African Savannah Spring Foot Snare

[swamp thang 16]

Finding that I couldn't start a new topic under the Snare Design forum, I decided to show a few pictures of an African foot snare here, not because it would be practical to make, given the far more efficient off-the-shelf Freemont Spring Snare shown in the following link, but because I was really taken by the sheer originality of the mechanism created by illiterate African subsistence trappers to catch hooved animals.

 

 

Before posting the pictures of this rather ingenious African home-made foot snare, I'll offer this short description to go with the photos. This trap is constructed in three pieces. The spring mechanism derives its power from rotating the trigger peg against the twist of the cable that is strung accross the ends of the bow-shaped frame, and then lightly latching that trigger peg against the catch piece which is a short sliver of wood stuck through the fabric of the treadle plate.

 

The treadle plate consists of a half-inch-width length of flexible bark fashioned into a ring measuring about four inches in diameter. Unto that circular frame is stitched the treadle plate surface, which in this case is cut from an old pair of jeans, with the catch piece for the trigger held in place via a couple of holes cut in fabric.

 

With that cursory description, the photo sequence of the trap disassembled, pre-set, set and finally sprung, by applying light downward force on the treadle plate with a stick that is standing in for the animal's leg, will hopefully convey the construction and setting technique for this traditional African leg-hold snare. In setting these devices, the entire assembly is seated in a shallow, shaped depression along the animal trail, and covered with a light dusting of soil and debris which renders the whole trap completely invisible to the animal.

 

This device, despite its very primitive appearance, has been used by nomadic African Savannah grassland trappers for generations, and when set in large numbers as is done, can be enormously productive in leg-snaring anything from wild hogs to deer and buffalo. Obviously the loose end of the snare is secured to a heavy drag that will leave an easily followed trail, or to a strong-enough sapling to hold the target species in place.

 

Enjoy !

Edited January 13, 2011 by stubby

[logun 91]

nice set up there but please put a tunnel over it to keep some of the tits on here happy lol only joking .

[swamp thang 16]

nice set up there but please put a tunnel over it to keep some of the tits on here happy lol only joking .

 

I've never set one of these foot snares, Logun, but when I heard how effective they are, I just had to get my hands on one to see how it was put together, and of course so I could describe it to other trappers on the net he he

[Coote 5]

Swamp Thang.... Thanks very much for posting this. I've got a keen interest in primitive traps, and I've never seen this one before. Best wishes from New Zealand... Stephen Coote.