How to Set a Trap for Catching Animals

Surviving in the wild can be tough if you don't know how to set traps to catch animals. Three basic rules for survival in the wild in order of importance are finding water, shelter, then food. Once you've found water and built some sort of shelter, food will be your next priority while awaiting a rescue. The most abundant animals to catch are usually small mammals that weigh under 10 pounds. Setting up a simple dead-fall trap can be the tool that saves your life in a survival situation.

Instructions

    • 1

      Find a game trail that looks well used and next to a water source if available. Look for small animal prints on the dirt, snow or mud, depending on what type of terrain you are surviving in. You can also look for animal droppings on the trail as a sign of recent use if the surface is too hard to leave prints.

    • 2

      Locate two sticks about a foot in length and a small stick around four inches in length. Next find a rock or heavy log that will act as the main weight for your dead-fall trap. Make sure the weight you use weighs at least 10 pounds.

    • 3

      Find a spot on the trail that is not muddy or soft in any way. If the ground is unstable it may set your trap off prematurely.

    • 4

      Take your small stick and push it into the ground at a 45 degree angle. Next, take your long sticks and hold them in the shape of a triangle or pyramid with one hand.

    • 5

      Lay your triangle shaped long sticks with one stick end firmly touching the ground and the other stick end resting on the small 45 degree stick. With your other hand grab the log or rock and gently lay it against the stick resting on the small stick staked in the ground.

    • 6

      Slide the long stick carefully up that is supporting the weight so it's not touching the ground. The bottom end of this stick will act as your trap trigger. Balance your sticks and weight carefully until you can let go of the dead-fall trap without it falling on it's own. If you have a little bit of food like a granola bar you can rub some scent on the trigger stick to attract animals. If you do not have any type of food to spare, leave your dead-fall trap on the trail. Your trap will still work if an animal bumps into it. Try and set up about 10 of these dead-fall traps along the trail to increase your chances of trapping a small animal.