Snare Trap

5 Ways to Make a Snare Trap (For Small Game)

Whether you are in a survival situation or catching food while you camp, knowing how to make a snare trap can go a long way in helping you out. Fortunately, there isn’t just one snare trap – there are many different kinds that help in different situations.

having the right tools tools will make buiklding snares easier, but it is really your knowledge on living off the land that drives success, below are 5 ways to make a snare trap that will help you catch small game.

1. Simple Snare Trap

To create this trap, you will need two sticks or a stick in a “Y” shape that you can stick into the ground. You may need to sharpen these sticks a bit so that they sink into the ground easier. If you are using two sticks, stick them into the ground about 2 to 3 inches apart from one another.

Then, you will need 3 smaller sticks. Two of these sticks will go horizontally on each side of the two sticks you placed in the ground. These will be used to keep the third smaller stick, or trigger, in place upright between them. From the trigger, you will have a length of string or wire leading to the engine of your trap. On the end of your string hanging from the trigger, tie this length into a noose.

As a final step, you will want to build a small ramp by leaning two larger sticks against the part of your trap you already built and use smaller sticks horizontally to create a semi-flat surface. Your noose, or snare loop, will go on top of this. Remember to camouflage it for the best results.

2. Trigger Snare

For the trigger snare, you will need two pegs, some wire and/or rope to make a leader line and noose loops, and a bent sapling to use as an engine. The two pegs should be able to hook onto each other so that both stand vertically. If you don’t have pegs, you can create them from a pair of thick sticks. Just like the last snare trap we looked at, one of these pegs or sticks must be sharp enough on the opposite end that it hooks onto the other one to stick into the ground securely.

You should use your rope to attach the top of the hook to your engine – the bent sapling. Then, you will want to attach the noose to the bottom end of the top stick that makes up the hook.

3. Squirrel Pole

This next snare is perfect if you are trying to snare squirrels. After all, squirrels are fast animals and it can take a little extra working to make sure you catch one in your trap. With a little work, though, this snare can be perfect for catching the small animals.

For the main portion of this snare, you will need a straight branch or tree of about 10 to 12 feet that you will lean against a standing tree at about a 45-degree angle. Next, you will need some wire to create the actual snare portion of the trap with. Each section of wire you use will be around 10 to 12 inches long.

When you create each noose, you will want to position it upward, so it would catch each squirrel as it ran down the branch. This is why you must use wire for this trap, any type of rope won’t be able to stick up to catch the squirrels. You can put as many of these as you want on the branch, in theory, but you won’t want any too close to the ends.

To catch a squirrel’s head, you won’t want the nooses to be right against the branch either. Instead, position them about an inch above it.

I have shared squirrel poles before, this is a pretty simple way to get a little extra food.

4. Snare for Fishing

If you are more interested in catching fish with your snare, that can be arranged as well. The easiest way to do this is to simply modify the trigger snare we went over earlier.

Getting started, you will follow all the same basic steps as you did creating the trigger snare. Instead of creating a noose, though, you will use a baited hook in line attached to the snare the same way the noose was. This will, naturally, extend into the water to bait fish.

Once the fish bites the bait, the snare will trigger, pulling the fish out of the water. You should be sure that you clear the area of anything that will accidentally trigger the trap. Since you are catching fish, you don’t need to worry about camouflaging the majority of the trap like other options on this list since your game won’t see it until it’s too late.

5. Drowning Snare

A drowning snare is a rather simple trap that, as the name suggests, kills the game it catches by drowning. This is great because it keeps the game you catch away from other animals and it keeps it out of the sun.

Creating this trap is pretty easy. All you need is a few sticks, a snare line, and a rock. Of course, you will need to do this near water deep enough to drown the game and a steep enough bank for the trap to work.

To start, you will want to tie the snare line to both the rock and the float stick. Make sure to add a noose as part of the actual trap. Then, prop the rock up with your second stick so that it will fall if any game runs through the snare. When the snare is triggered, the rock will plummet into the water, drowning the game. The float that you tied to the rock will signal where in the water your game is when you come back later.

Family, Car

4 Tips for Keeping Your Children Safe and Healthy While Traveling

Kids Health and Safety during Long-Time Travel
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Are you planning to go on a trip with your family but worried about your kids health and safety? Well, that is totally natural.

Last year when I went on a family trip, a hundred thoughts went off in my mind regarding my kid’s safety.  I was so worried that something bad might happen to my children while we are traveling.

The thing is that when you are at a new place you don’t know what to expect.  You have no idea what dangerous event might take place.

There were a few times when I even though about canceling our trip.  However, my husband reminded me that the tickets were quite expensive and sadly not refundable. So this is how we ended up actually going on our trip.

Now you must be wondering how I made sure that my kids were safe and sound. I have pinpointed a few tips that might help you if you are going on a long trip with your family.

Make sure to strictly stick to these tips to ensure that your kids remain safe and healthy.

