Box traps are a relatively easy design that are easy to set up and if triggered are nearly 100% reliable. These traps can be made to any size for any animal that will take bait. The disadvantage is that some wild animals are very hesitant to walk into a cage, also box traps need to be heavily constructed there for can be quite expensive.
Parts Needed for the basic box and locking rod
NOTE – these parts will make a fox sized
trap, upsize or downsize for other game.
4 – pieces 1″x2″ welded steel mesh cut to 120 x 55cm
2 – pieces 1″x2″ welded steel mesh cut to 55 x 55cm
10 – lengths 3 x 25mm angle steel cut to 55cm
2 – lengths 3 x 25mm angle steel cut to 52.5cm
4 – lengths 3 x 25mm angle steel cut to 120cm
2 – 25″ pieces of 8mm steel rod
1 – 20″ piece of 8mm steel rod
2 – hinges tie wire
To construct the basic cage, first you must decide how strong the cage will have to be. If you intent to catch anything larger than a cat i would suggest using a full frame of angle steel. The above diagram uses square tube steel to only reinforce the opening and the swinging door.
Start by tieing the box together, this is easily done by using nylon cable ties join the 4 large pieces of steel mesh together then tie on one end, again with cable ties, it should be rigid enough to hold its shape enough to fabricate the rest of the trap. Now take 2 pieces of 14″ square tube steel and 2 13″ pieces. weld (or bracket) these tubes together to form a perfect square. do the same with the other pieces of square tube, so you have two identical squares. One is welded to the inside of the opening to the cage and the other is used to reinforce the edge of the door by welding the mesh to one side of the square. The door can now be hinged to the opening with small hinges available at any hardware store. All thats left to do is make a locking rod that will slide down and lock the box when the trap is triggered. Look at the diagram above, The two “guide rods” hold the “locking rod” in position, when the trap is triggered the locking rod slides down the guide rods and locks to door shut behind the animal.
Finish the basic box by tieing the wire mesh (or welding it) together with tie wire making sure there are no gaps and it is strongly constructed as wild animals go crazy when trapped..
Box Trap
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