In a survival scenario, hunting and trapping are non-negotiable for acquiring calories (meat and fat). Traps act as "automated hunters," working for you 24/7 while you focus on other critical survival tasks like building shelter or finding water.
Mastering these 15 traps—divided into highly effective Snares and devastating Deadfalls—will dramatically increase your chances of securing food in the wilderness.
Part 1: Spring Pole Snares (The Lifting Traps)
Snares rely on a noose that tightens around the animal. Spring pole snares use the stored energy of a bent sapling (the "engine") to lift the captured animal off the ground, preventing it from escaping or being consumed by scavengers. Always use caution when setting these.
1. Grave's Bait Stick Snare
This is the ultimate all-purpose bait-activated snare.
- Action: A spring pole is bent down, and a thin toggle stick is held in place by a forked stake. The toggle is attached to the snare line and held by a baited stick. When the animal tugs the bait, the toggle releases, and the pole snags the animal.
- Key Components: Spring pole, forked stake, toggle, trigger line, snare line, and bait stick.
2. Grave's Motion Triggered Snare
A variant of the above, set on trails.
- Action: Uses the same trigger mechanism, but the snare line is wrapped around the vertical trigger stick instead of bait. When an animal bumps the snare loop while running down its trail, the resulting pull yanks the trigger stick free.
3. Peg Snare
A reliable, grounded anchor system.
- Action: Uses a deeply driven peg with a carved hook, which engages with a corresponding hook on the trigger peg. The trigger peg holds the spring pole down.
- Tip: If setting in sandy soil, use a rooted sapling or bush stump as the anchor for unmatched stability.
4. Treadle Snare
Ideal for trapping small game on established trails.
- Action: The toggle holding the spring pole down is secured by a flat treadle stick. When an animal steps on the treadle or knocks it out of the way, the toggle is released.
- Placement: Set the noose to hang right beside the treadle, positioned directly in the animal's run.
5. Rolling Snare
A simple, motion-activated trigger.
- Action: A forked wooden hook is driven into the ground. A second, smaller wooden hook attached to the snare line is delicately balanced on top. When the noose is disturbed, the smaller hook rolls off, setting off the spring pole.
6. Fixed Snare
The fastest snare to deploy.
- Action: A single loop of solid wire or braided cable is tied off to create a noose. This noose is placed directly over small game burrows or trails.
- Warning: These are often single-use as the wire kinks easily. They are designed to restrain, not kill, so they must be checked frequently.
7. Figure 4 Snare
Leverage meets lifting power.
- Action: This trap uses the highly sensitive, three-piece Figure 4 trigger system (see Deadfalls below) to hold down the strong spring pole. When the bait stick is moved, the mechanism collapses and the spring pole lifts the snare.
- Tip: The vertical post holding the Figure 4 must be driven deep into the ground to withstand the high tension of the spring pole.
Part 2: Deadfall Traps (The Crushing Traps)
Deadfall traps use a large, heavy object (a rock, log, or heavy branch) suspended over the animal's path. They are designed to crush or disable the animal instantly when a highly sensitive trigger is disturbed.
8. Figure 4 Deadfall
The classic, most sensitive deadfall design. * Action: Three precisely carved sticks (a vertical post, a diagonal piece, and a horizontal baited piece) are notched to fit together and hold up the deadfall weight. When the bait is tugged, the interlocking pieces instantly collapse, dropping the weight.
- Key Requirement: The three sticks must be perfectly straight and carved precisely for the trap to balance and hold tension.
9. Paiute Deadfall
The ultimate in sensitivity, using cordage.
- Action: Similar to the Figure 4, but uses a fine cord to connect a toggle, a lever stick, and a baited stick. The fine point of the bait stick holds the entire weight-bearing mechanism.
- Pros: Much more sensitive than the Figure 4 and often easier to set, as the tension comes from the cord, not just the carved angles of the wood.
10. Greasy String Deadfall
The least complicated bait-driven deadfall.
- Action: A forked stick props up the deadfall. A piece of thin twine is mushed with bait and tied between a root and the short fork of the prop stick. The animal chews the twine to get the bait, eventually breaking the cord and releasing the weight.
- Pros: Requires very little carving.
11. Toggle Deadfall
Best for motion-activated deadfall trapping.
- Action: A short piece of cord ties the log/weight to a pencil-sized toggle stick. The toggle is set over a support and held in place by a motion-sensitive trigger stick placed in the animal's path. When the animal bumps the trigger stick, the toggle and log are released.
12. McPherson Spring Deadfall
An explosive, fast-firing deadfall.
- Action: A complex mechanism that combines a spring pole and a deadfall. The spring pole, held down by a tiny cord loop and a sharpened, baited toggle, is used to explosively pull the support stick out from under the deadfall when the toggle is released.
- Note: This is one of the more complicated traps to master but provides lightning-quick results.
Part 3: Specialized Traps
These unique designs are location-specific and target certain types of game.
13. Squirrel Pole Snare
Preys on a squirrel's tendency to take shortcuts.
- Design: A rough pole (arm-diameter, 4–6 feet long) is covered with a dozen or more small wire snare loops. The pole is pinned against a tree heavily frequented by squirrels.
- Action: Squirrels prefer running along the pole rather than jumping, and they inevitably run their head into one of the many small nooses.
14. Drowning Snare
Ideal for semi-aquatic game.
- Design: A snare loop is set in a steep-banked waterway where game frequently enters/exits the water. The snare line is tied to a large, heavy rock positioned precariously. A float stick is attached to the rock.
- Action: When the animal is caught, it pulls the rock into the water, drowning the animal. The float allows you to find the kill underwater.
15. Pine Pitch Bird Cup Trap
A highly unusual emergency method (often illegal).
- Design: A small cup (like a Dixie cup or conical bark piece) is smeared inside with sticky pine pitch and baited with bird seed.
- Action: Birds peck at the seed inside and get pitch on their heads and feathers, becoming unable to fly away.
- Disclaimer: This is highly messy and generally illegal to use in modern trapping.
Pro Tip: Building Your Survival Trapping Kit
Trapping is a numbers game; you need a minimum of a dozen snares set to reliably catch game. You can significantly improve your setup success with a small, lightweight kit:
- Snares: Pack a dozen small (1/16-inch cable for rabbit/squirrel) and a few large (3/32-inch cable for beaver/bobcat) braided steel cable snares. Cable is superior to cord or wire because it's strong and won't kink or break easily.
- Bait: Pack non-perishable lures like peanut butter or lard (a great fat source for you, too) that are attractive to rodents and omnivores.
- Scent Killers: Even mild human scent on a trap can deter animals. Carry powdered charcoal or a de-scenting spray to handle your traps, and use an unscented plastic bag as a ground cloth while setting your trap lines.