How to Set a Trip Line Trap
- 1). Pound the nail in to the top of the one of the stakes with the hammer, as close to the top of the stake as you are able to. Leave at least an inch of nail sticking out. Pound both stakes in to the ground, on either side of the path you plan to set the trap on. The stake with the nail in it should be directly underneath the overhead branch.
- 2). Cut the tree branch with the knife so that it is 5 or 6 inches in length. Cut straight in to the branch about two inches from one end, about half an inch in to the branch. Make another cut at a 45 degree angle, on the inside of the first cut towards the deepest part of the first cut, so that you end up cutting a wedge out of the branch. Cut two rough divots in the other side of the branch, about 1 inch from the end. These should be only 1/8 or 1/4 of an inch deep.
- 3). Cut enough cord to stretch between the two stakes and still allow for knots. Tie one end to the stake without the nail, and the other on the notched branch, between the notch and the end of the branch on the short side. The cord should be just long enough so that the nail fits in to the notch, with little or no slack on the rope, and with the branch parallel to the stake.
- 4). Tie one end of the remainder of the cord to the top of the notched branch, in the divots, which will provide traction for cord.
- 5). Lean the log up against or whatever is available, so that it is easily accessible from the branch overhead. Place the notched piece of wood so that the nail is inside the notch. When you pull upwards on the piece of cord attached to the divots, the flat bottom of the notch should catch on the nail.
- 6). Keep upward tension on the cord to keep the notched branch on the nail, and wrap the cord over the tree branch, which should be overhead. Tie off the other end of the cord to the log so that one end is in the air and other on the ground, and let the log take up the tension on the notched piece of wood. Tie the log so that it is as close to the overhead branch as possible.
- 7). Test the trap out to make sure it works, but be careful not to be under the log. When the trip line is triggered the notched piece of wood should come loose off the nail, releasing the log, which will fall on top of the trap.