The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-02-01
Game Traps for Boys,
Commercial Gazette,

commercial Gazette.
In last weeks edition of your valuable
paper, ] saw a question asking about trap
ping, which l will try to answer. For
catching mink, skunks, etc, box about
three feet long and six inches SQUARE. A
trsp-6oor should be placed in both ends,
made by taking hard piece of wood and
inserting good stiff wire about one inch
apart, forming something like a long
toothed comb, which can be fastened nesr
the top Of the trap by the axel with q
staple driven over il, or it is better to bore
bole near the top and let it in. The doors
at the end should stand at an angle, so that
pressure from without will raise them and
let the animal pass in, but not out again.
This trap may also be used to catch musk
rats, and in this case it should be placed at
the main entrance of the den, which is
generally under water. 1t is much the
best for the trap, as the game
will drown before they can dam.
age it 10 any extent. Old weather
beaten boards are the best to make
these traps OF, as the animals are afraid
OF anything new. Daub the trap over with
mud, 30 that the animal may not suspect
anything amiss. A capital substitute for
boards is found in an old stovepipe, Joint
Of which may be squared by pounding it
over the edge OF a wooden beam. TIE
doors are then put in and you will have a
trap that will need nothing to sink it. and
that Will be proof against the teeth of the
animal. a very simple but effective skunk
trap Is an old barrel placed on its side,
under the center of which is placed three
cornered stick about seven inches high.
The barrel will rest on one edge OF this
stick, with the open end Just touching the
ground; the bait is thrown in the highest
end, and when the animal passes in his
weight will tip the barrel and cage is per-
fumed lordship. Care must be taken and
not place the barrel too high, as it might 90
clear over and let the game escape. The
dead-fall is made with log. one end
of which is supported by a figure four. 1t
is given hinge-like motion by tying one
end, placing it in a notch, or by otherwise
fastening IL. Generally two logs are q ssj,
one falling on top of the o.ber, AMI in
this case it IS best to drive stakes u each
side to guide the upper one 10 its descent.
The logs should be placed so that they will
come together nicely, The tr gger of the
figure four must be SET at right angles to
the line of fall, and the bait so protected as
to force the animal to approach and stand
with lis body squarely across the logs
path Another trap is made by making q
lid TO box (of any siZs), which can be
done by taking the top and one end and
mailing them together. At the closed end
of the box this lid should be fastened by
means Of hinge. A figure four should
be placed at the open end, with the lid
resting on it; the bait should then be fas
tened to the end of the tongue of the figure
four. This tongue must extend to nearly
the back end of the trap. The figure
should be set rather to one side 80 as to al
low the animal a ready entrance. The lid
should be heavily weighted with stone
bricks or any heavy substance; the anima
enters and is caught. Hoping this will b,
OF some benefit to the one who asked fol
1t, | remain constant reader.
JUDsoN W. AMBROSE.