Diagram of a peg snare trigger:

Diagram of a Spring Snare:

SPRING SNARE: Game running through the snare disengages the trigger bar,and the prey is flung off the ground. Use on game trails or in gaps through rocks or hedges. Cut a notch in triggerbar (a) to fit upright (b). Drive upright into ground. Attach

snare to trigger bar, then trigger bar to sapling.

Diagram of a Baited Snare:

BAITED SNARE: Construct as for spring snare but using the release mechanism shown. The bait support should be only lightly driven into the ground as it must fly away with the snare.

Diagram of a Leg Snare:

LEG SNARE : Push a natural fork or two sticks tied together into the ground. The line from a sapling is tied to a wooden toggle

and the toggle passed under the fork. When the game takes the bait, attached to a separate stick, it falls away releasing the toggle which flies up taking the snare and the game with it. Large versions are amongst the best snares or heavy game.

Diagram of a Platform Trap:

PLATFORM TRAP: Site over a small depression on the game trail. Snares on the platforms either side, when the platform is depressed the trigger is released and the game held firmly by the leg. For smaller, lighter game use the mechanism shown in (a), displacing either the bottom bar or the toggle will trigger the trap.

Diagram of a Deadfall:

FIGURE 4 DEADFALL : A simple and effective deadfall trap, can be made to any size. A horizontal bait bar is is balanced at right angles to an upright with a lock bar, which supports a rock or other heavy weight pivoting around the tip of the upright.

Diagram of a Trip Wire Deadfall:

TRIPWIRE DEADFALL : A heavy log is suspended over a busy game trail, the game trips the wire and pulls a retaining bar from under two short pegs secured in a tree trunk. Keep the pegs as short as possible so that the bar will disengage easily.

Diagram of a Spear Deadfall:

SPEAR DEADFALL : Same as tripwire deadfall but utilizing rocks to add weight and sharpened sticks to add trauma to the crushing blow.

Diagram of a Sprung Spear Trap:

SPRUNG SPEAR TRAP : This is a VERY dangerous trap, it should always be constructed and approached from behind the spring of the trap, only attempt if you are confident that your cordage and other materials are strong enough. A springy shat with spear attached is suspended over a trail. A slip ring made of SMOOTH material is attached to a trip wire and acts as a release mechanism. A toggle (a) and short line to a fixed upright hold the sprung shaft in tension. A further rod through the ring is tensed between the near side of the sprung shaft and the far face of the upright, securing until tripped.

Diagram of a Baited Hole Noose:

BAITED HOLE NOOSE : This trap is very useful for scavengers, drive 4 sharpened sticks into the pit, through the edges. Lay a noose across them attached to a peg outside the pit.

Diagram of a North Woods School Snare:

Diagram of a Hook And Spring Pole Snare:

Diagram of Ojibwa Bird Snares:

Diagram of Squirrel Snares:

Fish Traps And Snares:

Fish that enter a trap or pot find it difficult to get out and this gives the fisher time to take the fish that are caught. An advantage of trapping is that it allows some control over the species and sizes of the fish you catch. The trap entrance, or funnel, can be regulated to control the maximum size of fish that enter. The size of the holes, or mesh, in the body of the trap can regulate the minimum size that is retained. To a large extent, the fish species that will be caught depend on the type, model and characteristics of the pot or trap being used.

Trap Catagories:
Traps that form barriers to fish movement, including walls or dams, fences, fyke nets, gratings and watched chambers that can be closed by the fisher after the fish enters. Traps that make hiding places (habitat traps), including brush traps and octopus pots. Tubular traps, which are narrow funnels or hoses that stop the fish from getting out backwards; eel tubes fall into this category. traps that are mechanically closed by the fish, including gravity traps or box traps, bentrod traps (whipping bough traps), torsion traps and snares. baskets, which are enclosed traps and pots usually with a structure to make escape difficult; they include pots made of wood, wire or plastic, conical and drum-like traps made of netting with hoops and frames and box-like traps made with strong frames. large open traps or corrals with a part or mechanism to stop fish from escaping, which can be fixed on sticks or anchors, set or floating.

Traps set out of the water to catch fish such as flying fish that jump off the tops of waves and glide over the surface when in danger; these can be box-shaped, rafts, boats or nets ("veranda" net types); scoop nets are sometimes used for making fish jump. Pitfall traps can be used for marine animals that migrate over land, such as coconut crabs.

Diagram of a Slat Trap:

A fisherman uses a slat trap when he wants to catch catfish. The slat trap can be shaped like a cylinder, rectangle or square, and is made out of slats. The trap cannot be longer than 6 feet long and 2 feet in diameter. On three sides of the contraption, at least two slats should be spaced, 1 inch apart from the next. The trap can have one or more entrances to lure in fish. The various elements of a slat pot

Diagram of a Basket trap:

A fisherman has his choice of pots (constructed of wood, wire or plastic) or traps (constructed of netting, hoops and a frame) when he uses a basket trap to fish. Box-like basket traps are made with durable frames, whereas drum-like traps, sometimes referred to as drum nets, are made of nets and hoops. These types of enclosed traps and pots are efficient, because the basket design makes escape difficult for the trapped fish. The various elements of a box-like trap

The various elements of a beehive pot

Traditional pots made from natural materials

Diagrams of Crab & Lobster Traps:

Crab traps are collapsible traps made of wire or netting and come in different shapes. When the bait in the trap attracts a crab, the fisherman pulls up on the cord of the trap so that the sides are pulled up, trapping the crab. If the fisherman does not pull the cord, the crab can eat the bait and move on freely.

Beehive pot type, cone iron frame, 8 mm diameter (used in Japan for deep crab fishing)

Rock lobster pot made from mangrove sticks (northeastern Brazil)

Lobster pots used in northeastern United States

Escape gaps for lobster pots

Ballast
Weights or ballast are often placed in pots and traps before setting to prevent tidal flows and currents from moving them from where they are set. This is especially the case for traps and pots made of wood or other light material. Weights may be concrete blocks, steel bars or other heavy material such as bricks, stones or rocks. Strategically placed ballast may also help the trap to land the right way up.

Diagram of a Funnel System:

Diagram of Arrowhead Fixed Trap:

Large open fixed trap or arrowhead trap

Diagram of a Fish Snare: