Bird Trap

[cliff lowe]

Just curious to know if anyone had his parents or grandparents to show you how to make a bird trap using a figure 4 trigger. My father and grandmother taught me how to make the trap and carve the 4 trigger. It requires no nails, only cordage or vines, and sticks or small boards, and grain to bait it with. I have only seen one picture of the trap on the web. It was a very old picture of the trap and the Lousiana Choctaw man that built it.
Thanks
Cliff Lowe

[Lone Wolf]

Cliff,

I am familiar with the figure 4 trap that is used for animals. It basically is set with something heavy on top such as a log or rock that falls when the trigger is tripped. There is a picture at http://survival.com/traps.html, about half way down the page. Does the bird trap work the same way with the grain causing the bird to trip the trigger?

Dan

[cliff lowe]

Yes, the trigger is the same as the picture you provided. The trap is basically a box about 2 feet wide, 3 feet long, and 1 foot high. The trap is cross laticed sticks or small boards held together by a small branch and cordage. The branch is placed on top of the trap. The cord goes under the trap and is tied to both ends of the branch so as to create tension to hold the trap together. Grain (such as corn) is placed under the trap with a piece wedged into the horizontal part of the trigger. A trail of grain is led to the trap. This trap would catch birds alive so if you caught a redbird or something other than a bobwhite you could let it go. I could only catch a few birds not the whole covey. Forced conservation maybe? I taught my children how to make the trigger but they weren't very interested and they probably have forgotten, but I remember because of my father and grandmother.
Thanks
Cliff
Well I can make this trap, but I cant seem to work this posting stuff. Maybe it will go through this time. IF it comes up twice, I apologize.

[Lone Wolf]

Thanks for the description. I like the fact that you can catch the birds alive and release what you don't need. I have been researching how our ancestors hunted, trapped and lived. It's fascinating. You are fortunate to have learned this directly from your family.

Dan

[cliff lowe]

Thanks Dan, I miss them greatly. If and when I have grandchildren, they will also know how to build this trap. Maybe one of them will pass it on down.
Thanks,
Cliff,
Cliff Sr.,
Letha

[Gecko]

My Grandfather taught me to make a figure 4 as well. I had even "encorped" this trigger In the survival training of soldiers when I was an Instuctor with the US Army Jungle Operations Training Center in FT Sherman, Panama. I used it to catch many different things. We had even used a modifide version to catch South American Camins "Gators on Roids".

Please we must not forget to teach this to our grandchildren!!

Joe "The Gecko"

[cliff lowe]

Hello Gecko, About 2 weeks ago I made the trap and the trigger and gave it to two children of a friend of mine. These two boys will remember the trap and the trigger. Maybe one day I will make one for my grandchildren.
Thanks Cliff

[Gecko]

Hi Ciff,

Don't think "Maybe", When that day comes to show them, You will know! Though it may seem as a simple act. That simple act is one of the ways of our ancestors that all of us must do our part to preserve. So when you show them, Also tell them of the great hunters who used them.

Take care and I'll see you on the boards!

Joe "The Gecko"