Food From Deadfall Traps

[DancesWithKnives]

Many of us have played around with deadfalls like Figure 4s and Paiutes. I'm curious how many members have trapped food for themselves using some form of deadfall? How many did you have to set? How long did it take you to catch something? What percentage of trap sets were triggered but caught nothing?

Thanks for your input!

DWK

[Sabre]

Never tried a deadfall but have caught rabbits in snares made from boot laces before.

[DancesWithKnives]

I'm impressed! I've gotten some small game with copper wire snares but boot laces must be tougher to set.

I now carry some stainless steel braided picture wire in several thicknesses. I'm thinking about buying an assortment of professional snares from one of the trapping equipment suppliers.

DWK

[dave-t.]

I wouldn't put much faith in a deadfall. The area would have to be blocked so heavily to get the target animal in the set with no way to jump or escape the log, that many animals would just refuse the set.

Snares on the other hand can be set up in a much more open set with just grass and light brush for blocking. Also, you could set up many snares in the time it would take to put up one good deadfall. Folks catch bobcats and coyotes in 1/16" and 3/32" cable. That should be enough to handle any small game needs. If targeting hogs though, go with 1/8".

A couple of sticks poked in the ground that stick up to the bottom of the snare loop should be at every snare set. "Chin lifter's" is what they're called, and they help get the animal to put its head up in the snare instead of keeping its nose low to the ground where it may slip under the snare. They also help to keep the loop smaller/tighter. The tighter the loop, the better and quicker they will close up and will give less of a chance for an animal will jump through the snare without it catching the animal, or let the animal back out before the snare closes on them.

Snares can be a lot more target specific than a lot of folks think. If you don't set it for a specific target, you're not really setting it for any.

4" loop 4" off the ground for rabbits
7-8" loop 7" off the ground for coons
10" loop 11" off the ground for fox

Those are apprx numbers that I have seen on some trapping/snaring sites that I visit.

[DancesWithKnives]

Good advice.

The Pauite and Figure 4 deadfalls that I've seen have been baited. Many used a large, flat rock for the deadweight although a log can also work (especially if you flatten one side). Another two advantages of the snare are that you don't need bait and the trap does not smash the quarry like a deadfall would.

Thanks!

DWK

[dave-t.]

I just think that gravity is too slow of a force to catch wild animals reliably. Using a bent sapling with snare matrial would be a quicker triggering kill/catch type device.

Imo, instead of lifting heavy rocks, you'd be better off resting in a conspicuous spot in the sun, conserving energy, staying warm and hoping to be spotted for rescue.

[DancesWithKnives]

With the emergency gut pack I carry, I'd agree that I probably wouldn't need to trap or snare anything for quite awhile. However, I was just trying to determine whether any HA members had much experience with deadfalls and how much work they had to do to catch some food.

DWK