Surviving in Project Zomboid means securing a reliable food source, and trapping is one of the best ways to do that. If you want a steady supply of rabbits, squirrels, and birds, this guide will show you everything you need to know about trapping, from character creation to optimal bait choices.

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Best Starting Occupation and Traits for Trapping

If you plan to rely on trapping for food, consider starting as a Park Ranger:

• +2 Trapping Skill at the start.
• Knows all trap recipes without needing books.
• Huge advantage over other occupations for faster leveling.

Other options:

• Hunter Trait (if you want to choose another occupation but still get all trap recipes).
• Hiker Trait (provides basic trapping knowledge but not all recipes).

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Setting Up Your Traps: Location is Everything

To maximize your trapping success:

1. Keep traps at least 75 tiles away from your base or frequently visited areas.
   • Zombies and players disturb traps, lowering success rates.
2. Place traps in the correct zones:
   • Mice/Rats: Trailer parks, towns.
   • Birds: Farms.
   • Squirrels: Forests.
   • Rabbits: Deep forests (best meat source).
3. Don’t check traps too often.
   • Traps reset every in-game hour, so leaving them alone increases your catch rate.
   • Rotting bait can attract zombies, so keep an eye on older traps.

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Trap Types and Bait Recommendations

1. Stick Traps (For Small Birds)

• Recipe Location: Hunter Magazine Vol. 2 (or gained automatically with Park Ranger or Hunter trait).
• Materials: 4 Sturdy Sticks + 1 Twine.
• Breaks every 2-5 days (drops enough twine to craft a new trap but not enough sticks).
• Best Bait:
  • Worms (never rot and easy to obtain). ✅ Best Choice!
  • Bread (50% effectiveness).
  • Corn (45% effectiveness).
  • Cereal (45% effectiveness).

Effectiveness:

• 40% catch rate.
• Ticks every in-game hour (great for quick food but low-calorie yield).
• Use only in areas that spawn birds (farms).

2. Trap Crates (For Squirrels & Rabbits)

• Recipe Location: Hunter Magazine Vol. 2 (or Park Ranger occupation).
• Materials: 3 Planks + 5 Nails + Saw.
• Best Bait:
  • Carrots (Best Choice, 45% effectiveness).
  • Cabbage, Corn, Potatoes, Bell Peppers (Less Effective but still viable).

Effectiveness:

• 30% catch rate.
• Only works between 7 PM – 5 AM (Nocturnal animals).
• Best meat yield (Rabbits provide 0.2 weight, reducing 52 hunger when cooked fresh).
• Use in deep forests for maximum success.

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Trapping Tips for Efficiency

1. Store Extra Supplies Near Trap Zones

• Traps will break over time.
• Keep a stockpile of planks, nails, twine, and sturdy sticks nearby for quick repairs.

2. Use 10% of Your Farmed Crops for Trapping

• If you’re farming, dedicate 10% of your harvested vegetables to baiting traps.
• Carrots grow quickly and require minimal water, making them ideal.

3. Leveling Up Trapping Quickly

• Check traps regularly and reset them with fresh bait.
• Read Trapping skill books (Trapping for Beginners, Intermediates, and Advanced).
• Watch Life and Living TV at 6 PM before the power shuts off for a massive early EXP boost.

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How to Store and Preserve Meat

Once you start catching rabbits and squirrels, food preservation is essential:

1. Freezers Slow Spoilage (Best Option)

• Ice freezers slow food spoilage by 25x.
• Set up multiple freezers if you plan to store large amounts of meat.

2. Cooking and Drying Meat

• Cooked meat lasts longer than raw.
• If freezers aren’t available, consider drying or salting meat (when build 42 adds food preservation mechanics).

3. Fishing as a Backup Food Source

• Fishing is more reliable than trapping if you’re near water.
• If trapping isn’t producing enough food, switch to fishing until your skill improves.

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Final Thoughts: Best Trapping Strategy

✅ Start as a Park Ranger for easy access to recipes.
✅ Place traps at least 75 tiles away from your base.
✅ Use worms for stick traps and carrots for crate traps.
✅ Focus on deep forests for rabbits, the best food source.
✅ Stockpile trapping supplies and farming bait for sustainability.
✅ Use freezers to keep meat fresh for long-term survival.

With these strategies, you’ll never go hungry in Project Zomboid. Happy trapping, and may your rabbit stew be plentiful!