Wire Clothes Hangers as Snare Stands

8 Trap Hacks That Every Prepper Should Know

Trapping is a fantastic source of protein in an SHTF or grid-down scenario.

For those of us who do not trap regularly, having to suddenly rely on trapping as a food source will come with a very steep learning curve.

Here are eight ‘hacks’ that you can keep in mind to help you in the unfortunate event that you need to rely on your trapping skills to survive.

When we are setting snares, we often have to prop the snare up, so it does not collapse in on itself.

8 Trap Hacks That Every Prepper Should Know

It will also probably be necessary to use some snare stands to position a snare perfectly around an opening where the animals are moving through.

We can use sticks that we find lying about the forest floor for this purpose, but a practically free and better solution is to make a collection of snare stands from old wire clothes hangers.

To do this, simply cut a wire clothes hanger into straight sections at the lengths you want, and then bend about a quarter of an inch or so of one end at 90 degrees.

All you need to do is stick them into the ground on either side of the snare loop and use the bent ends to hold the loop in position.

When setting wire snares or even paracord snares, use a swivel at the point where you anchor the snare.

8 Trap Hacks That Every Prepper Should Know

The reason is that an animal caught in a snare will fight like hell to get out and, in doing so, is going to cause a lot of stress on the connection point where the snare line is anchored.

Placing a swivel at this point will allow the animal and the snare line to move around without stressing and breaking the at the point it is acquired.

Rat traps are not only for vermin around your home. They can be very effective on other small game as well.

Rat Traps

Add a few dozen rat traps to your trapping supplies to make killing squirrels a whole lot easier and less time-consuming.

Using baling wire or zap straps, you can attach these rat traps to tree trunks and branches to trap squirrels who like to hide in the trees.

Funnelling the prey to your traps seems obvious, but it is a step in setting a trap that would be easy to forget for us who do not spend a lot of time trapping.

Funnel The Prey

Use branches, brush, debris, or anything else that you think would pose an obstacle to your chosen prey animal to guide them into where you have placed your trap.

Try and make things look as natural as possible. The animals are good at noticing things that are out of place.

With any trapping endeavour, you will end up trapping something that you did not intend on trapping, and if that animal is still alive, releasing it can be problematic.

Fortunately, you can make a DIY snare pole with a length of rope and some sturdy PVC pipe.

8 Trap Hacks That Every Prepper Should Know

• Form a loop in the rope and pass that loop through the PVC pipe to the other end.
• Pull a loop of a sufficient size out of this end of the pipe.
• The rope at the top end is pulled to tighten the loop.

To use this DIY snare pole, simply pass the loop over the animal’s head that you want to sudue long enough to release from the trap, then pull on the rope to tighten the noose around the animal’s neck.

Do not over-tighten this loop. You only need to hold the animal still, not strangle it.

Then have a second person cut the animal free, after which you can release the tension on the loop, and the animal should run away.

Mark Traps You are going to want to mark your traps so that you can find them again.

Since flagging tape comes in various colours, you can colour code your traps by trap type or when you set them. This way, you can have a visual clue to jog your memory.

To avoid others finding your traps, you can place the flagging tape a set distance in front of the tap set. This will reduce the possibility of people robbing your traps by finding your markers.

Keeping human scents away from your taps can be very important to your success.

8 Trap Hacks That Every Prepper Should Know

There are a wide variety of commercial products that claim to eliminate human odour.

Still, it is better to start by handling the traps as little as possible and to keep all of your trapping supplies away from places that can have them picking up human scent.

Wash your hands with local natural water and rub with sand or slit to absorb oil and scrub the scent off your hands. You can also use black charcoal from your campfire to absorb the odours on your hands and your equipment.

Lastly, get your hands dirty in local dirt to mask your scent and hopefully prevent your smell from transferring to your equipment.

Here are a few tools that you should be taking with you on the trapline:

• Linesman pliers and wire cutters – Use the linesman pliers to twist and tighten the wire and use the wire cutters for all your wire cutting needs. Do not use a multitool because they don’t do either task particularly well.
• Gaunlet style welding gloves – Are thick and provide extra protection around the wrist area in case animals that you may need to release decide to try to scratch or bite you.
• A hatchet – Not any hatchet. It should be one that you can use to hammer stakes into the ground for anchoring as well.
• Headlamp – You will be operating in the early morning hours and probably the evening hours as well. Having some light is going to be critical.
• A trowel or collapsible shovel – Digging will be necessary, and you need tools to make the work easier.

These eight hacks are provided for you to keep in the back of your mind or to consider when putting together kits for SHTF or grid-down.

Always know and obey any laws, rules, and regulations if you decide to pursue trapping before you need it for survival.

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You had me, till I got to the end.
The last says, that we will need to “OBEY” laws, rules, and regulations.
Is this now or when SHTF.
They say we need to do this. OBEY. It’s hard to say that when the LAW dose not even fallow the Law…

This is good info. Thanks…

You know what they say Red Ant, Illegal is just a sick bird.
We got a bunch of those sandhill cranes down here in Florida, quite a bit if them nest in the immediate area. If push comes to shove, we’ll find out for real if they really are the ribeye if the sky.

Trapping is a skill I definitely need to learn. Articles like this are great for those that have the experience, but some like me have zilch. Are there any basic tutorials on this site that anyone could point me in the right direction? Thanks.

@ Exodus 20 / Deuteronomy 5

Just read Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 Love it. Thank you.

