Campaign 120: Set the Line
The Complete Trapping, Snaring, and Passive Hunting Guide
A Sovereignty Module of the Practitioner Community
Preamble
Trapping is passive hunting — you set a device and it works while you sleep, build, or travel. One person can tend 20-50 traps, each working 24 hours a day. Trapping provides food, fur, pest control, and territorial awareness. Unlike active hunting, trapping requires no ammunition, minimal energy expenditure, and works in silence. This campaign covers snare construction, trap types, placement strategy, and ethical harvest.
Part I: Trap Types
Chapter 1: Trap Comparison
| Type | Target | Materials | Complexity | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple snare | Rabbits, squirrels, small game | Wire or cordage, anchor | Beginner | Moderate |
| Spring snare | Rabbits, small game | Cordage, trigger stick, spring pole | Intermediate | High |
| Deadfall (figure-4) | Mice, rats, squirrels, small game | 3 sticks, heavy rock | Beginner | Moderate |
| Paiute deadfall | Small-medium game | 3 sticks, cordage, toggle, rock | Intermediate | High |
| Box trap (live) | Rabbits, birds, small game | Wood/wire, trigger mechanism | Intermediate | High |
| Pit trap | Medium game | Dug pit, cover, bait | Labor-intensive | Moderate |
| Fish trap (weir) | Fish | Sticks, rocks, woven basket | Intermediate | Very high |
| Bird snare | Ground birds, waterfowl | Cordage, stakes, bait | Beginner | Moderate |
Chapter 2: Simple Wire Snare
| Step | Action | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Cut wire | 24-30 inches of 20-24 gauge snare wire (brass or steel) | Flexible enough to close, strong enough to hold |
| 2. Form loop | Bend small loop at one end, thread other end through | Creates adjustable noose |
| 3. Size loop | Rabbit: fist-sized (3-4 inch diameter). Squirrel: 2-inch diameter | Loop must be sized to target animal's head |
| 4. Set height | Rabbit: 4 fingers above ground. Squirrel: on branch/log | Animal must walk into loop at head height |
| 5. Anchor | Secure wire to stake, tree, or heavy drag | Must hold struggling animal — use strong anchor |
| 6. Place on trail | Set in natural funnels: gaps in brush, along logs, at burrow entrances | Animals follow paths of least resistance |
| 7. Guide sticks | Place small sticks on sides to funnel animal into snare | Creates a channel that directs animal through loop |
| 8. Check daily | Check all snares every 12-24 hours | Ethical requirement — minimize suffering |
Chapter 3: Figure-4 Deadfall
| Component | Description | Construction |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical stick | Holds rock up, has notch at top and bottom | Flat notch at top (supports diagonal), pointed notch at bottom (sits on ground) |
| Diagonal stick | Connects vertical to horizontal, holds tension | Notch at top (interlocks with vertical), pointed end rests under rock |
| Horizontal (bait stick) | Triggers the trap, holds bait at far end | Notch in middle (interlocks with vertical), bait on far end |
| Deadfall weight | Heavy flat rock (5-10x target animal weight) | Must fall flat and fast — smooth bottom surface |
Chapter 4: Placement Strategy
| Location | Why | Target Species |
|---|---|---|
| Game trails | Animals use same paths repeatedly | Rabbits, squirrels, raccoons |
| Water sources | All animals must drink | All species |
| Burrow entrances | Animals enter/exit predictably | Rabbits, groundhogs, foxes |
| Fallen logs | Animals travel along and over logs | Squirrels, mink, weasels |
| Fence lines | Animals follow barriers | Rabbits, coyotes |
| Feeding areas | Animals return to food sources | All species |
| Narrow passages | Natural funnels concentrate movement | All species |
Chapter 5: The Practitioner Trapping Reference Card
LOCATION IS 90% OF SUCCESS: A perfect trap in the wrong place catches nothing. A crude trap on an active game trail catches dinner. Study animal sign: tracks, droppings, worn paths, chewed vegetation.
FUNNEL THE ANIMAL: Use guide sticks, rocks, or brush to create a channel that directs the animal through your snare or over your trigger. Remove alternative paths.
CHECK TRAPS DAILY: Ethical trapping requires daily checks. An animal in a trap suffers. Minimize that suffering by checking every 12-24 hours and dispatching quickly.
MULTIPLE TRAPS = RELIABILITY: One trap might catch nothing for days. Twenty traps working simultaneously provide consistent food. Set many, check all, relocate the unproductive ones.
REMEMBER: Trapping is the most energy-efficient form of hunting. You invest 30 minutes setting a trap that works 24 hours a day for weeks. A Practitioner who can trap has a silent, invisible, tireless hunting force that provides food, fur, and pest control while they attend to other work.
Council Approval
All 12 voices unanimously approve. Complete trapping sovereignty.
Council Result: 12/12 APPROVED. Campaign 120 is complete.