Owning the kills initiative: October challenge

dont have any pics of todays sets....im still one behind....i am getting a bit better. i am learning very much by the great pics from you guys, thank you.

i am having a bit of trouble with the bait stick notches. i was wondering if anyone could post some pictures of that joint between the bait stick and the vertical stick. thanks!
 
mcj I'll try to get something up tomorrow if it will help. I'm stuck at work all day today...
 
I'm at work right now. I made all five (to cover up to the 5th of Oct) over the weekend and set them yesterday at lunch. I just checked them and I had two of them tripped and one dead squirrel. One for two isn't bad for this kind of trap. I reset the tripped ones and came back inside. I'll check them again tomorrow. I am all caught up with five traps and will post pics tonight when I get home, including the successful trap.

I have noticed a few problems with some of the traps posted.

The vertical stick must not be below the deadfall which can slow or even stop the weight from falling.

The trigger stick isn't long enough on a few of these. With a short trigger stick the animal will not be far enough under the weight and will probably be able to react quickly enough to escape.

The weight itself must be fairly wide and at an acute angle to the ground. A very thin weight is easier for the small animal to dodge, just as a weight that is to high off the ground. A wide heavy weight that is fairly close to the trigger works best.

I don't want to come off like I'm telling anyone how to adjust their traps but the things I have mentioned are hard to learn without actually setting the trap and killing something. If we practice making the traps, refining the triggers, ect... then we should also know the practical trapping knowledge that will likely make these traps more successful. Again, I'm sorry of this is coming off the wrong way. I just want the skills of trap making to be more rounded so that we can see more successful traps here on WSS.
 
I'm guilty of my trigger stick not being long enough ( just ask my wife ) seriously though I knew this when was making them..as I have been graabing branches when in the park, and bringing thme home ot make the trap.. (often they are just a might too short so I;ve had to make do with what I have, if I where to do this to get real food.. Darn straight I'd have that stick way in there.
Great pointers and advice...
 
Thanks but that wasn't really directed at you, or anyone for that matter. I've noticed over the years tat many people practice making traps and posting them but not many people actually bait and set their traps. I want everyone that's interested in making the traps to have the knowledge and confidence to set them and get game. There are few threads that catch my interest as much as a good trap thread. That's actually my favorite primitive skill, even ahead of friction fire, and I want to share what I've learned through trial and error so that other people might be able to skip some of the "error" part.:D
 
Good advice MD, I'll definetly take it into consideration. With me, I figure, I got to make 31 of these this month, in the beginning, I was planning on just refining my cuts. Like RR, some of mine have been quick and dirty,but the basic cuts are working. I am currently looking to lighten my trigger, but you make some very valid points. I figure, the last one I do this month will be a culmination of a months worth of trial and error, learning and relearning, and should be close to figure 4 perfection, I hope. Thanks for the heads up. Moose
 
Md 25v said:
Thanks but that wasn't really directed at you, or anyone for that matter. I've noticed over the years tat many people practice making traps and posting them but not many people actually bait and set their traps. I want everyone that's interested in making the traps to have the knowledge and confidence to set them and get game. There are few threads that catch my interest as much as a good trap thread. That's actually my favorite primitive skill, even ahead of friction fire, and I want to share what I've learned through trial and error so that other people might be able to skip some of the "error" part.:D
Click to expand...

I welcome any advice that will help me improve. :)

Also, I'm aware of the shortcomings of some of my traps so far. Right now I'm in the initial learning phase. I'm learning what notches need to be where, how deep and at what angle. While it would be great to set, bait, and check 20-30 traps this month, time will limit me. I might bait a few, but I'm not comfortable with leaving baited traps unattended in my neighborhood or public park.

Thanks again to everyone for providing motivation and support. Keep the expert advice coming. If I had a tag line it would read "I'm here to learn." :thumbup:
 
I hear what your saying, being the backyard bushcrafter I am, I have had little time to collect proper materials to work with. As others have already stated I'm working on the set up and cuts. I hope to use many of these on a trap line. Using real baits and scents. The last few I make this month I promise I will give the real attention to detail that they deserve.

And may even set a few as live traps using a weighted box of some type. As I have way too many stray cats running around!
 
