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Trapping is a powerful survival skill. In fact, it is arguably the best means of putting food on the table in a long-term situation.
While many people hope to lean on bows and guns, metal traps get the job done over and over.
You don’t need bullets or arrows for traps. There are different types of traps out there. The very best are going to be steel traps.
There is no argument on this. This doesn’t mean that other traps are not going to be effective.
Making DIY traps from natural resources is a very impressive skill and one that will get you fed. Snares and deadfall traps can be very effective tools for getting food over the fire.
Snares
Snares can be purchased in their metal form, or they can be created using things like paracord and the springing trigger of a sapling.
There is one thing to understand about most snares: they are 1x or 2x users of the item. Snares are not designed to kill, so the animal does a lot of struggling and gnawing to get loose. This often damages the trap beyond reuse.
It’s not to say that snares are ineffective; it just means you need to plan for this. A match is a very effective means of starting a fire, but it is single-use. Understanding the nature of your gear is important.
If you buy snares or fashion your own, you need practice to become effective at placing and using them. The better you can hide that snare, the more effective it will be.
Snaring animals is a great way to get your hands on some food. Make your snares small and easy to trigger. You aren’t trying to snare a deer! Even a small squirrel is better than nothing at all.
