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I. THE TOOLS OF THE TRADE Trapping requires precision and an understanding of mechanics. A poorly built trap only educates the prey on what to avoid next time. 1. The Spool Description: A piece of bone or wood used to store and deploy cordage (Sinew or Rope). Use: Keeping lines from tangling in the snow. 2. The Bait-Pouch Description: A small leather sack containing scent lures (herbs, animal glands, food scraps). Use: Attracting curious animals to the trigger point. 3. The Trigger Stick Description: A carefully carved piece of wood or bone, usually notched. Use: The heart of any trap. It holds the tension until disturbed. II. SMALL GAME TRAPS For Hares, Marmots, and Grouse. High success rate, low risk. Blueprint A: The Simple Snare (The "Loop") Use: Catches small game by the neck or foot as they run through a trail. Materials: Strong Sinew or thin Rope. Process: Form a Loop: Tie a slip-knot (running knot) in the sinew to create a loop about the size of your fist. Placement: Find a well-used trail (look for droppings or tracks). Suspend the loop over the trail so the animal must put its head through it. Anchor: Tie the other end to a bent sapling or a heavy stone. Mechanic: When the animal pushes through, the loop tightens. The anchor holds it fast. Blueprint B: The "Tangle-Foot" (For Birds) Use: Captures Grouse or low-flying birds. Materials: Fishing line or very thin sinew, small stones. Process: Grid: Tie multiple lines of sinew horizontally between two trees or stakes, about 2-3 inches apart. Weights: Tie small stones or pebbles to the lines every few inches. Mechanic: The bird flies into the lines. The stones tangle around its wings, bringing it to the ground without killing it immediately (requires dispatch). Blueprint C: The Box-Trap (Live Capture) Use: Catching Marmots or small prey alive. Materials: A hollow log or a crate made of bark/wood, a trigger stick, bait. Process: Setup: Prop the box up on one end with a trigger stick. Bait: Place food (roots/berries) under the box. String: Tie a string from the bait to the trigger stick. Mechanic: When the animal takes the bait, it pulls the stick, dropping the box and trapping them inside. III. LARGE GAME TRAPS For Striders, Boars, or Wolves. Requires significant effort to set. Blueprint D: The Spring-Snare (The "Lifter") Use: Lifts the animal off the ground, preventing it from kicking free or being eaten by scavengers. Materials: Strong rope, a flexible sapling (young tree), a notched trigger. Process: Tension: Bend a strong sapling down to the ground. Trigger: Carve a "Figure-4" trigger mechanism (three sticks notched to hold each other under tension). Noose: Attach a large noose to the top of the trigger. Mechanic: When the animal steps in the noose and nudges the trigger, the sapling snaps upright, hoisting the animal into the air. Blueprint E: The "Crusher" (Deadfall) Use: Uses gravity to dispatch larger prey instantly. Warning: Risk of damaging the pelt or skull. Materials: A massive, flat rock or heavy log, sturdy sticks for triggers. Process: Weight: Prop the heavy rock/log up on a trigger mechanism (Figure-4 or Piñata stick). Bait: Place the bait under the rock. Mechanic: When the animal disturbs the bait stick, the support is knocked away. The weight falls. Blueprint F: The Pit-Trap Use: Catching fast-moving land prey (Striders) or defense. Materials: Digging tools, sharp stakes, branches for cover. Process: Digging: Dig a deep, wide hole in a game trail. In the North, digging through permafrost is hard; often, one must find a natural depression in the snow/ice and reinforce it. Stakes: Sharpen wooden stakes and drive them into the bottom of the pit. Camouflage: Cover the hole with a lattice of light branches and cover with snow. Mechanic: The animal steps on the false floor and falls onto the spikes.
