Essential Techniques and Tips for Crafting Effective Snares in the Wild: A Comprehensive Guide to Ethical Trapping and Survival Hunting
Venturing into the wilderness requires not only courage but also the skills to sustain oneself in nature's unpredictable embrace. As a seasoned survival expert with years of hands-on experience in the great outdoors, I've come to rely on one of the most effective methods for securing food—small game snares. Whether you're faced with a survival situation or simply honing your bushcraft skills, mastering the art of snaring can be your key to success. In this guide, I'll share essential techniques and insider tips drawn from real-world practice, designed to teach you how to craft and set snares that are both effective and ethical. Join me as we delve into the art of snaring, an invaluable skill that every outdoor adventurer should possess.
Remember with these, a little prep goes a long way and DON'T GET LAZY. I've seen everything from snares breaking to loosing them. I've even seen a squirrel get taken by a bird of prey due to an improperly sized drag stick. Make sure you put a little effort into these and they can feed you for a LONG TIME.
Tip #1 - Know where to look
If I've learned on thing it's that you won't catch animals if you aren't looking where they live.
To enhance your success with small game snares, a deep understanding of your target species' habits and habitats is crucial. Each animal has unique behaviors and preferences that can significantly influence your snaring strategy.
**Rabbits**: Often found in areas with dense cover such as bushes, briars, and small woods, rabbits typically follow regular paths or trails. Setting your snares along these trails, especially near the entrance and exit points of burrows, increases your chances of success.
**Squirrels**: Squirrels are most active in wooded areas where they can climb trees to escape predators. However, they frequently travel on the ground between trees, particularly during their morning and evening feeding times. Observe these ground paths for effective snare placement. They also love to eat pine nuts, looking for some midden is a great place to set them.
**Birds**: Ground-dwelling birds like quail and grouse often stick to cover under brush and along the forest floor. Identifying their feeding areas or dust bathing spots provides excellent locations for setting snares.
Understanding these behaviors allows you to place snares in the most effective locations, making your trapping efforts more efficient and successful. Remember, the key to successful snaring is not just setting a trap but setting it where the game will inevitably lead them.
Tip #2 - Art of Small Game Snares
When setting up snares for small game, selecting the appropriate type of snare is crucial for effective trapping. Each type of snare serves a specific purpose and is suited to different environments and game types. Here’s a breakdown to help you choose wisely:
Wire Snares: Ideal for capturing game like rabbits and other similarly sized mammals, wire snares are made from flexible yet sturdy wire that can tighten around an animal as it moves through the loop. To set up a wire snare, form a small loop at the end of the wire using a simple knot or twist, which acts as a noose. Place this loop along a known animal trail or near burrow entrances, securing it to a fixed, stable anchor like a tree or a large stick. The key is ensuring the loop is big enough for the animal’s head but will tighten quickly to prevent escape.
String or Cordage Snares: These snares use either natural fibers or synthetic cords and are particularly versatile for various environments. While not as durable as wire, string and cordage can be easier to set and less visible to the game, which is a significant advantage. When using string or cordage, ensure it is strong enough to hold the animal without breaking but light enough to trigger easily. Suitable placement includes crossing points over logs or roots and narrow passages through thickets.
Trigger Snares: These are more advanced snares that incorporate a trigger mechanism, which closes the snare when an animal disturbs it. Trigger snares can be highly effective because they can be set to respond to very light touches, making them suitable for smaller or more cautious game. To construct a trigger snare, you’ll need a trigger bar or stick that dislodges when the snare is disturbed, releasing a weighted line that tightens the snare. These are best used in locations where animals are known to forage or frequent regularly.
Each type of snare requires careful consideration of the local wildlife habits, the terrain, and the specific hunting regulations in your area. Practice setting these snares in a controlled environment to become proficient before relying on them in a survival situation. Properly used, these snares can significantly increase your chances of securing food in the wild.
"Calories from protein affect your brain, your appetite control center, so you are more satiated and satisfied." – Mark Hyman
Tip #3 - How to build a snare with wire
Tip #4 - Effective Setting and Camouflaging of Snares
To maximize the effectiveness of your snares in trapping small game, there are several crucial tactics you should employ: strategic placement, using a drag stick, funneling animals, camouflaging, and baiting. Here's a detailed look at each technique:
Where to Set Snares
High Traffic Areas: Place snares in areas where signs of animal activity are frequent, such as along trails, near water sources, or close to animal dens. These are paths animals are known to travel regularly, increasing the likelihood of a capture.
Natural Choke Points: Look for narrow passages between bushes, small gaps under fallen trees, or alongside creek beds where animals are funneled naturally by the landscape.
Using a Drag Stick
Function: A drag stick is attached to the snare line and helps to prevent the animal from escaping by getting tangled in the underbrush, slowing it down.
Setup: Choose a stick that is strong enough to drag but not too heavy to impede the snare's closing action. Attach it securely to the end of the snare line after the loop.
I had a student snare a squirrel using a drag stick but didn't pick a large enough one. The trail led into an opening which ended with an imprint of bird wings on the snow. Make sure you drag stick is heavy enough to stop the animal you're going for so another predator doesn't get it.
Funneling Animals
Guide Paths: Use natural vegetation or construct small barriers to subtly guide animals toward your snare. This can be achieved by arranging sticks, brush, or rocks to create a more defined path leading directly to the snare.
Narrow the Path: Ensure the funnel leads the animal through your snare, making it the path of least resistance. The opening of the funnel should be wide, narrowing down at the snare point.
Camouflaging Snares
Blend In: Use materials from the surrounding environment to cover the snare and any shiny components. Leaves, mud, and branches can help hide your snare from wary animals.
Natural Look: Ensure that all added camouflage materials look natural and do not appear placed or unusual. The goal is to integrate the snare seamlessly into the environment without drawing attention.
Baiting Snares
Attractive Bait: Choose bait that is naturally attractive to the target animal, such as fruits for herbivores or meat scraps for carnivores. Ensure the bait is fresh and placed in a manner that forces the animal to engage the snare mechanism.
Proper Placement: Position the bait not just inside the loop but in such a way that the animal will move through the snare to reach it, typically by securing it to a stick that also acts as part of the trigger mechanism.
Each of these techniques requires careful consideration and practice to master fully. The combination of correct snare placement, effective funneling, discreet camouflage, strategic use of a drag stick, and enticing baiting strategies will significantly increase your success rate in trapping small game. Always ensure you are following local laws and regulations regarding trapping and handle all wildlife responsibly.
Tip #5 - When to check and track
Make sure and check you your snares around dusk and dawn. Few animals are active during this time due to the changing in light. The constant change makes it difficult for both daytime and nocturnal animals to see. This will be your best chance on checking a site without disturbing any animals in the area.
I also will always take a little flagging tape with me and write down how many snares I bring out. If you pre-make them, this can all be done before hand to save time in the event you actually need them. It's easy to set out 50+ snares, but finding them all again when it's time to move isn't quite so easy. You'll want to note where they are and how many so you can go get them all when you're finished.
Gearing up - check out some gear that will help you out
Closing Thoughts
With these tips, you're well-equipped to set, camouflage, and effectively use snares for small game trapping. Remember, practice makes perfect and the Art of Small Game Snares can be learned. Apply these strategies consistently to become proficient in the art of snaring. Ready to take your survival skills to the next level? Join our online community here - Six Point Survival. We will also be posting to our YouTube channel regulararly so don't forget to Subscribe. And if you have any questions or want to share your experiences, don't hesitate to leave a comment below. Happy trapping!
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