by Vicky Ann Smith

Created on: April 21, 2009

Trapping animals is a way of life when living in the wilderness, it is about survival not sport. There are many forms of traps from the basic snare to baited pits and technical contraptions; the figure four deadfall trap is somewhere in the middle on the difficulty scale but can be made entirely from your natural surroundings.

The trigger point which releases the trap onto the animal is shaped as a figure 4, giving it the name it carries. Although relatively simple to make it can take practice balancing the four sticks and weight all together.

You can create this trap to any size you need depending on the animal being hunted. The basic idea is to balance a broad piece of wood on top of three sticks making the figure four, leave bait on the ground, under the wood and as the animal knocks the sticks the wood falls onto the animal either trapping or killing it outright.

Build the trap on a hard surface, you need the strongest impact once the trigger has been to released to ensure the trap is effective. The area should also be flat to prevent it becoming stuck and failing. If you find the ground too soft or uneven place a slab of stone or wood underneath the entire trap for support.

Place a stick diagonally to the ground and place a weight, the plank of wood or a rock on the top end to give the downward pressure required. The bottom end is notched into place by a horizontal stick. This is all held in place by a vertical stick which finishes the figure of four shape. The notches should be deep enough to hold the other sticks but shallow enough to slip when the trap is triggered.

The trigger is located at the balanced join between the horizontal and vertical sticks.

Leave the bait by the end of the horizontal stick for maximum effect, anywhere else and the animal may not trigger the trap. This should be directly under the trap.

As the animal snatches the bait the pressure is released and the bottom stick falls to the ground; the horizontal one should spring anti clockwise letting the weight fall directly onto the animal.

The weight should kill instantly for the most humane way of hunting; be aware that if you trap the animal rather than kill it, it will cause the animal undue stress or injury. Make sure your trap is well camouflaged, if the animal suspects danger it will not go near the bait.

Above all have patience and resist the temptation to constantly check the trap otherwise you will scare the animal and be left hungry.

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