Posted: 10/5/2013 1:32:48 PM EDT
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So as not to get off topic in the living off the land thread I started this one on request.
As I stated in that thread, hunting with so many people in a SHTF situation is a losing battle after awhile. Trapping though will likely net you more nutrition for less calories. Tons of animals are notcturnal (coons, fox, coyotes) and more yet live primarily in and under the water (Muskrat, mink, beaver). A good trapper attempts to make sets to target specific animals since they may prefer to sell one type of pelt, or just for the challenge, but many sets can be made that will simply capture whatever wanders in or can intrigue multiple animals and lure them into the set. If the SHTF I will hunt with larger groups, mostly for safety from other groups and for a higher chance of success, but trapping will be where you get the most consistency. Once your line is out all you need to do is check and maintain it and harvest your take each morning. The animal does most of the leg work and you can do other things while they get themselves to where your traps are. The downside is, it takes practice and the initial cost of trapping is pretty high, the price of traps goes up each year. But once you have them they can last nearly a lifetime. I have tons of them that I bought and were given to me, enough to sway the odds of getting some meat into my favor most days. I had a decent season last year, but didn't snap any pictures. I did however snap a picture of the squirrel that was getting into my garbage. This is a 110 conibear that I baited with a single mini marshmallow right on the trigger, I then chopped the little guy up and used it for mink bait. 
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I have done a little trapping when I was younger and needed the money.
My dad had a fur route where he bought furs. It's not pretty, but trapping would be a good way help supplement food stores with fresh game. People, myself included are so far off the path of eating the types of animals that would be trapped that I think most would starve before they things like, coon, possum, ring tail and the likes. Deer is one thing, but put a roasted possum in front of someone and I think between their mind and stomach, they would not allow them to eat it. |
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I loved trapping when I was a kid, but that was a long time ago.
I'm planning to take some time off this winter and see if I can remember how. Need to try to thin out the predators on our place, and hone those skills, just in case I really need them one of these days. |