Carry a Convertible Safety Seat

It must seem hard to carry a convertible car seat with you but trust me it is very important for the safety of your child especially if you are on a road trip. You never know how bumpy or even the road may be. You really don’t want to get your child hurt, right?

Convertible car seats are the best way to protect your kid who is under the age of 10 when going on a road trip. Even if you are traveling through an airplane, it is recommended to take a convertible safety seat with you.

You can also check out this review on the top trusted brands of safety seats 2018 to find a good convertible car seat at a very affordable price.

Keep Your Children Hydrated

Your child’s health matters a lot. You may take care of your child completely at home but when you are traveling you might forget about your child’s health as you would be so lost in trying out new fun things.

As you are at a new place you people might be taking part in a lot of physical activities such as exploring the place, going out for shopping, visiting the museum, trying out new food places, etc. But at the same time don’t forget to ensure that your kid is well hydrated.

Make sure to carry water bottles with you all the time and keep asking your kid to drink some water so that he or she remains hydrated.

Protection from the Sun

Going for a hike? Want to explore the streets of this new place? Go have fun! But don’t forget to keep yourself and your kid protected from the sun.

Now how can you do that? With the help of a sunscreen of course! Apply a good amount of sunscreen on your kid’s face, arms and legs before heading out in the sun as both the UVB and UVA rays coming from the sun can be harmful to your child.

Also, make sure that your kid is wearing full sleeves. You can also buy cute hats for your children to protect their eyes from direct sun contact. There are also many cute sunglasses for children, go grab them!

Stay Away Mosquitoes

This is one of the biggest problems that I and my family faced when we were on a road trip last year. As we camped in the woods for a while, we got attacked by a bunch of mosquitoes.

Careless me, I forgot to pack in a good mosquito repellant. Amazing, right? I definitely regret my decision of not packing a mosquito repellant.

Before you even think of going on a trip make sure to pack at least two bottles of mosquito repellants in your bag.

You can get both sprays and lotions to stay safe from a mosquito attack. Make sure to apply a good amount of mosquito repellant lotion on your kid’s skin when getting him or her ready.

You should also spray the mosquito spray in your hotel room or camping tent to make sure that every insect dies.

These are some of the tips that can help you in taking care of your child’s health. Being a mother myself, I know how important it is for us moms to make sure that our children are always safe and sound. So don’t forget to follow these tips when you go out on a trip with your family.

Self Defence

6 Self Defense Moves from A Bodyguard

6 Self Defense Moves from A Bodyguard
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When working in the security industry, whether in the business or private sector, there are times when a security guard, bodyguard or a bouncer will not be able to carry a gun for protection. In reality, however, while a gun may certainly be the top choice for a weapon when working a security detail, most people already have weapons to use even if they might not realize yet how strong they really are. When faced with a situation where you need to survive or face a possibly fatal situation, it’s amazing how a person can find their inner strength.

If you are ever faced with a situation in a public place, one of the first things to remember is that you have a voice, so use it! Be loud and make as much noise as possible to get attention from anyone within earshot. This often not only distracts an attacker but can also make them flee the scene to avoid being caught. Another thing you should know is that the human body has quite a few vulnerable spots and these are important spots to remember so you can target them if you’re ever attacked. Sure, it’s a good idea to carry pepper spray, mace or even a taser to defend yourself, but you should know how to use your own body as a weapon as well.

These are some of the best vulnerable spots to target during a fight:

  • Eyes
  • Nose
  • Collar Bone
  • Groin
  • Ears
  • Throat
  • Shins
  • Adam’s Apple
  • Top of the Feet
  • Knees

Now that you know the body areas to target, let’s look at six moves you can make to stay safe during an attack and get away with your life.

  1. Stay Calm!

Something that often messes a person up during an attack is panic. When faced with a possible physical attack, one of the best moves you can make is to remain calm and don’t let panic consume you. You need to be able to determine the right steps to take to avoid danger and when you stay calm, your head can think to guide your body to take the right defensive actions against the assailant.

  1. Break Their Nose

With your palm open, hit your assailant with force to push the nose upwards with your hand. You’re going to need to really put your strength into this move to break the nose. The pain from the strike, even if the nose does not break, is often enough to cause a person to back away and can allow you time to exit the area or subdue the person until the police arrive. Keep in mind that while doing this, it’s still good to make noise!

  1. Escape a Behind the Head Choke Hold

It can be terrifying to have someone grab you in a choke hold from behind your head. You have split seconds to respond and fend off the attack before possibly blacking out or worse. When you stay calm and work on not panicking, it’s possible to break free from behind the head choke hold but you must as quickly to do so. First, you need to raise your arm up fast all the way to the ear on the same side as the leg you choose to have bent behind you. Place the bent leg right behind the other leg quickly and begin to twist your body towards the side with the arm raised to your ear and with full force, direct all your weight onto the wrist of your assailant. Once free, be sure to take off quickly if there is an escape route or immediately dive into attacking the vulnerable areas of your attacker’s body.

