Mouse trap for survival?

R

R.H.Clark

Joined
Aug 23, 2007
Messages
771
I know this sounds a little crazy but why not put a couple of mouse traps and maby a bigger rat trap in your pack? They are pretty small and light weight.It would work for mice,chipmonks,birds.The larger one might catch a rabbit or squirrel.You would probably need to drill a hole to attach a line to it to keep something from carrying it away.

Mice wouldn't be my first choice for something to eat but if I was really starving it would work.
 
That might be a good idea. The rat traps would hold rabbits IMO. I think it would be more productive that a snare.
 
I've seen those larger rat traps work on squirrels, grouse and other similar birds. Kills'em dead! :D Neat idea. They are light and powerful. It would certainly save time having a few pre-made traps that you could set out right away while doing other survival tasks. -Matt-
 
Wow! Never thought of this. Think I'd go with the rat traps as is stronger and easier to secure to a tree incase the animal tried to run off.
 
2 items I have long thought would be handy for small game, rat traps and those cheap barbed frog gigs.

Neither take up much space or weight.
 
This is a good idea! I'm another one who never thought of this.

In a movie from the 80's, "Never Cry Wolf", mice become quite a meal!
 
I have used the large Victor rat trap for years to catch small game, it works great & is very light weight! wire it to a tree & bait it for squirrels. it works like a #110 conibear trap. which is a great trap to carry in a survival pack. very light weight & will kill animals as large as a raccoon. & cost around $5.00 or less. conibears are also called body grip traps. the #110 has a 4inch square opening & one spring.
 
when i was visiting family last summer they had a problem with red squirrels, and apparently they are not native to the area and the government promotes the killing of them.

well either way he put out big rat traps up in the woods around his house baited with peanut butter and they caught squirrels all the time. he tied them with a peice of twine to a tree or other sturdy thing.
 
I carry a mouse trap in my pack. I figure you could catch mice, chipmunks, maybe some birds...
 
If there is a rat trap made of plastic rather than wood it would be much more weatherproof IMO too. Is there such an item? Also, pre drilling a hole in the end would allow it to be tied to whatever in the field. I have used rat traps of wood before in the field for various critters; just be certain to have a good clear mind when setting one. A friend broke 2 fingers when he got distracted during a set.
 
One consideration in packing these is the intended game you plan to catch. Remember, these traps were designed for mice and rats. They have smaller heads than some small game and might not work as intended. They will work if properly rigged and if the right lures are used but it is possible to wound animals without killing them by using these. They might not be worth their weight or space if only sometimes effective.

They will catch squirrels, chipmunks and field mice with some luck/skill. However, a well-made professional snare is my choice for larger game. My personal favorites are from Buckshots Camp. I know he has been criticized recently on this forum but I've never had a problem with his snares.

In teaching snaring and trapping, I recommend a ratio of 6 to 1. This is more conservative than 5 to 1 that some books advocate. This means for every 6 traps or snares, one will trigger and catch game. This is also considering you know your prey, its habitat and how to properly rig the trap or snare. Using this ratio, I wouldn't carry a half dozen mouse or rat traps and take up all that space when premade snares or braided wire takes up less room.
 
Do you have a website for Buckshots' gear by chance? Always looking for good gear from fellow members, Thanks
 
I use rat and mice traps, but not for trapping. I set them all arond my camp in various places, with thin thread tied to the trigger and to a tree. Get too close to my camp, i'm going to know about it. While your figuring out what the hell that SNAP was, I be using something from the bag of evil to say hello.

;)
 
www.montgomeryfur.com sells a wide range of traps & premade snares at good prices. I have bought traps & snares from them for years. very good service! A #110 conibear weighs less than a lb. I used to snare beavers at slides on the river, they work great at a slide. I caught coyotes with snares along fences where they went under the fence. conibears are good for muskrats also. also check www.duketraps.com
 
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