Sovereignty Module: Live Off the Land
Live Off the Land
Complete Trapping, Snaring, and Wilderness Survival Food Procurement Guide
Complete Trapping, Snaring, and Wilderness Survival Food Procurement Guide
When supplies run out, the land provides. Trapping is 10x more efficient than hunting: traps work 24 hours a day while you do other tasks. This campaign covers every trap type, placement strategy, and animal processing technique.
Chapter 1: Trap Types by Target
| Trap Type | Target Animals | Kill/Capture | Materials | Difficulty | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deadfall (figure-4) | Squirrel, rat, marten | Kill | Rocks, sticks | Low | High |
| Snare (wire/cord) | Rabbit, fox, coyote | Kill or capture | Wire or cordage | Low | Very high |
| Pit trap (covered) | Large game, pig | Capture | Digging + cover | Moderate | Moderate |
| Spring snare (lifted) | Rabbit, bird | Kill | Cordage + spring pole | Moderate | High |
| Conibear-style (body grip) | Beaver, muskrat, raccoon | Kill | Metal (manufactured) | Low (to set) | Very high |
| Fish trap (weir/basket) | Fish | Capture | Sticks, cordage | Moderate | Very high |
| Bird snare (perch) | Birds | Capture | Cordage + perch | Low | Moderate |
| Leg-hold (padded) | Coyote, fox, bobcat | Capture (live) | Metal (manufactured) | Moderate | High |
Chapter 2: Snare Construction
| Component | Material | Specification | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loop (noose) | 20-gauge brass/copper wire or braided cord | Sized to target animal | Tightens around animal |
| Lock (one-way slide) | Wire twist or commercial lock | Prevents loop from loosening | Keeps animal caught |
| Anchor | Stake, tree, or drag (heavy log) | Must hold struggling animal | Prevents escape |
| Support (holds loop in position) | Twig, wire support, or notch in tree | At animal head height | Presents loop in travel path |
| Trigger (spring snare) | Notch system or toggle | Releases spring pole | Lifts animal (quick kill) |
Snare sizing: Rabbit: 3-4 inch diameter loop, 2 inches off ground. Fox/coyote: 8-10 inch diameter, 8-10 inches off ground. Deer: 12-14 inch diameter, 18-24 inches off ground (where legal).
Chapter 3: Deadfall Trap (Figure-4 Trigger)
| Step | Action | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Find flat rock (5-20 lbs depending on target animal) | Heavy enough to kill instantly |
| 2 | Carve vertical stick (upright): flat notch near top, chisel point at bottom | Holds system up |
| 3 | Carve diagonal stick (diagonal): notch at top (engages upright), flat end holds bait | Supports rock at angle |
| 4 | Carve horizontal stick (trigger): notch engages upright, end supports rock | Most sensitive piece |
| 5 | Assemble: upright holds diagonal, diagonal holds rock, trigger holds upright to horizontal | Forms "4" shape |
| 6 | Place bait on diagonal end (under rock) | Peanut butter, meat, seeds |
| 7 | Animal touches bait/trigger → system collapses → rock falls on animal | Instant kill |
Figure-4 principle: Three sticks interlock in a figure-4 shape. Any disturbance to the bait stick releases the trigger, dropping the deadfall weight. Adjust sensitivity by changing notch depth.
Chapter 4: Fish Traps
| Type | Construction | Target | Placement | Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basket trap (funnel) | Woven sticks/wire, funnel entrance | All fish | Stream, river mouth | High |
| Weir (fence across stream) | Sticks/rocks channeling to trap | All fish | Across shallow stream | Very high |
| Trotline (multiple hooks) | Main line + dropper hooks + bait | Catfish, large fish | Across river/pond | Moderate-high |
| Gill net | Mesh net stretched across water | Size-specific fish | Across current | Very high |
| Crayfish trap | Wire mesh box, funnel entrance | Crayfish | Stream bottom, baited | High |
Funnel trap principle: Fish swim into wide funnel opening easily but cannot find the small exit hole to escape. Bait inside attracts fish. Check daily. One trap can catch 5-20 fish per day in productive water.
Chapter 5: Trap Placement Strategy
| Principle | Application | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Trails (game paths) | Place snares on visible animal trails | Animals use same paths repeatedly |
| Funnels (natural narrows) | Set traps where terrain narrows passage | Forces animal through trap |
| Water sources | Set near streams, ponds, springs | All animals must drink |
| Den entrances | Set at burrow/den openings | Animals enter/exit predictably |
| Bait stations | Create bait pile, set traps around it | Draws animals to kill zone |
| Cubby sets (enclosed bait) | Build small enclosure with bait inside, trap at entrance | Forces animal to enter from one direction |
| Quantity over quality | Set 10-20 traps minimum | More traps = more consistent food |
Rule of 10: Set at least 10 traps/snares to ensure daily food. Expect 10-30% catch rate per night. 10 snares at 20% = 2 animals per day = survival food secured.
Chapter 6: Animal Processing
| Step | Action | Time | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kill humanely if still alive (cervical dislocation for small game) | Immediate | Quick, clean kill |
| 2 | Bleed (cut throat, hang head-down) | 5-10 minutes | Better meat quality |
| 3 | Skin (cut around ankles, peel hide off) | 10-30 minutes | Save hide for tanning |
| 4 | Gut (open belly carefully, remove organs) | 5-15 minutes | Save liver, heart, kidneys (edible) |
| 5 | Rinse cavity with clean water | 2 minutes | Remove blood and debris |
| 6 | Butcher (separate into portions) | 10-30 minutes | Or cook whole (small game) |
| 7 | Cook immediately or preserve (smoke, dry, salt) | Varies | Don't waste: eat organs, make bone broth |
Calorie yield: Rabbit = 1,000-1,500 calories. Squirrel = 400-600 calories. Raccoon = 2,000-3,000 calories. Deer = 30,000-50,000 calories. Beaver = 3,000-5,000 calories.
Reference Card
- Set 10+ traps minimum: expect 10-30% catch rate per night
- Snare on game trails at head height of target animal (rabbit: 2 inches off ground)
- Figure-4 deadfall: 3 sticks + heavy rock = reliable kill trap from natural materials
- Funnel fish trap: fish enter easily but can't find exit. Check daily. 5-20 fish/day possible.
- Cubby set: enclosed bait forces animal to approach from one direction (into trap)
- All animals must drink: water sources are guaranteed trap locations
- Process game immediately: gut within 1 hour (bacteria multiply rapidly in body cavity)
- Quantity over quality: 10 mediocre traps outperform 1 perfect trap
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