How to Make Small Game Traps

Long before the time of grocery stores and automobiles humans hunted to survive. Setting traps to snare small game animals is a practice once performed by many cultures around the globe. In a survival situation out in the wilderness finding food and water is critical. Once you've found a water source setting numerous traps for small game will better your chances of having a meal. The most common small game traps are the deadfall and snare.

Things You'll Need

  • Knife
  • Cordage
  • Sticks
  • Rock
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Instructions

  1. Snare

    • 1

      Walk around the area and look for signs of small game animals. Tracks, feces and foraging trails near available food sources are good indicators small game animals are in the vicinity. These are the areas you need to target to set the snares and better your chances of catching small game.

    • 2

      Stake a sturdy stick into the ground alongside a foraging trail, at least 8-inches deep. Ensure you have at least 5 inches of the stick protruding above the ground. Do not walk directly on the trail. Work off of the trail and leave no trace of your presence there.

    • 3

      Tie any available cordage such as jute, twine, shoelace or vine to the stick. Tie a loop in the other end with a diameter of 4 inches, or about the width of your fist.

    • 4

      Place two twigs under the loop for support to keep it raised off of the ground. Ensure the loop is at least 4 fingers off of the ground, and a hands width away from any obstruction on the trail.

    • 5

      Toss a few leaves around the base of the loop and on the cordage. This will help conceal the snare. Set a bit of bait leading up to the trap on both sides if you have bait available. Good baits to use for small game are nuts, berries, and leafy green edibles. When the animal slips its head into the loop, the knot will slip down and tighten around the throat as it struggles to get free.

    Deadfall

    • 6

      Find a large, flat rock. Ensure the rock is heavy enough to kill the game you're after.

    • 7

      Locate a foraging trail to place the deadfall. The rock needs enough space to be positioned so it will fall flat on the trail.

    • 8

      Stake a stick in the ground to the side of the trail. The stick needs to be secure in the ground. Stake it down at least 8 inches, with another 8 inches or greater protruding from the ground.

    • 9

      Cut a square notch at the center of the upright stick. Find another stick and cut another matching square notch at its center, and a triangular notch 1 inch from the end. This stick will be used as the bait bar, and connects horizontally to the upright stick.

    • 10

      Find another stick and sharpen one end to fit the triangular notch on the bait bar. This will be the pressure stick. Cut another notch at the stick center to match the top of the upright stick. Connect the bait bar to the upright stick. Connect the pressure stick to the bait bar and the upright. Lean the rock onto the pressure stick. Note this will take a few minutes to get it to lean just right. Set bait onto the bait bar, and directly under it. Once the animal moves the bait bar, the rock will fall on top of the animal.