How to Make Indian Animal Traps

Indigenous cultures around the world were masters of hunting, tracking and trapping animals. Not only did they trap animals as a food source, they also used the fur, skin and bones to fashion tools and clothing. Throughout North America, various tribes commonly used a snare,or figure-four deadfall trap, to capture small animals such as rabbits and squirrels. Larger animals were hunted with a spear or bow and arrow, and sometimes pitfall traps were dug to catch deer and boar. Setting a snare or deadfall trap is a time-tested tactic, and it can be done using items found in the wild.

Instructions

  1. Snare

    • 1

      Cut twine or rope into three separate lengths of 5 or 6 feet. The first is to tie to the tree, the second is to tie to the ground stake and the third is to make the noose.

    • 2

      Find two sticks, each about 6 or 8 inches long, with a diameter of about 1 inch. Cut notches in the sticks so that they can be locked together at the notches. Cut about halfway through each stick, 2 inches from the end, then toward your cut from another inch along the stick (3 inches from the end) to make your notch.

    • 3

      Locate a sapling that's 5 to 8 feet tall, along or near an animal's foraging trail.

    • 4

      Make a loop with a piece of rope or twine, then pull the free end through the loop and tie it to one of the sticks, just above the notch. Attach another piece of rope near the top of the sapling, then tie it to the stick, just above where you tied the noose.

    • 5

      Insert a foot-long stick into the ground until only the top 3 inches are visible, and tie the third piece of twine or rope around it. Attach the rope's other end to the other stick, just below the notch.

    • 6

      Bend the sapling over as far as you can, and fit the two sticks together at their notches, then place the noose on the ground, open wide enough for an animal's foot or head to get caught. Place bait that the animal likes around the noose, such as carrots for rabbits or nuts for squirrels.

    Deadfall

    • 7

      Find a large, flat rock that's heavy enough to crush a squirrel, rabbit or other small animal.

    • 8

      Collect three small sticks that are sturdy enough to support the weight of the rock--1 inch in diameter should work fine.

    • 9

      Cut a notch in the center of one stick, which will be used to support the rock. Cut only about 1/4 inch into the stick----a deeper notch may make the stick unable to support the rock.

    • 10

      Slice a notch at the end and in the center of another stick--this stick will be used to place the bait on and will also act as a trigger for the trap.

    • 11

      Carve a notch at the end of another stick that will fit over top of the rock-support stick. Sharpen the other end into a point that will fit into the end notch of the trigger/bait stick.

    • 12

      Stand the support stick upright on the ground, then set the pointed stick on top of it at the notch. Fit the bait/trigger stick into the support stick's center notch, then place the pointed stick's sharp end in the end-notch of the trigger stick. Set the rock up lengthwise atop the support stick, then lay bait on the end of the trigger stick. Scatter a few more pieces of bait on the ground leading up to the rock