Never been to Florida but its the same every where when it comes to Hunting and Trapping or Tracking. You will need to build up your thinking, in a way that what ever you are hunting or trapping and tracking dose not see or smell or hear you while you are {watching them}. When I was younger a long time ago, I hunted and tracked many of the things that I don’t hunt no more. By way of just being “motionless” and not making a “sound”. That will be the only way you can catch an animal off guard. I got good at it. One day I watch a litter of coyote pups playing in the creek and was amazed that they did not see or hear or smell me. It was so cool.
I was learned to do those things by good caring people and some family members. But being poor helped you get good at those skills, because if you were heard or smelled then you did not get to eat, or just only had a little bit, instead of more to eat.
I can’t tell you much on how to do those thing, or can help as much as I can for you. But you can find so much of the web, some is good and some are just plain stupid. But none the less you can find a lot on there. If you could, it would be best to see if you can find someone to help you in person. It helps to be hands on when learning those skills. I would love to come and learn you but my wife would get pissed if I went and was gone for a year or two. LOL…

You can learn your self by just doing small things around your house or at the park or like I said get some one to learn you in some out door areas that you can go to. You can make a bird catch and that would be a good start or try and catch a squirrel or a cat or a dog that is a stray.
I know, y’all don’t hate on me for saying that about cats and dogs. But you will eat them before you will eat a HUMEN BEING. I hope…
When it comes down to it, I think you will do just fine with the animals around your house or surrounding area. But you won’t be alone, there will be others trying the same thing. Maybe.
There are a variety of spices that I have heard that live in Florida. But be careful you just might be the one being hunted.
I say get out while you can and get to learning your surroundings and different areas that you might have to go to, to see if you can find food or shelter. The swamps…
As far as on this site, there might be something. But you can go and look, there are a bunch of articles on here that might help you.
Just don’t believe every thing you read.
If you need any help with something please come and ask, we will be happy to help you find what you are looking for. Well maybe some (1), might. I will love to learn others about what I know and have learned.
But you will have to respond back, if you won’t some help…

Thank you and happy learning.

HEY pray and ask GOD for help in knowing what you want to know.
Be careful what you ask him for. He will pour out his knowledge on you and it might be more then your mind can handle.
Ask for one at a time, that might be better for you. Ask and you shell receive.

Apparently the system’s not set up to do a reply to a reply Red Ant.

I’m glad you were those two chapters now you know where they’re at if anybody asks right?.

With the trapping I’m not only interested in the mechanics of the whole situation but more so bait/lures for what you’re going to be attracting. we keep a biblical based diet Leviticus 11 if you are intrigued so with that said I definitely would not want to end up catching things that I would not eat so knowing that if I used and I’m just using the sample here knowing if I used lizard guts as a bait and that would only attract possums well I wouldn’t use that because I’m not going to eat a possum. Actually the only trapping I’ve done is with a have a heart cage primarily for catching and relocating feral cats and yeah ended up catching a few possums or two.

Maybe ill catch quite a few videos where people are like oh we’re using a piaut trap …. With no real in-depth explanation of this is how you set it up that’s just one example. But yeah I definitely agree getting out and doing it that’s going to be the best tool. I just don’t want to end up being the trapper version of a tacti-cool idiot. 😎😎

@Exodus 20 / Deuteronomy 5

I know that GOD will bring you all that you will need to survive all that is to come.
You will be able to learn and find the right kind of food that you wish to eat.
Keep going and don’t stop learning.
If I can help just post and I will ck back.

Interesting article. I was a self taught trapper out of necessities when I was 21. I made simple noose traps on springy saplings using sticks to hold the noose open and a rock just barely able to hold the tree down till tripped. That was pretty primitive but it supplemented my foraging enough to keep me alive for months. I’ve since read a lot on the subject. Still do. The idea for long gloves is lifesaver. Well arm saver anyway. I have new welding gloves, wire, cutters, and pliers plus para cord in a BOB if I had to hit the mountain above me. A different BOB for a different direction.
Back then all I had for cordage was the wornout elastic from the top of my panties. I braided it in thin 3 strand cordage. Ok for rabbits for squirrels if they were caught by the neck. Lower and squirrIes chewed free. It also worked for a bird trap on a limb.

@ Clergylady

I have to say, clergylady I would love to sit and reminisce with you. You are an inspiration to me when I read your post. I so much would have been in your class room listing to your every word and being a sponge. Again “Thank You” for YOU and my GOD keep his blessing on you.

Lots of great videos on YouTube on trapping, lots of good ones on using everyday stuff you find lying around to build traps. Dang it, the devil on my left shoulder is telling me to say they is lots of grammar videos.too, the angel on my right shoulder would advise me not to speak at all but I drove her to drinking in a cantina in Ciudad Acuna years ago.

Good article and yes, always know local laws! Even after SHTF there will be those who will make trouble if you do not.

Walnut hulls bath will kill your scent. Trappers boil traps in it to cover any smell of metal.

That funnel trap is great for quail and pheasants.

I never throw away wire. It hath its uses 🙂 niio

What actual items – i.e. Type of wire best for snares – small animals like squirrel up to larger animals like feral hogs and so on? I like the welder glove idea and lineman pliers. Coat Hangar to hold snare open was good info… I am interested in putting together a ‘kit’ for trapping food animals if needed. I currently trap hogs in a round & square trap along with raccoons in foot holds and ‘Havaheart’ traps… I need to prepare for snare trapping and Conibear trapping. Some might find my video on trapping skunks helpful – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFMc-__nF8c

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