Need help with a figure 4 trap

BenchmadeBoy

BenchmadeBoy

Joined
Sep 4, 2005
Messages
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Hey all. I was wondering if there is a good online reference for trap construction. I am interested in learning how to construct a figure 4 trap. I am working up here in the Arctic and I can't get to a bookstore! Any help in the way of pictures or illustrations would be helpful. BTW, in reference to the mosquito thread, you haven't seen anything like we have up here right now!! Literal clouds of the things. It's bug jackets and gloves for the most part for us . . .
 
figure 4s are hard to learn from diagrams etc, but if you study some photos its easy to figure it out with trial and error.

i think it was bearthedog that had a really good photo that allowed me to finally figure it out. i will try to find it.
 
IUKE12- you must have posted while I was typing, wildwoodsurvival is a great site, one of my favorites.
 
Great! I appreciate all the links. I know diagrams are sometimes hard to learn from, but this is a good starting point. Cheers!:thumbup:
 
I've tried about four types of deadfall trigger, and the good old figure-4 is the one I've had the most success with.

These can be made in different proportions. With a really heavy log or rock you might want to keep the portion of the stick short between the upright support and the rock to get the right leverage.... or maybe keep the stick long between the vertical support and the outside notch on the bait stick. It is all about gravity, leverage and friction. If you had difficulty following what I was saying in this paragraph, don't worry. Once you start experimenting you should suss it all out.

You will really need to suss out the leverage and friction thing if you are using a heavy weight and your target animal is something like a mouse that won't apply much force to the bait stick.

I think it can also be a good idea to set a deadfall in such a way that when it starts to fall and the rodent (or whatever) bolts.... it is likely to bolt to the back of the trap rather than run clear of it. So if I were setting a flat rock deadfall for a rat outside a tunnel, I'd have the back of the trap (where the rock rests on the ground) closest to the tunnel. The rat might instinctively run in the direction of the tunnel when things start to fall.

Here are some pictures to spark some ideas. You can tie two of the sticks together if you want, and this may make the trap easier to set.


FigureFourTrigger-1.jpg


FigFourShortTrigger.jpg


Figure4Rat.jpg


FigFourTrig.jpg


DeadfallRat1.jpg
 
Coote, thanks for the pictures mate! I see you are from NZ. I lived there for a year and I'll be going back hopefully this winter. I spent a lot of time in Nelson. Great town. Are those manuka branches for the trigger? Do you kill a lot of rats with these traps? I spent some time doing kiwi conservation work down on the West Coast, in the Paparoas. Emptied a lot of those DOC 200 traps. Thanks again!!
 

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G'day Benchmadeboy. Those trigger sticks might be manuka, but could be kanuka. Either way, well spotted.

No... I haven't killed a lot of rats with any sort of trap, although I do set traps for them from time to time. At a guess I've probably caught less than thirty rats in my whole life.

If you are coming back to NZ, feel free to call me when you are in the area:

Stephen Coote
(03) 548 0243
srcoote@gmail.com

I've played with DOC200 traps as well, but only on a small scale
ratindoc200trap2.jpg
 
I made my first fig 4 this weekend. My results were iffey. Firstly, it wouldn't hold a lot of weight, so I don't think it would actually ever successfully produce food. 2ndly, it kept springing randomly during the hour or two I left it set.

I need practice.
 
I've been working alot with the paiute trigger deadfall lately..WHile some dislike it because it requires cordage I find it is much easier to set..I have been able to trap countless mice and rats with them.
 
my figure fours arent that great either, wont hold anything heavy enough to kill anything. hopefully, cootes diagrams will help out.
 
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