Knowledge Weighs Nothing

How To Make A Crab Trap

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We often take the kids crabbing with a line and bait. It’s easily done with a length of line, a weight and some bait (off-cuts of bacon work well!).  This is great fun for the kids, but if you actually intend to eat what you catch, it’s not terribly effective.  The problem is that it is ‘active fishing’; this means you have to be present during the fishing…

A more economical way to fish is ‘passive fishing’; this is where you can set something up, and return later to check results. This is where this crab trap wins against a line and bait.  Set it up in the right location, come back several hours later and hopefully you have a bucket of crabs. I am guessing that this is probably more effective in the tropics, but as it takes so little work to set up, I think it is worth a little experimenting wherever you are. I think it actually might work well during low-tide in some locations (you obviously need to return before high-tide!).

I appreciate that this on-land crab trap will not work everywhere; with this in mind I will shortly be doing a follow up post on how to build a quick and easy crate crab trap for use in the sea, under the water. There is also no reason why this trap couldn’t be used in rives to catch crayfish as well. Stay tuned for this post.

How To Make A Crab Trap

If you’re just after a bit of fun with the kids, check out this fun crabbing set: Angler’S Choice Crabbin’ Kit

(Photo from: Five Gallon Ideas)

Originally posted 2013-07-08 17:31:41.

Simple PVC Tube Homemade Squirrel Trap

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This PVC tube homemade squirrel trap is useful for getting rid of pest squirrels and also for trapping wild squirrels for food. This trap is humane, in that it doesn’t kill or harm the squirrel once caught (providing you check it regularly). It’s up to you, if it is a pest squirrel, you can either re-home it somewhere else, or you can kill it. Obviously if you are using the trap for hunting, you’re going to kill it.

All you need for this trap is around a five foot length of 6 inch PVC tube.  You also need an end-cap or something to securely plug one end of the tube.

Once you have your length of PVC tube with the end capped off, it’s time for bait. I think it is a given that peanut butter works best; smear a little around the open end of the tube and then keep adding a little more down to around an arm’s length down the tube. I also got a slice of bread (which I covered in peanut butter) and dropped it down to the bottom of the tube.

Ok, so now we have the baited squirrel trap, it’s time to set it. Set the trap where you know there is squirrel activity. You want to set the plugged end on the ground and rest the open end against a branch etc.  You don’t want the tube to be fully vertical, as the squirrel won’t go down the tube.  You want to set it at around 60-70 degrees.  This way the squirrel will go down after the food, but cannot escape due to the slippery surface of the inner tube.

A few tips –

  • You can spray or smear some cooking oil around the inside of the tube, around an arm’s length down.  This will make it doubly difficult for the squirrel to escape.
  • If you are planning to dispatch the squirrel, the easiest way to do this is to hold a hessian/burlap bag over the open end of the tube and simply tip the squirrel out into the bag. A heavy whack with a piece of wood etc should kill the squirrel quickly and humanely.  
  • If you are hunting squirrel for food, make several of these homemade squirrel traps and set them in several locations.

There you go, a low cost (free if you have some PVC tube laying around), zero skill way to trap squirrels. Happy hunting!

Related books: Guide to Trapping & The Forager’s Harvest: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants

(Photo from: Airwolfhound)

Originally posted 2013-07-08 17:29:23.

5 Non-GMO Edible Plants In Your Back Yard : Eat Weeds, Not Chemicals

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Where is a good place to look for chemical-free and GMO-free fresh veggies this time of year? Your back yard is where!!!!

One of my favorite pages on FB is Willow Haven Outdoor and they posted a great article on 5 non GMO plants to eat in your back yard the other day and I liked it that much I wanted to hare it with you guys too. Not only are weeds annoying they can save your life too. So be kind to weeds because they can sustain you in an emergency situation

5 Non-GMO Edible Plants In Your Back Yard : Eat Weeds, Not Chemicals

(Photo Credit: golbenge)

Originally posted 2013-05-24 18:54:17.

Learn How To Raid Nature’s Pantry

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If SHTF and all supermarkets and stores ran out of food? What would you do if your stocked food ran out? Learn to raid nature’s pantry, which is full of easily harvested, highly nutritious meals

Mother nature can provide all of your food needs, this can actually be very healthy and a nutritious way of eating. The only nasty thing would be to butcher your own meats but with time that would even become second nature.

The link below will take you to a great article on what foods – Greens, starches, fruits and proteins you can safely eat. This knowledge could save your life.

Learn How To Raid Nature’s Pantry

Photo Credit: backpacker

Originally posted 2013-05-11 13:28:37.

After SHTF – Uncommon Places To Find Supplies

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Once shtf, with in 3 days there will be nothing left on the shelves in shops. The big grocery stores will be completely out of food within hours. If there is power—lines will form and gas stations will be out of fuel quickly. The most obvious sources for certain items will already be picked through.

I am not by any means saying this is ethical but in a survival, total melt down situation this is great information to have in the back of your mind. This may just be the deciding factor of life or death for you or you family.

Photo Credit: LHOON / Flickr

After SHTF – Uncommon Places To Find Supplies

Originally posted 2013-05-01 19:56:27.

New Prep On The Block – ArrowCards

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This is a handy prep to have in your bug out bag or “Altoid Tin” everyday carry. This card has  4 arrow heads, a scraper, saw blade, and knife blade cut into a credit card sized piece of steel. There are other designs available too.

These will be great to just snap of an arrow head,  lasso it to a stick to get an instant spear / instant food killing machine. Alternately,  strap it to a small piece of bamboo or stick for an improvised arrow for a bow.  These can be bought in singles and placed in a dog tag also. To order yours you need to email the maker – [email protected] To see more pictures and a great review click the link below

Picture Credit: equinoxcoronado.com

New Prep On The Block – ArrowCards

Originally posted 2013-04-24 19:48:55.