Nets, for all occasions?

S

SGP

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Jan 3, 2009
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While watching a certain television show last night, a certain celebrity survivor... guy was trying to catch a mess of fleeing songbirds with a sharpened branch. While the little feathered morsels flew off, leaving the star empty handed, I thought to myself, why not a net? After a little thinking, I remembered I had still had some reference materials from an archaeology class I'd taken a while back, and did some quick looking. Nets are a very effective means of gathering game, and peoples of all continents have used them to take, literally, every kind of game available, from minnows, to geese, to lions. The Assyrians hunted gazelle, the Eastern Woodland tribes deer and waterfowl, and anybody anywhere fishing for anything smaller than a manatee, all with nets, and all quite successfully
I'd think a net, or at least the materials to build one, would be an excellent addition to a survival kit. What do you think would be an ideal material... natural cordage found on-site might be a bit hard to scrape up in quantity, 550 cord is strong, if a bit bulky, and monofilament line seems excellent, if knots could be kept from slipping and if it wouldn't cut your hands in handling a struggling meal. Don't know much about commercial fishing nets, but might be an option, if available in a small enough size?
What do you think would be the best compromise, that would cover the widest array of game?
 
Hm, seems like a pretty light weight and compressible item to toss into your pack and forget about until it's needed. I think I may look in to this! I usually hike alongside creeks and camp at lakes, and both usually have fish in em. A net could be invaluable if decided I wanted fish for dinner, but didn't have my fishing kit!
 
They use what they call 'mist' nets to trap song birds for research. Sounds like a good item for the kit.
 
A net seems like it would be perfect as a starting point for multipurpose gear - a storage bag or gear sling that could be unfolded and used as a net would be a great combination of utility that could replace an existing piece of gear, adding functionality without adding much weight. Clever idea.
 
MustardMan, I was thinking along the same lines. possibly pulling double duty as a hammock, string bag, or even a bug net, if a mesh that fine would work well for catching anything larger than bugs.

I've caught a couple of bats in dip nets, so i'd be inclined to think that even a small net would be effective, but a large net folded down would be even better. the recreational gill nets look about the right sive, not too pricey either.
 
Google "minnow seine" might be just what your looking for. If you are around much water a man could live pretty good with a good gig and a seine.

They are good to catch bait with too. Chris
 
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7736063#post7736063
- post 5, 8, and 13.

Make sure that carrying a net is legal where you are going. Possession of a net is prima facie evidence of intent to use. I.e., if you have a fishing net then you ARE fishing, even if it is not (and never has been) in the water. Gill nets are illegal to possess in many areas.

Fines have probably not gotten smaller with time. Mistwalker reported $500 per net 20 years ago. FYI.
 
hlee said:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7736063#post7736063
- post 5, 8, and 13.

Make sure that carrying a net is legal where you are going. Possession of a net is prima facie evidence of intent to use. I.e., if you have a fishing net then you ARE fishing, even if it is not (and never has been) in the water. Gill nets are illegal to possess in many areas.

Fines have probably not gotten smaller with time. Mistwalker reported $500 per net 20 years ago. FYI.
Click to expand...

I agree nets are pretty effective but don't want another piece of gear that's ambiguous as far as wether it's legal or not. Maybe have DocCanada show you how to make one. I would think inner strands of paracord would work just fine.
 
I always carry a gillnet with me in my bug out bag. All wrapped up it's about 7" long and about 2 1/2" in diam. It unfolds into quite a large net that could trap just about any small river you'd come across. One of the only places I know to get one is www.bestglide.com, which is where I got mine also.
 
I bought a 9 foot by 9 foot .75 inch nylon fishing net on ebay for 5 bucks, it's in my survival kit. I can use it to make traps, a bushrag, fish with it, hunt with it... there are about as many uses for a fishing net that size as there is for a poncho. not to mention it weighs no more than two or three grams and it could all fit into the size of an altoids tin...
 
Thanks for the headsup Hlee, missed that thread the first time around. Definately good to know the legal ramifications... I assumed fishing (recreationally) with nets was illegal to begin with, but it's good to know some places are open to it. Not that I'm particularly interested in net fishing as a sport. The rod is a lot more fun, if not terribly efficient.
Anyone have any thoughts on hunting with a net? I know most of the primitive techniques involved a prey drive, bushbeating, and the net-men in blinds... any solo techniques you can think of?
 
SGP said:
Thanks for the headsup Hlee, missed that thread the first time around. Definately good to know the legal ramifications... I assumed fishing (recreationally) with nets was illegal to begin with, but it's good to know some places are open to it. Not that I'm particularly interested in net fishing as a sport. The rod is a lot more fun, if not terribly efficient.
Anyone have any thoughts on hunting with a net? I know most of the primitive techniques involved a prey drive, bushbeating, and the net-men in blinds... any solo techniques you can think of?
Click to expand...

Well there's the Bubble trap for starters. It was used for trapping Nightingales, but could be sized for other birds, etc.

nightingaletrap.jpg


A couple of years back, my buddy Phil and I experimented with the trap (less net) to check out the trigger action.

forPB.jpg


It took us awhile to figure it out, but once we did, it worked well. Also a drop net works for birds, and if attended quickly enough, it could be used for rabbits, etc.

As far as the legality of carrying a net, this can be circumvented by learning how to make nets (quite easy) and carrying a ball of jute in your pack. In a survival situation, a net can be fashioned at night while sitting by the fire, etc. Net making can also be used for a wide variety of other applications - it is a resource-friendly way to make straps, belts etc. Also all manner of bags can be made.

6ce35a44.jpg


Netquiver2.jpg


Not to mention traps:

Snappingturtletrap4.jpg


And nets:

2f464a44.jpg


If you want to learn how to make nets, I strongly recommend locating a used copy of Netmaking, Charles Holdgate, Emerson Books Inc., 1972, SBN# 87523-180-2, usually available for $10 or $15. It was originally written to teach public school teachers how to teach their students and as such, is very easy to understand.

It progresses from very easy projects to ever more challenging ones, learning new techniques as you advance. Here's one link.

It might even be available from your library.

Doc
 
SGP said:
Thanks for the headsup Hlee, missed that thread the first time around. Definately good to know the legal ramifications... I assumed fishing (recreationally) with nets was illegal to begin with, but it's good to know some places are open to it. Not that I'm particularly interested in net fishing as a sport. The rod is a lot more fun, if not terribly efficient.
Anyone have any thoughts on hunting with a net? I know most of the primitive techniques involved a prey drive, bushbeating, and the net-men in blinds... any solo techniques you can think of?
Click to expand...

All of the hunting regulations that I have ever read explicitly laid out legal means and methods. Minimum rifle caliber, maximum shotgun gauge, minimum bow draw weight, what is legally considered a rifle, shotgun, or bow, etc. If it is not explicitly laid out as a legal method then it is not a legal method. I've never seen netting as a legal means of hunting. Trapping is a different ball of wax, one of which I have little knowledge.

I read an article a few years ago about a guy in Kansas that took a deer with an atlatl. He was fined by the state and had his deer confiscated, as an atlatl is not a prescribed method for the taking of deer in the state.
 
Thanks Doc... I'll look into that book. I'm completely mystified by the trigger mechasism of that bubble trap though. I'm assuming (correct me if I'm wrong) it uses a spring pole because the low weight of the net precludes using a figure four?
 
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