Small Game Snares

[PaleIO]

This is one of my favorites. This set of small game snares are made of yucca fiber rope with some hollow reed segments tied to the ends. These were found over 80 yrs ago here in New Mexico. I inherited them several years ago and was told they were found inside a small pot under a dry overhang overlooking a reliable spring. Many arrowheads came from this location also. They are well made and look like they could still be used with success today. I wish I could have been around to help dig them out...or better yet watch the original user set one.

 

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[Kray Gelder]

Those snares are AMAZING! Museum material, IMO. A real treasure.

 

[ToddsPoint]

You know you are in a dry area for things like that to survive. Amazing find. Gary

 

[monsterrack]

Now that is something you don't see everyday and that many WOW Great score.

 

[newnan man]

Those probably fed a lot of people over the years. Great find!

 

[Quartzite Keith]

That is truly awesome. I read about a similar cache found somewhere in the Great Basin except it was trigger mechanisms for Paiute dead falls. If i remember right that cache actually had two different sized triggers, like some for bigger prey, some for smaller. The theory is that area doesn't have much in the way of big game, so trapping small game was much more important. If an archaeologist hasn't studied those snares and done a paper on them, one should!

 

[kentucky Quinn]

Wow, those are nice! I’m always imaging finding something like that in the caves and overhang shelters around here. I always check the shelves rocks inside, thinking the natives must have used them as counters to keep things in. No luck yet, but I still imagine and speculate about things such as these. Awesome artifacts for sure!! Thanks for sharing

 

[Garscale]

Never seen anything like that. Thanks for posting them.

 

[joshuaream]

That is truly awesome. I read about a similar cache found somewhere in the Great Basin except it was trigger mechanisms for Paiute dead falls. If i remember right that cache actually had two different sized triggers, like some for bigger prey, some for smaller. The theory is that area doesn't have much in the way of big game, so trapping small game was much more important. If an archaeologist hasn't studied those snares and done a paper on them, one should!

Absolutely agree, those should be studied.

I'd bet kids probably gathered a lot of food while running around all day. Give them snares & sling shots and there a lot of little animals that can become soup.

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

Yes, studied and dated as well.

Joshua...About your comment regarding the kids hunting....I like to try and think about what life was actually like. It’s hard to push the Hollywood stereotype out of my mind.

Flint tools, don’t seem to tell quite the story that something like this does. Same goes for the reed sandals that were shared earlier. I pictured people with feet tough as rawhide walking barefoot everywhere...always figured they had to stick to smooth trails...maybe the truth is somewhere in between.

 

[PaleIO]

I have had several archy's look at them over the years and none of them ever provided me much input. One even told me they were 1900's era settler made...Really?? I never have good luck getting archeologist input on my artifacts. A very experienced and knowledgeable collector told me last year it's hard to find one that is not jealous/upset that a non archeologist owns such things....if I find the right one I am more than willing to allow access to everything in my collection.

 

[Kray Gelder]

I can't help thinking that a New Mexico museum curator would love to take a look. To me, the key would be the cordage.

 

[Garscale]

I keep coming back to look at these. What an incredible insite of a lost way of life. Those idiots on naked and afraid need to look at these. Maybe they could catch a rabbit.

 

[Quartzite Keith]

It's on my list of things to do but I haven't gotten around to experimenting with trying to use primitive snares like those. In my head I came up with the idea of running the cordage through a hollow bone or section of bamboo so the critter, once snared, can't chew the cordage. Is that how those are set up? (i.e. What is the section of cane for?)

The way i picture it, they had stashes like this at the main campsites, then as the band moved around a few guys would go ahead to get the trap line out in the hopes that when everyone else got there the next day they could have a nice bunny BBQ.

 

[Knut dirtfisk]

They look like Paiute deadfall triggers.

 

[PaleIO]

It's on my list of things to do but I haven't gotten around to experimenting with trying to use primitive snares like those. In my head I came up with the idea of running the cordage through a hollow bone or section of bamboo so the critter, once snared, can't chew the cordage. Is that how those are set up? (i.e. What is the section of cane for?)

The way i picture it, they had stashes like this at the main campsites, then as the band moved around a few guys would go ahead to get the trap line out in the hopes that when everyone else got there the next day they could have a nice bunny BBQ.

Yes the cordage runs down the hollow tube and tied in a small groove area making the loop. I assumed the hollow tube serves as a guard once an animal is caught like you said.

 

[PaleIO]

They can be used on all types of small game but in my area prarie dogs were a big part of a natives diet and always wondered if that is what this set was used for. Making a set on a mound would be very simple and quite effective.