How to harvest large animals without a gun?

If you have a knife, you may as well just make a throwing stick for killing critters that weigh less than, what?, 15-20lbs, depending on stick. Some of the nastier hunting boomerangs could probably take larger game with a good throw.

Great thing about the sticks is you can lose all you want, just make more.

Rocks work too, but I've found it easier to hit something with a stick, plus sticks are cooler because you actualy modify a common material into a lethal weapon, which is always fun.

Plus rocks are kinda scarce where I hang out. Sticks are all over the place, many of which are naturaly suitable to chucking.
 
Throwing sticks would not be my choice if I was in a brushy area, it's too likely to get stopped or deflected. They seem like a natural in a grassy area or over water. If you skim a stick over a walking flock of birds they're likely to fly up into the stick.

Of course the Forum topis is how to harvest "large" game, so I guess we digress.


[This message has been edited by Jeff Clark (edited 10 December 1999).]
 

>BTW, I think living on squirrels and jays is just slow starvation, so that's why I ask.

I'd say large game will take more effort for the same ingredients, so you'll just starve faster, but were I dead set on it, I'd probably try a deadfall. A decent tree could take out a dear, and I'd not want to play with anything else. The snare ideas listed sound great, and would probably be easier to set up than a dead fall, but then, I can set a fall without 550 cord... All depends on materials... Learn a figure 4 deadfall trigger. can be modified to whatever size you need, needs only wood and a cutting tool.


Stryver
 
I haven't had much to add up to this point, but after reading all the responses I feel I now have some input.

Taking large game with primitive tools is not the MOST EFFICIENT means of food gathering. I do bowhunt with traditional gear and feel confident with it. But somebody not used to primitive styles of hunting will expend a lot of energy needlessly in the process.

Setting traps/snares/deadfalls for SMALL GAME first would be the most efficient I feel. THEN you can think, now is the time to attempt to get something larger. But get SOME food gathering working before throwing all your chances at one large animal.

Having said that, here is how I would go about trying to take a large animal without a lot of work. The snares and deadfalls are the MOST efficient, then you can finish the animal off with a good spear, especially if it is snared. The next option is a tripwired BOW!! Let the tool work for you! I have never tried one, but the idea is more efficient than you stalking/still hunting.

The idea of the tripwire bow/crossbow is to find a well used game trail, set up a tripwire assembly and your weapon. The animal should trip the weapon. This would launch the arrow, which should be CLOSE to the trail. The biggest drawback is not knowing WHERE the arrow STRIKES! This could lead to wounded and lost animals. Not the best situation, but you would only have to track as opposed to expend a lot of energy HUNTING and TRACKING!

Personally, I think smaller animals is the way to go, then if a chance encounter allows you to take something larger, do so!


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Plainsman :)
primitiveguy@hotmail.com


 
Just a thought. In a "survival" situation from my experience, game getting is pretty much an expedience issue. Sometimes you just run into situations where there is easy food. I get Porkypines frequently and they are very easy to get and have two days of good eating. ALl you need is a walking stick and a rock.

We teach the students to set the traps (mostly snares) as soon as they find a shelter for the night. Often enough that will result in morning chow to travel on.

Long term survival (Wilderness living) means big game. Not only for meat but for the skin, sinew, bone, hair, horn, claws or hoofs and more. For that you need weapons.

There is also carrion.

I would never set a bow type booby trap. What if a person walked into it? Or a bear? Some scouts on a trip..

Ron

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Learn Life Extension at:

http://www.survival.com ]
 
Jeff Clark, really depends on the particulars of the situation. Of course, you wouldn't try to throw through a thicket, but you can often find a clearing here or there with an edible in it doing whatever comes natural to it. You can often get close enough to throw something but not close enough to club them.

Also, we have everything from birds and squirels to big ol' possums and raccoons up in trees. Down here we have oak and pine mostly. You can't usualy throw a stick into oak, unless it's a real big real old tree. Pine's different though, a lot more exposed branches. May depend on local species though.

I guess definition of "large animal" is the key. If I can at least get two or three meals out of it, it's large.
 
I must apologize to my BOW TRAP post! I didn't expound on the specifics as to its use. I, of course, meant in a most dire situation to try its use. Meaning that you are so far from help that there is no chance of a person running into it.

Setting one of these in any other situation would be illegal and leave one highly LIABLE for for any injury to any person.

I apologize for leading anybody astray on my intent!



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Plainsman :)
primitiveguy@hotmail.com


 
Plainsman,

I think you make a good point about the value of small game in survival. your yeild is so much better. I have snared a lot of squirrels and rabbits....enough to make my wilderness stays a lot more comfortable. I have caught fish and bird...I have eaten raw oysters, crabs, snails, etc...I have eaten that gross slug, worm, grub, and maggot...

Does that mean you wouldn't try to get big game? No it doesn't. Just be sure you don't forget the staples of a survivors meal...vegies, bugs, birds, reptiles, small mammals, etc.

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Greg Davenport
http://www.ssurvival.com
Are You Ready For The Challenge?
Are You Ready To Learn The Art Of Wilderness Survival?

 
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