  1. Give Them a Good Kick to the Groin

Some people say to avoid kicking the groin because they say it doesn’t work. This depends on how you kick and how hard. You need to be in front of the attacker and kick directly in the center of your attacker’s legs. Don’t kick with your foot as you could cause damage to your own body by doing this and don’t use your knee as this can place you too close to the attacker. The best area of your body to use will be your shin. Shins are tough and when used at full force to kick a groin, you can bring an attacker to their knees and get away fast.

  1. Float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Bee!

Muhammad Ali said it best when he coined that phrase and it simply means, keep moving! The more you move and the quicker you do so, the less chance of an assailant being able to land a hit directly on your body. This is a good tactic to consider when facing someone who wants to fight with their fists but be careful if the attacker has a gun or other weapon as moving around can spook them and cause them to become trigger happy. Take time while moving around to use your hands and legs and even your head to go for those vulnerable body spots and to make as much noise as possible.

  1. Head Butt

If an assailant has you pushed against a wall, try to use your head to headbutt them directly to their chin if possible. This can work if they are taller than you as it forces their head back where you can then punch them in the throat and get away. Fight with all your might to strike those soft spots and work hard to get away. It is easy to hurt a head with a punch or kick, but since it is one of the hardest parts of your body, it is also a great body part to use to defend yourself during an attack.

Whether you are short or tall, big or small, knowing that you personally possess the tools to protect yourself can be a great piece of knowledge to have. There are many martial arts and self-defense classes offered nationwide and it’s a good idea to take classes if possible, so you can learn more steps to take for personal protection. Even if you carry a gun, there are often places that are gun free and it’s a good idea to know how to use your body as a weapon just in case you need to physically defend yourself against an attack.

Campfire

PSKOOK FireCord Review

 

You may remember the post last week where WT and I tried a fire by friction bow for the first time.  Well, my inexperience made me fail, even though I easily got a good strong ember – and while I plan on practicing more, I have a few other items from the same company PSKOOK.  Most of their items relate to paracord and outdoor gear and I wanted to try a few paracord items that contained inner firecord.  In the video I show a paracord winder, a roll of firecord, and a fire starting necklace.

Paracord Winder

paracord winder
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The paracord winder came in a 5 pack for $6.80, each one holds up to 100 feet 550 paracordThe ladder paracord winder is the simplest and most practical way to organize paracord, I consider it a must-have for outdoors organization.

I used a larger set up that was designed for extension cords to keep some electric fence wire organized when I salvaged it from my in-law’s farm.

If you don’t want to spend the money, you could always cut a length of plywood and make your own paracord winder, but frankly, for around a dollar per 100 feet, I think this is the easier way to go.

 

 

 

Parachute Fire Cord

parachute fire cord
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This para cord costs the same as regular paracord, but it contains much more.  Not only does it contain the inner strands like traditional paracord, but it has a strand of fishing line(40lb) and a strand of red waterproof flax fire tinder. 

In the video above you can see how quickly it lights and how stongly it burns with just a touch from a lighter.  The flax tinder is waterproof, in wet weather, rain, or even drop in water, you can make fire with your fire flint

This brand of cord is not stiff, even with the firecord it is flexible as normal paracord.

This is very good for DIY projects. You can make any paracord stuff by our new survival paracord, I’ve made paracord braclets before, and was planning on making a sling for my boy’s cricket rifle – adding fishing line and tinder to his sling really ups the survival value.

This firecord comes in multiple sizes and colors, and the 100 feet roll we got was $12.80 with prime shipping.

PSKOOK Fire Starter Necklace

fire starter necklace
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This paracord necklace has a small ferrocium rod and a metal striker.  Its a good value at $6.68.  Its useful and decorative.

The necklace contains 43 inch Fire Paracord, and the necklace Length can be adjusted, which means you can cut a little Paracord to make fire if necessary, it still a have a wearable necklace.  I think that if I needed to use this in a survival situation, rather than cut the a piece of the entire cord, I would just pull out the needed amount of waerproof tender and cut that alone.

I had been wanting to buy the überleben Leicht Fire Starter Necklace for some time, it is very similar, but when I saw this one at almost half the price I immediately purchased PSKOOK’s Model.

multi Angle Tool

Angleizer Multi Angle Tool Review

Angleizer Multi Angle Tool
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As I said in the video above, I have wanted a angleizer tool for a while now, but I did not have a reason to buy one.  I still don’t have a specific project in mind, but I have been plotting to build a teardrop camping trailer so I can convince the wife to go camping more.  Anyway, lack of proiject aside, I finally decided to buy this tool when I saw it was only $10.99 for a kit that included the angleizer, a protractor, and a tape.

The neat thing about this tool is that it can lock any desired angle as a reusable stencil for endless applications.   Most people use it for hanging tile, laying floors, or cutting stone.  I don’t do much of any of that, but as a DIY’er I think it will help with laying out projects.

It is easy to use, and it even comes with an extra screw.

One thing I did not like is that it did not come with instructions, normally I would just google it, but there is a lack of good videos on the subject.  But basically you just pull on the template tool to what ever shapes or angles you needed, then tighten the screws.