Many people gain their first experience of tracking when in the scouts, or at the hands of an older, wiser relative. With a knowledge of animal tracks and habitats and not a little practise everyone should be able find the run or lair of their quarry. Combine tracking skill with a sound knowledge of trapping and you will be eating well all year round!

 

DOG:- A broad oval track with four toes, claws are often visible in the track. Wide variety of sizes according to breed. Although wolves are now hard to find within Europe, and are extinct in Britain, ferral dogs may be encountered. Difficult to hunt as they are intelligent and have superb senses, their natural curiosity may lead them to traps.

 

 

FOX:- Narrow tear-shaped track, four toes front and rear, fur between the toes is often visible in track. Foxes smell strongly and meat is often tainted, there are better potential meals, trapping as for dogs.

 

 

 

 

CAT:- Very rounded track, claws seldom visible, walks on toes, pad of rear foot very strongly defined. In Europe only smaller wild cats are likely to be encountered. Beware all are ferocious. Bait traps with meat or offal. The lightning reflexes of the cat family mean that deadfall traps are unlikely to catch them.

 

 

OTTER:- Webbed feet, with five toes and visible claws, tracks almost circular. Always difficult to trap or even catch a glimpse of. Riverside snares baited with fish are your best bet.

 

 

 

 

DEER:- Cloven hooves, very wide variety of size according to breed. All have excellent senses of hearing and smell. Deer live in small groups in wooded areas, shy, the best time to see them is at dawn or dusk, when they drink. Regard the antlers of larger Deer as offensive weapons! Tangle snares or deadfall for small Deer, spear, arrow or heavy deadfall for the larger breeds.

 

 

 

BADGER:- Broad five toed track, although the fifth toe often isn't visible in tracks. Creatures of habit they use the same runs on a regular basis, making for easy trapping. However they are fierce and unbelievably tenacious, keep your distance until you're sure that they are dead. Young badger makes very good eating. Sprung snares, baited release and deadfall are the traps of choice. Build TOUGH!

 

 

RABBIT & HARE:- Four toed feet front and rear, rear foot is larger. Prints seldom clearly defined as feet are furry. Rabbits, unlike hares, have regular runs and are perhaps the easiest of all animals to trap. Simple or spring snares will serve.

 

 

SQUIRREL:- Four toes on the front feet, five on the rear, larger foot. Claws usually visible. Look for bark chewed off trees. can be surprisingly fierce, watch their teeth! Use sprung snares and loop traps on branches, bait with birds eggs or split fruit.

 

 

RATS & MICE:- Tracks like those of squirrel although toes are more widely spread. Generally unwelcome, except as food they can be taken with dead falls or simple cage traps, both carry disease and care should be taken when gutting. COOK THOUROUGHLY!

 

 

WEASLE :- Five toes on each foot, rather like a small badger, very hard to find or trap. Beware of teeth, they can lock their jaws causing a nasty wound. Baited spring snares, use offal.

 

 

 

 

PHEASANT:- Ground bound birds, leave crearly defined tracks. Great eating!. Cage traps probably best, also small snares.

 

 

 

 

OWL:- Characteristic H-shaped track, small snares, spring snares tree loops, even hooked bait can be used to take this and most other birds of prey.

 

 

 

 

 

All of the above is for information purposes only. Only attempt trapping wild game if you are in a survival situation. The traps described probably contavene laws just about everywhere. So don't do it it's naughty!

Back to my Home(r) Page