Survival hunting

[SkunkWerX]

Chris,

for a survival situation, how would wire snares be?
Easy/Hard? Useful/not?
I have read they would be among the best things to try, but, given your knowledge, I want to hear your thoughts, of actually having to make&set in the context of being in the wilderness with modest supplies.

I'm thinking in terms of someone who might have, let' say, paracord, but maybe not swivels and fittings.

If they set 6 snares, near water holes or paths to streams, are they gonna maybe catch something in 24 hours? 48 hours? never?
Your thoughts?

 

[bulgron]

Wow, for a second there I thought I was in the Politics forum.



One of these days I'm going to find someone to show me how to clean and cook a critter. I think I can do the killing part well-enough.

 

[runningboar]

Chris,

for a survival situation, how would wire snares be?
Easy/Hard? Useful/not?
I have read they would be among the best things to try, but, given your knowledge, I want to hear your thoughts, of actually having to make&set in the context of being in the wilderness with modest supplies.

I'm thinking in terms of someone who might have, let' say, paracord, but maybe not swivels and fittings.

If they set 6 snares, near water holes or paths to streams, are they gonna maybe catch something in 24 hours? 48 hours? never?
Your thoughts?

SW,
Wire snares are the stand by because they are small, light, easy to carry and set, and effective. In order for snares to be really effective you have to know the best places to set them which takes practice and woodcraft skills. You have to place the snares on active runs or trails and have to be able to find them, or snares are useless, I have done the best at fences where animals go under or through, hedgerows with well defined trails, and on animals that use holes.

Honestly the only thing I have ever snared with paracord is some big assed lizards in SWA, but it worked fine the only thing is rigging it to stay open and tieing a proper knot to lock.

As far as whether or not you catch something is according to how many animals are in the area and how good a trapper you are, but setting as many snares as possible doesn't hurt and will definitely increase your odds.

Most people plan on snaring animals if they need too, but don't practice when they don't, in order to become proficient you really need to practice all the time.

I hope I have been at least a little help, get out and set some snares and catch some animals, that is the only way to learn. Chris

 

[matthew krissak]

I'm Bitc#y. I'm cold and wet and tired. If you look at me wrong I won't have to go hunting. I'll be eating long pork for my evening meal.

Not exactly the frame of mind for a stealthy hunter. I have pretty good arms.
Pretty darn good aim as well. I do not think I could get close enough to something to throw even a light spear or throwing arrow.

Maybe I could chuck a rock big enough to kill a squirrel far enough to have a chance to sneak in that close.

What tips do you guys have for procurring food in the wild. For the now could we stay away from creepy crawly things? Lets stick with the furry beasts .

Kevin,

I just finished my survival course this weekend. And stalking and killing small woodland creatures, is something we spent alot of time on.

Are instuctor was tought by Tom Brown, so he knows what hes doing. First thing you want to do is find your self is a killing stick. this is a stick about 2"-2 1/2" wide, by about 18"-22" long. this is for throwing at the animal, NOT lobbing it.

And most importantly you need to learn how to stalk the animal, using the fox walk. it takes on average 70 seconds to take one step. but if done correctly you make NO noice. you do this by " first being crouched over, bracing hands on knees, for extra support. then you lift foot high and maintain balance, come down on outside ball of foot, (not applying wieght) then then roll inside ball of foot, (not applying weight), lower heel and toes, then when comfortable you will make no sound apply weight " this is a slow and long process, but it works. Some people are so good at it, they can even walk up and touch deer!

you should be with in 30-20 feet before throwing the killing stick. throw at hard and striaght.

But if you have the equipment to make snares, and the know how to make traps, go with that!

 

[Kevin the grey]

Kevin,

I just finished my survival course this weekend. And stalking and killing small woodland creatures, is something we spent alot of time on.

Are instuctor was tought by Tom Brown, so he knows what hes doing. First thing you want to do is find your self is a killing stick. this is a stick about 2"-2 1/2" wide, by about 18"-22" long. this is for throwing at the animal, NOT lobbing it.

And most importantly you need to learn how to stalk the animal, using the fox walk. it takes on average 70 seconds to take one step. but if done correctly you make NO noice. you do this by " first being crouched over, bracing hands on knees, for extra support. then you lift foot high and maintain balance, come down on outside ball of foot, (not applying wieght) then then roll inside ball of foot, (not applying weight), lower heel and toes, then when
comfortable you will make no sound apply weight " this is a slow and long process, but it works. Some people are so good at it, they can even walk up and touch deer!

you should be with in 30-20 feet before throwing the killing stick. throw at hard and striaght.

But if you have the equipment to make snares, and the know how to make traps, go with that!

Mathew. That is something to look into.

 

[Connor]

I thought Germany had among the most stringent Gun Laws in Europe?

Germany -- Described as "among the most stringent in Europe," Germany`s laws: Licenses are required to buy or own a firearm, and to get a license a German must prove his or her "need" and pass a government test.
Different licenses are required for hunters, recreational shooters, and collectors. It is illegal to have a gun ready for defensive use in your own home.

I don't know about other european countries but it is true that it's next to impossible to get a "carry always license" in Germany.

What you do get fairly easy is the recreational license, all you have to do is pass a really easy test and be in an official shooting club for a year (and shoot regulary). After that you can buy almost all weapons except for full auto stuff. You are allowed to carry your weapons loaded on your own property. It's not illegal to have a gun ready for defensive use there.

-Connor

 

[Andrew Colglazier]

I don't have any problem with killing being fun. I equate it to that other, rather important, species-propogating activity, sex. Sex is fun, therefore we do it more often, therefore it helps the species.

Killing things in the old days was something people did for fun. Otherwise it would be work, work isn't generally considered fun, and is often something we don't want to do.

Animals kill for fun, and have fun killing other animals. I have seen this in cats, dogs, hogs and other animals. We are being taught that killing shouldn't be fun because to enjoy killing seems to imply a psychopathic personality. "Normal" people OF COURSE don't enjoy killing things, but its OK to enjoy hunting things.....

IMO, this is silliness.

I have enjoyed killing things in the course of hunting or vermin extermination. I have also been sickened by it when I had to do it while culling. The difference was in the purpose of the killing, and in the difficulty of the killing.

Shooting a sick hog in the head from five feet is not an enjoyable activity.

Making a head shot on a running cotton tail in thick brush with a .22 pistol, is!

My go-to hunting combo is a .22 pistol and a 12 gauge shotgun. With this combo, care and reasonable skill, one should be able to feed onesself at least sporadically.

The problem is of course, the competition.

Andy