When you’re in the wild, food is survival. Hunting can burn precious energy, but traps work while you rest. In this guide, we’ll cover 15 proven survival traps, how they work, and step-by-step instructions to build them using natural materials. These traps are essential for bushcraft, camping, and emergency preparedness.
Why Learn Survival Traps?
- Energy Efficiency: Traps hunt for you while you conserve energy.
- Versatility: Works for small game like rabbits, squirrels, and birds.
- Preparedness: Skills that can save your life in a survival scenario.
1. Grave’s Bait Stick Snare
Description: A bait-triggered snare using a toggle and spring pole.
How to Build:
- Find a flexible sapling for the spring pole.
- Tie a snare loop to the pole.
- Use a bait stick connected to a toggle as the trigger.
- When the animal pulls the bait, the toggle releases the pole, tightening the snare.
2. Fixed Snare
Description: Simple wire loop placed on animal trails.
How to Build:
Make a 3–4 inch loop from wire or cord.
Secure one end to a stake or tree.
Position the loop at head height on a game trail.
Camouflage lightly with leaves.
3. Peg Snare
Description: Uses hooked pegs and a spring pole.
How to Build:
Drive two pegs into the ground.
Hook them together with a toggle.
Attach snare to spring pole and bait the toggle.
When disturbed, the toggle releases the pole.
4. Drowning Snare
Description: Snare near water with a heavy rock for drowning.
How to Build:
Tie snare to a heavy rock.
Place near water’s edge where animals drink.
When triggered, rock falls into water, pulling the animal in.
5. Treadle Snare
Description: Triggered when animal steps on a treadle stick.
How to Build:
Lay a flat stick across a trail.
Attach snare to a spring pole.
Secure treadle stick with a toggle.
Animal steps → toggle releases → snare tightens.
6. Squirrel Pole Snare
Description: Pole with multiple snares for squirrels.
How to Build:
Lean a long pole against a tree near squirrel nests.
Attach several wire loops along the pole.
Squirrels climb and get caught in loops.
7. Rolling Snare
Description: Motion-triggered snare using two hooks.
How to Build:
Carve two hooks and interlock them.
Attach snare to spring pole.
Animal movement releases hooks, tightening snare.
8. Figure-4 Deadfall
Description: Classic deadfall using three sticks and a rock.
How to Build:
Carve three sticks into figure-4 shape.
Balance a heavy rock on top.
Place bait on bait stick.
Animal moves bait stick → rock falls.
9. Figure-4 Snare
Description: Combines figure-4 trigger with snare.
How to Build:
Build figure-4 trigger.
Attach snare to spring pole.
Bait stick activates both mechanisms.
10. Pine Pitch Bird Cup Trap
Description: Sticky trap for birds.
How to Build:
Coat a cup or cone with pine pitch.
Add seeds inside.
Birds get stuck when feeding.
11. Paiute Deadfall
Description: Sensitive deadfall using toggle and cord.
How to Build:
Tie cord to toggle and lever stick.
Position bait stick under toggle.
Rock falls when bait stick moves.
12. Greasy String Deadfall
Description: Deadfall triggered by baited string.
How to Build:
Tie baited string to forked stick.
Balance rock on string.
Animal chews string → rock falls.
13. Toggle Deadfall
Description: Deadfall using toggle and cord.
How to Build:
Tie cord to toggle.
Balance log or rock on toggle.
Animal pushes toggle → weight falls.
14. McPherson Spring Deadfall
Description: Deadfall with spring pole for extra force.
How to Build:
Attach spring pole to toggle.
Balance weight on toggle.
Trigger releases pole and weight.
15. Paiute Variant
Description: Advanced toggle-based deadfall.
How to Build:
Similar to Paiute but with extra sensitivity.
Use carved toggles and cord.
Bait stick activates toggle.
Pro Tips for Success
Place traps near animal trails, water sources, or feeding areas.
Camouflage traps with natural materials.
Check traps frequently to avoid losing prey or harming non-target animals.
Conclusion
Mastering these 15 survival traps can make the difference between life and death in the wild. Practice them before you need them, and always follow local laws when using traps outside survival situations.
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