Traps and Snares

Survival Advanced

CUO Tonya Gentry-BrownMar 2011

Image taken from:weaponscombat.com

SVA 2

Objectives

SVA 2 Traps and Snares a. Describe the assembly of the following traps

and snares:

1. Simple latch/pin and trigger2. Platform3. Pit4. Figure 4 and Fish traps.

Introduction

• Need food to maintain strength• Best type of food is meat

• Having the ability to catch means living off land

• Anything is a source of food

Successful Hunting and Trapping

• Set up base camp– Study made of conditions and habits.

• Looking for good sites– Animals usually follow defined trails– Some small animals use same toilet stops (but

need to ensure you do not disturb area)– Study eating habits ( usually regular times of the

day)

Common Animal Tracks

Emergency Survival

• Your survival is your only priority• Make yourself think and act like a predator• Use camouflage and concealment skills

– Move carefully– Use wind to your advantage– Disguise your human scent

Construction Materials

• Can be made from all natural materials• Good habit to keep a few things in your

survival kit– Wire noose– Fish hooks

• Selecting Timber– Green and springy (provides flexibility and won’t

snap easily)

Simple Rules for Traps and Snares

• Human/foreign scents– Handle trap as little as possible (wear gloves)– Use nearby timber– Camp fire smoke and/or animal dung will disguise

human scent• Disturbing the Environment

– Prep away from trap site– Do not tread on trail or dung – Cover any sign you’ve been there

• Camouflage– Blend traps into surroundings– Cover any freshly cut ends of saplings ( w/ mud or

droppings)

• Strength– Trapped animal will be fighting no matter how

small– Use all of its energy– Traps need to be stronger than the animal

intended (no second chance if it escapes)

Types

• Most traps will kill animal quickly and as humanely as possible (don’t be mislead by the trap name)

• Some devices may seem savage but your survival is important

• Generally fall into 4 categories– Strangle (loops and snares)– Mangle (deadfall)– Tangle (net)– Hold (pit or cage)

Baiting Traps

• Test bait an area– Select varied types of bait– Set them on low stakes– About 3 feet apart– Leave overnight (check in morning )

• Investigation of stomach contents will also inform you of eating habits

Suggested Baits

• Root or insects (earth digging)• Flesh (carnivorous)• Insects, Feed or Fruit (birds or tree feeding)• Herbage (grazing)• Worms, Grubs or Insects (fish)• Use very small portions of your emergency

rations – chocolate is strange and attracts game

Simple Latch

• Most commonly used w/ twitch up snare

• Consist of 2 sticks (notched at 1 end)

• 1 stick anchored to ground, other fixed on noose

• Notch ends fit as illustrated

Pin and Trigger Mechanism• Consists of 3 small hardwood sticks• 2 pins driven into trunk (horizontal to

ground)• Trigger stick tied to mangle or snare type

trap – fits under 2 pins• Trigger held against 2 pins until released by

trip wire

Latch/Pin and Trigger• Triggering device• Usually consist of noose, spring and trip

wire/stick• Baited or unbaited• Examples:

– Simple Snare– Twitch-up Snares– Baited toggle release snare– Unbaited spring snare– Baited double spring snare

Simple Snare• Loop dragged over game trail, tied to strong

shrub (or tie to drag pole)• Strangles game

Twitch-up Snares

• Using natural springiness of sapling (lift catch off ground away from predators)

• Sapling looped, bent and fixed release mechanism (simple latch is effective)

• 3 types– w/ simple latch release mechanism– w/ pin and trigger mechanism– Hanging snare

Simple Latch Release

Pin and Trigger

Hanging Snare

Baited Toggle Release Snare

• Baited stick wedged against bottom of toggle• Top of toggle attached by line to springy

sapling (under tension) and hooked under retaining bar

• When bait stick is moved, toggle releases and flies up taking snare with it.

Unbaited Spring Snare

• Activated by animal struggle

• Consists of 2 uprights w/ rounded notches holding a noose stick

• Tensioned line angled away from noose stick

Baited Double Spring Snare

• Uses stiff wire nooses• Normally sited along a game trail (trap small

carnivores or pigs)• 2 saplings notched to fit• Bait bar latched to one of them• Bait is taken, saplings spring apart, animal

suspended between

Platform Trap

• Consists of platform made from sticks or bark• Triggering device similar to the double spring

snare• Best placed in depression in ground (either

game trail or feeding area)• Designed to catch animal by the leg

Pit Trap

• Hole in ground• Usually dug across game trail• Covered w/ natural material• Animal falls in and can’t get out• Bottom can be staked (impaled and killed)• Or staked around side to trap in

WARNING: all pits traps should be marked in some way. They work on humans just as well.

OR

Figure 4 Deadfall

• Triggering device resembling number 4• Consists of bait stick• Notched at right angle into an upright • Locking bar (45 degree angle) – support

deadfall• Cage may be substituted (but must be heavy

enough to prevent escape)

Fish Trap• Drum or Basket

– Useful in fresh or salt water

• Damming & Netting– Small flowing

river and creeks

Conclusion

You should now be able to identify and describe the assembly of common traps and snares

AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE CADETS715 (City of Belmont) Squadron

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Aged 13 – 16 year old

Join as an Adult Instructor

Aged 19 years and above

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