The Paiute Deadfall is one of the most effective primitive traps that I have ever used. It
is similar to the figure 4 deadfall which is also very effective at catching small game.
The major difference between these two traps is that the figure 4 deadfall consists of three sticks
with notches carved into it where a Paiute deadfall consists of 4 sticks and a piece
of cordage. These extra components allow for a much more sensitive trigger which is a huge
advantage when trapping small game. I have recently been working on improving my primitive
trapping skills by catching mice and rats. I was surprised just how much my success increased
when I switched from the figure 4 to the Paiute Deadfall. The first thing you need to make
for the Paiute trap is some string or natural cordage. Since this is a primitive trap I am
going to use stone age primitive materials and techniques. Strong natural cordage can
be made by taking the fibers of certain plants and twisting them together using the 2 ply
twist method. Good cordage fibers that grow in my area include milkweed, dogbane, cedar
bark, and stinging nettle. Once you have your rope or natural cordage, you will need to
select the deadfall rock. Select a flat rock that is the appropriate size and weight for
the animal you intend to catch. This rock is the perfect size and weight to catch mice.
To carve the stick for this trap i am going to use flakes made out of flint. Sharp flint
flakes can be produced by striking a piece of flint with a hammer stone. Next use your
flint flake to cut a stick that is about the diameter of your thumb. For this trap I am
going to use a stick made out of hazel nut. Then cut your short vertical stick so that
it has a V shaped point on top. Now we are ready to carve our angle stick. This angle
stick will have a notch carved into it that will match up with the vertical stick. There
are several ways to make the trigger component. I like to carve out a flat piece of wood and
then use the flint flake to drill a hole into it. This allows you to thread the cord through
the hole in the trigger stick and then secure it using a knot or a stick placed through
the looped end. The other end of the cordage gets tied to the lower end of the angle stick.
I like to carve a V in the end of the angle stick and a notch around it to help secure
it to the angle stick. Then carve a notch at the base of the vertical post stick. This
will help keep the trigger stick in place and help keep the trap from twisting. The
final step is to carve one small stick that will serve as the trigger stick for the trap.
And there you have it. 4 small sticks, a rock and a piece of cordage and you have all you
need to catch small animals such as mice and rats. To set this trap balance the angle stick
on the vertical post stick. Then place the end under the edge of the rock. Then wrap
the trigger stick around the notch in the vertical post stick and set the trap by placing
the trigger stick between the piece of wood and the deadfall rock. Now your trap is set
and it is ready to catch any animal that touches the trigger stick. Even with this very light
trigger system mice were often able to take the bait without tripping the trap. It is
important to test these traps under real conditions to get a feel for how it works and what you
need to do to be successful. Minor adjustments such as changing the height of the post stick
and the angle of the rock can have a huge impact on whether the mouse escapes without
harm or is captured by the deadfall. I discovered that catching rats is much more difficult
than catching mice because they are leery and cautious of the trap and they prefer to
pull the bait out and away rather than sit under the deadfall. They also climb on the
trap which which would trigger it without doing any harm to the rat. I solved this problem
by tying the bait to the end of the trigger stick. This proved to be very effective. The Paiute
Deadfall is a very effective primitive trap that can be made in a survival situation using
nothing but materials you find in nature.