Tried to make my first figure 4 trap...

It's a great idea to practice bushcraft/survival skill at home (Figure 4) snares (we have way too many bunnies in the neighborhood), bow and drill etc. before you life may depend on them!
 
Is this the one you're talking about Stryker?
modified4.jpg

Doc
 
I heard about another deadfall trigger called the 'Promontory Peg' quite some time ago. More recently there has been quite a good description of it published on the web:

http://p081.ezboard.com/The-Promontory-Peg-/fpaleoplanet69529frm39.showMessage?topicID=318.topic

I've played with this new Promontory design a bit and I love its simplicity....but so far I would have to say that I'd favor the figure four because of the success I've had with it. I will, however, continue to experiment with this new design because it looks good... and because the 'rediscoverer' of it, Mr George Michauid, reckons he's caught a variety of things using it.
 
Here are a couple good pics from the Wildwood site.
Rick

RBwc2003032.jpg


And a more sensitive version with baitstick wedged between.

RBwc2003033.jpg
 
I was successfull on my first try, but I think everything fit a little too good. Might not have been sensitive enough.
 
I am about to set up my trap in my shed. It is safe to say that there are only rats in there. I would hate see a neighbor's pet in my dead fall.
 
40 some odd years ago my step-father taught me to make figure 4 dead fall. on his version we carved a face on the upper stick that looked over the trigger. this was the Spirit that watched your traps for you.
As you mite guess Dad was mixed blood American Indian. I'm not particularly spiritual but I carve the face to honor the man who taught me. Funny thing is in the 40 some odd years I have been practicing this crafts the only time the traps work for me is when I carve the face in the trigger.
 
I saw the first page of this thread before heading off to the beach for a day of lifeguarding. It was a cloudy, cool day and the beach was almost empty the whole time. After a while, I remembered that I'd seen this this morning, and walked around finding some sticks to work with, and a 2''x12''x2' piece of lumber that had washed up.
I built a figure 4, and though its trigger was a bit sensative, it functioned perfectly on the first setup attempt.
making traps is a fun skill and way to amuse yourself, and today it gave me a reason to try out the new mora :thumbup:
scandi grinds really are nice for woodscraft!
 
bikermikearchery said:
40 some odd years ago my step-father taught me to make figure 4 dead fall. on his version we carved a face on the upper stick that looked over the trigger. this was the Spirit that watched your traps for you.
As you mite guess Dad was mixed blood American Indian. I'm not particularly spiritual but I carve the face to honor the man who taught me. Funny thing is in the 40 some odd years I have been practicing this crafts the only time the traps work for me is when I carve the face in the trigger.
Click to expand...

Cool, it sounds like a great tradition the pass down. May we use it?
 
I'd love to see a picture of one of those carvings Bikermike.

I set a figure-four deadfall yesterday when out going around my possum trapline. Rats had been disturbing my sets so I thought I'd have a go at getting one. This morning I found I'd bagged a big rat... a 'ship rat' I think.

FigFourBigRock.jpg

DeadfallRat1.jpg
 
DOC-CANADA said:
Hey Stryker, I'm not sure what you're asking.

Doc
Click to expand...

Just chit-chat. Was wondering if you generally teach survival/primitive skills. I knew a couple instructors out of Mohawk College, Phil comes to mind, though not positve on the names. They took a primitive life skills course I once taught out of Humber back in the early 90's. Anyways - this is a thread on traps so I should cut the chatter...

Also,
Bikermike:
I'd likewise like to see a picture of those carvings.
Perhaps you trap more because of the extra care and mindset you use when carving these triggers. State of mind is most important.
 
Stryker D said:
Also,
Bikermike:
I'd likewise like to see a picture of those carvings.
Perhaps you trap more because of the extra care and mindset you use when carving these triggers. State of mind is most important.
Click to expand...

I'll work on the pics but it may take me a while, I'm recovering from accident/ broken leg kind of mess's up the mobility. just darn hard to get to where the sticks are.:grumpy:

I think if you use this tradition it would honor those who passed it on.

I was taught to gather enough material to make 10 or so trap triggers at one time. Sit and patiently carve them. Then go out and find falls to put them under.
 
Pict, the trigger stick barely looks braced on the dead fall support.

How did you do that?
 
The Silence

Some thought him strange as he carefully carved each trigger.
Cruel. A man who had lost touch with the world around him.

There he sat; knife in hand; forming tools of death.

A person obseving from afar might comment on the reason;
The need for one to devise an instrument whose only purpose is to destroy.

Late one night, in the silence of an empty warehouse this man placed his traps.
Traps designed to take the lives of unsuspecting prey.

There was no hunger; no need for clothing or warmth.
He was not protecting a loved one.
Yet he continued to execute his plans.

Next morning, as sure as death, his victim lay dead;
A tiny piece of bait protruding from its mouth.

It died as it lived;
Feeding its hunger.

In the days and weeks that followed more lives were caught in his traps.
Caught and discarded.

Eventually the man put each instrument away,
And with mixed emotions withdrew from the area.

Life continued as it had before his arrival.
The population grew, but the man refused to trap.

Exterminators were called in.
They lay poisons: chemicals designed to be eaten; distributed and destroy

This was not the sudden death of a falling weight; but a lingering demise -
As chemicals slowly transformed.

Those who did not die carry poisons in their system.
Poisons passed on from old to young; changing the essence that is Life.

From a Being that died a painful death;
To the poisons that pour across our planet -
All lifeforms are affected.

Some thought his strange as he carefully carved each trigger...


Inspired after I spent a few weeks at work carving tiny figure 4, piute and modified triggers and getting rid of mice that were shitting in the computer keyboards. Eventually I stopped and the next thing I new we had people laying rat poison.
Who amoungst us is truly sane?
 
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