BEAR AND COON DEADFALL.
I will explain how to make the best bear deadfall, also the best one
for coon that ever was made, writes an old and successful deadfall
trapper. First get a pole six or eight feet long for bed piece, get
another sixteen or eighteen feet long and lay it on top of bed piece.
Now drive two stakes, one on each side of bed piece and pole and near
one end of bed piece. About 18 or 20 inches from first two stakes
drive two more stakes, one on each side of bed piece and fall pole.
Now drive two more stakes directly in front of your two back stakes
and about two inches in front.
Next cut a stick long enough to come just to the outside of last two
stakes driven. Then whittle the ends off square so it will work easy
between the treadle stakes and the two inside stakes that your fall
works in; next raise your fall pole about three feet high. Get a
stick about one inch thru, cut it so that it will be long enough to
rest against your treadle and that short stick is your treadle when
it is raised above the bed a piece, cut the end off slanting so it
will fit against the treadle good.
[Illustration: BEAR OR COON DEADFALL.]
Slant the other end so the fall pole will fit good. Now five or six
inches from the top of the slanted stick cut a notch in your slanted
stick. Go to the back side, lift your pole up, set the post on the
bed piece. Place the top of the slanted stick against the fall pole.
Then place the pole off post in the notch in slant stick. Press back
on bottom of slanted stick and place your treadle against the stick.
Your trap is set. Make V shape on inside of treadle by driving stakes
in the ground, cedar or pine, and hedge it in tight all around. If
such there is not, make it as tight as you can. Cover the top tight,
the cubby should be 3 feet long, 3 feet high and wide as your treadle
stakes.
Stake the bait near the back end of cubby. Be sure the treadle is
just above the bed piece. Take the pole off the cubby to set the trap
as you have set it from this side. You can set it heavy or light by
regulating the treadle. I sometimes drive spikes in the bed piece and
file them off sharp as it will hold better. You can weight the fall
poles as much as you like after it is set. Don't you see, boys, that
the old fellow comes along and to go in he surely will step on the
treadle. Bang, it was lowered and you have got him.
This is the best coon deadfall I ever saw. The fall pole for coon
should be about 14 inches high when set. Set it under trees or along
brooks where you can see coon signs. Bait with frogs, crabs or fish,
a piece of muskrat or duck for coon. Build it much the same as for
bear, only much smaller. You will find this a successful trap.
* * *
I will describe a deadfall for bear which I use, and which works the
best of any I have tried, says a Montana trapper. I have two small
trees about 30 inches apart, cut a pole 10 feet long for a bed piece
and place in front of trees then cut a notch in each tree about 27
inches above the bed piece, and nail a good, strong piece across from
one tree to the other in the notches. Cut a long pole five or six
inches through for the deadfall, place the large end on top of bed
log, letting end stick by the tree far enough to place on poles for
weights.
Then cut two stakes and drive on outside of both poles, and fasten
top of stakes to the trees one foot above the cross piece. Then on
the inside, 30 inches from the trees, drive two more solid stakes
about 2 feet apart and nail a piece across them 6 inches lower than
the cross piece between the trees. Then cut a lever about three feet
long and flatten one end, and a bait stick about two feet long. Cut
two notches 6 inches apart, one square on the top and the other on
the bottom, and both close to the top end of bait stick.
Fasten bait on the other end and then raise up the deadfall, place
the lever stick across the stick nailed between the two trees,
letting the end run six inches under the deadfall. Take the bait
stick and hook lower notch on the piece nailed on the two stakes and
place end of lever in the top notch, then cut weights and place on
each side until you think you have enough to hold any bear. Then put
on as many more and it will be about right. Stand up old chunks
around the sides and back and lots of green brush on the outside. Get
it so he can't see the bait.
It doesn't require a very solid pen. I drive about three short stakes
in front and leave them one foot high, so when he pulls back they
will come against him, and the set is complete. You can weight it
with a ton of poles and still it will spring easy. The closer
together the two notches the easier it will spring.
This trap can be built lighter and is good for coon. In fact, will
catch other fur bearers, but is not especially recommended for small
animals, such as ermine and mink.