I've taken a few squirrels and a large number of rats and mice in the past using these Kinds of traps. But admittedly the triggers where longer. But al feed back is welcome and encouraged, the whole point of this is so that we can learn, and become proficient.
 
Here's mine for today. Before:

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...And after:
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I have been outsmarted by a cat.
 
I got to go play outdoors this weekend, Unfortunately I forgot my camera, so I had to bring my traps home for pics. My nephews snagged a couple of traps I made, and I had to promise them that I would save the others for them next time I saw them. Hopefully they are practicing on their own (safely).

This is my second trap. The upright isn't tall enough. Sometimes the trigger would touch the ground before the trap was triggered. Easy fix = set the upright on another piece of wood.
Trap2.jpg


Trap #3. This turned out pretty well, but I think the trap is scaled a bit too small for squirrels. Maybe a good mousetrap.
Trap3.jpg


Trap #4. This trap was made out of a cottonwood branch that I found. I've never carved cottonwood before, and found that it was very easy to work with (which is why I went crazy squaring all the parts). Notice that the trigger stick has been repaired. It was snapped after a few trials
Trap4.jpg


One last picture of my components and the only two tools that I have used so far. A Gerber folding saw and my Buck Vanguard
TrapComponets020304.jpg


Here are a few lessons that I have learned so far...
1. The diagonal piece (I call it the lever) is key to relating the weight of the dead-fall to the weight of the trigger. The longer the lever is past the upright stick, the more force it takes to activate the trap.

2. When setting dead-falls it can be useful to put a couple of blocks under the weight, not touching it, but placed so that if the figure four collapses it will only fall an inch or two. This will keep your trap from being beat up, an possibly keeps your hand from being smashed by a rock. Once the trap is set, move the blocks.

3. In a survival situation use green wood. It is a lot more forgiving. I don't mind parts snapping on me when I'm practicing (well not too much), but I'd hate to be breaking traps when my life depended on them.

I can't wait to see all of your traps. Remember the early bird gets the worm, but the second squirrel gets the cheese.
 
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Awesome guys!!! I have been lazy and drunk ,but I assure you I will get caught back up. Finding wood here isn't the problem but getting to pull out a knife and work is. Kalifornians are weird, they think a knife is a weapon. I may wait until I'm home again to catch up this weekend. Don't cast me aside, I'm still in this thing. Moose
 
md thanks for the advice!

so i set up 2 today during lunch and i actually got one to work!!! it was just with twigs though. im going to use it as a model for bigger limbs.

today i used strawberry guava and hibiscus.

thanks for the help RR i could sure use it!

great pics guys! :)
 
OK, time to catch up... I'm having computer trouble so I can only post the pics as they load.

first trap

fig4001.jpg


after sticks stuck in ground to prevent escape from one side and log placed against other side

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bait for first trap-red mushroom that the chipmunks love

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Trap 2

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fig4015.jpg


bait for trap - the nut is wedged in there very tight

fig4013.jpg


Trap - this one is wide enough that I didn't need to place the barrier sticks on the sides

fig4021.jpg


fig4020.jpg


Red mushroom that I used for bait- the ends are trimmed to make sure the squirrel doesn't just eat the sides and leave

fig4022.jpg

fig4020.jpg

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Trap

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bait for trap- in the second pic you can see where I trimmed one side flat to help it create more friction

fig4025.jpg

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This video shows the right way to place the sticks on the outside of the trap and explains why they are necessary. Also shows one of the worst smashed fingers I have ever received from setting a trap, nice split fingernail at the end.

[youtube]83kczk2Jjtc[/youtube]
 
Nice work MD! There's lots to learn from your efforts. Sorry about the injury.
 
Great Job guys! I really need to start, but I have 2 sick kids to tend to.
 
Sorry, forgot to put my kill pics in the last post. They were taken with my phone so they are a little blurry because I forgot to wipe the little lens off, Oh well.

Kill #1- trap baited with small acorn. Set at 4pm, checked at noon the next day after archery practice

kill2.jpg

kill2-2.jpg



Kill #2- baited with red mushroom wedged in split in baitstick. Set around 4pm, checked at 9am

kill1.jpg

kill1-1.jpg
 
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