Building LIVE traps to catch herps

stephanbakir · 04-29-11, 11:23 AM

Have any of you ever built a trap to see what animals live in your area?

A really easy one involves taking a tarp about 20 feet long and building a fence out of it (make sure the bottom of it is under the sand a little so animals cant go over) You make this fence on the edge of a field, inside the bush and then 1-2 feet into the field at a.... 45 degree angle.

Anything that is passing there will hit the fence and walk along it. You bury a rubber-made or 2 against these fences so they are flush with the surface (make sure you put small holes at the bottom in case it rains) I've caught frogs turtles snakes mice 1 marten and lots of other things using this.

infernalis · 04-29-11, 11:28 AM

I find it more satisfying to go rustle them up myself rather than trapping.

Sure, if I need a lot of minnows, I will trap them, but I can net them up faster.

stephanbakir · 04-29-11, 11:52 AM

I trap them when i dont have much free time and i know the next day i'm having kids over who want to see them.

That and you rarely only catch herps, allot of the things you end up catching you would never see during the day

RandyRhoads · 04-29-11, 11:52 AM

A good one is the "four" trigger from a figure four deadfall trap. Just the trigger so its not a real DEADfall. Then create a heavy box in a manner such as tying sticks in a square and making them smaller and smaller towards the top, then using it with the four trigger. You can catch mammal, fowl, and if you make the slats small enough, even herps.

stephanbakir · 04-29-11, 11:57 AM

The only problem with mohave bird traps, if thats what your refering to, is that its hard to make them quickly with items you find in the bush and still leave the holes small enough so a snake cant get out.

RandyRhoads · 04-29-11, 12:01 PM

Yes, it would take a while, but is this a speed contest? lol. And I like that name i've just been calling it a modified dead fall.

stephanbakir · 04-29-11, 12:52 PM

Mohave bird traps are badass and you really dont need much to make them. The main advantage to catching live while camping is that you can build a cage in the bush and keep them for a while and they wont spoil and if you catch something you didnt want to catch you can let it go!