand words, so hopefully you will get the idea. The components are really simple affairs.
Heres what you need. A heavy rock, a sapling, 5 sticks, a small piece of cordage tied into a small hoop, and another piece about 12 to 15 inches long.
First off take a stick and whittle it into a small trigger, top of picture. Then taking another stick, on left of pic, drive it into the ground until nearly level with the soil,this is important as you dont want it sticking up to much,because when the trap fires, you want the rock to fall flat on your intended prey.
Once youve got the stick driven into the soil place the small hooped cord around the stick.
Next drive in 2 sticks.
Then place in you sapling.
Next tie the small trigger onto the end of the long cord,at this point you would tie your bait onto the trigger at the same time,but I left the bait out so you can see how the trigger is tied on.
Then tie the long cord onto the sapling, leaving an end of cord which will be used later.
Now bend the sapling and place the baited trigger into the small hoop of cord.
Then slowly release the sapling so it tensions up the long cord,now you essentially have a set trigger ,without having the fiddly part to deal with that I mentioned earlier.
Now using the loose end of cord tie the last stick to it,this stick is the one which will prop up the rock. When setting the trap keep the trigger to one side of the rock,I will explain why later.
The finished trap.
Now if you choose you can make a wall on the same side as the trigger,the reason for the wall is so that your prey has to get right under the stone to get at the bait,and also it has to run farther to escape when the trap is fired.
Just make sure the none of the wall sticks touch the rock,as you dont want to slow up the rock when it falls.
The trap is all set,now we just need to wait and see if anything takes the bait
Ah ha we have interest.
WOOHOO, the traps fired.
And theres even a meal ..
If the soil is soft,you could bury another rock under the top one so your prey doesnt just get squished into the mud,but is dispatched quickly.
Disclaimer, this trap is illegal to use and should only be used in a real survival situation.
Plus no stuffed toys were harmed in making of this thread,cos ITS A PUPPET!!!!!!!
All credit must go to John and Geri McPherson for the inspiration for this trap.
Anyway thanks for looking,and I hope it makes some sense.
Cheers Stuart.
