How to Build Iroquois Indian Animal Traps

Sometimes called the "People of the Longhouse," the Iroquois nation extends across much of upstate New York along the southeastern shore of Lake Ontario. Adept hunters, the Iroquois employed a variety of effective hunting tools, including bows and arrows, snares and large traps. The most common type of trap used by the Iroquois is called a deadfall trap, which employs a heavy stone to crush or immobilize prey. Although simple in design and construction, Iroquois deadfall traps work effectively to trap a wide variety of animals, from rabbits to bears.

Things You'll Need

• Knife
• 3 sturdy sticks or small branches
• 1 large, flat stone

Instructions

Preparation

1. Whittle each stick before attempting to assemble the trap. Carve each end of the first stick until pointed. Halfway down its length, cut an oblique notch, taking care not to make it too deep, as this will compromise the weight-bearing properties of the wood. This stick holds the trapping stone in place.

2. Cut a notch along the top edge of the second stick, approximately 2 inches from the end. Make sure the notch has an acute angle, facing towards the center of the stick. Create a second notch along the side, halfway down its length. This is the trigger stick, or the stick that holds the bait.

3. Sharpen both ends of the final stick. One end needs only slight sharpening in order to drive it into the ground. The other end must be cut at an acute angle. This is the fulcrum stick.

Construction

1. Drive the sharpened end of the fulcrum stick into the ground. Position the bait stick at a perpendicular angle halfway up the fulcrum stick, placing the center notch firmly against fulcrum.

2. Position the stick that holds the trapping stone. This is done by fitting its central notch onto the upright, sharpened end of the fulcrum stick. Its lower end must fit easily into notch at the end of the bait stick. If done properly, the stick configuration should resemble a numeral "4."

3. Bait the trap before positioning the trapping stone to avoid injury. Place peanuts, dried fruit, meat or other bait on the end of the bait stick beneath where the stone will lean. Animal scent also works, although this is not a traditional Iroquois practice.

4. Lean the trapping stone against the top of the stick configuration. It should be sturdy yet easily triggered by tapping the end of the bait stick. Testing the trap must not be done by hand, as this may cause injury.

Tips & Warnings

• The size of the trap can be adjusted to the size of the intended prey by using a larger stone. To determine the proper weight of the stone, multiply the approximate weight of the intended prey by five.

• Always cut away from yourself when using a knife.

• Do not test a deadfall trap using your hand, this can cause serious injury. Instead, use a long stick to tap the trigger.

• Do not employ any type of hunting trap or snare until first determining your state's laws and provisions concerning their use.

References

• "Making Native American Hunting, Fighting, and Survival Tools: The Complete Guide to Making and Using Traditional Tools"; Monte Burch; 2007
• "Hunting With the Native Americans"; Rob Staeger; 2002
• "Snares Deadfalls and Other Traps of the Northern Algonquians and Northern Athapaskans"; John M. Cooper; 1998