It is not really necessary to success that the force of the sapling should be strong enough to lift the rabbit from the ground, as a mere strong tightening of the noose would be sufficient to cause strangulation and death.  But we recommend the former method as being less painful and more rapid in its effects.

If the young trapper should experience any difficulty in finding saplings of the right size, in the locality where he desires to set his traps, the difficulty may be easily mended by cutting the poles elsewhere, and carrying them to his trapping-ground, this answering the purpose equally well.  They should be sharpened nicely on the large end, and firmly stuck into ground.  The “Twitch-up” may be used for the capture of all varieties of game, and when set with the noose in the opening of a hollow tree, a stray coon will occasionally be entrapped.

The next figure represents another method of constructing this trap, The picture explains itself.  Instead of the arch, two notched sticks are driven into the ground, one on each side of the opening of the pen, The other piece should be of the shape shown in the figure, made either in one piece or in two pieces fastened together.  They may all be constructed from twigs in the woods.  Let the noose and draw-string now be fastened to the middle of the cross piece, and when set it will appear as in our figure.  It will easily be seen that a slight pull on the bait will turn the cross piece from beneath the notches, and allow it to fly into the air.

[Illustration:  Method No. 2]

In our next instance the same principle is employed.  The [Page 47] notched pegs are here driven in the back part of the pen, about five inches apart, with their notches towards the front.  A forked bait stick of the shape shown is then procured.  The draw-string should be attached near the end furthest from the fork.  By now inserting the ends lightly beneath the notches in the pegs, at the same time letting the bait incline near the ground, the trap will be set on a very slight lift, as the bait will dislodge the pieces.  Of course the noose must be arranged in the opening of the pen, as in the previous varieties.  The bait stick in both cases should be set cautiously beneath the notches, as shown at (a), so that the slightest turn will cause it to roll out of position.

[Illustration:  Method No. 3]

A fourth method of snaring is shown in our next figure.  In this instance the original arch is used, or else some circular opening constructed in the front of the pen.  Inside, at the back part of the inclosure, a smaller arch is placed.  Two sticks are then to be made similar to those mentioned in our first example of the “Twitch-up.”  Let the draw-string be tied to the end of one of these sticks; after which it should be passed under the inside arch, being brought out in front of it, and there supported by the bait-stick, as seen in our illustration.  The noose should then be attached to the draw-string above the pen, and afterward brought down and arranged in front of the opening.  The trap is then set, and will be found on trial to work admirably.