Snares

[Paul]

OK, this is a case in point.
BY LAW you have to have stops on your snares.
This stops the snares from trapping an animal by it's paw or unintended species like deer.
It also stops the target being slowly choked to death.

What? You probably thought that's how it was done?
The snare just catches the thing and holds it for you to dispatch not a long slow choke to the death.

Anyway it's 9" for fox, 5" for rabbit.

Looking at trapsworks "Pegged rabbit snare", it don't look that one is fitted.
OK they may be selling 'stopped' snares now but the picture doesn't show one.

If a tree hugger finds your trap line, apart from them probably wreaking the snares (which I've had done to me) they usually tip the wildlife officer off if you're doing something wrong.
The LAST THING YOU WANT is this chap(ess) coming round your trap lines or even your home.

Besides I've always found the manufactured snares are always a bit short on length.
Good quality (sometimes) but a tad short.

Don't forget though you'll need tealers (which hold the snare correctly) and decent ground spikes to hold the catch until you can get to it to dispatch it.
Remember not to use drags (heavy objects like branches) as spikes.
That will draw you a lot of hurt if found.
You may have to deal with all sorts of ground, stoney, gravel, clay, sand, all sorts.
You'll need different 'spikes' for different conditions.

I know I keep on bashing on about this but you can't learn to snare properly from a book.
Get someone who KNOWS the practical issues to teach you.
It's simple self preservation.

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Whoops, the deer reference was about it snaring it's hoof.
Most responsible folk use breakaway snares to avoid that happening anyway.
Breakaway snares? Has a weak link in just in case you hook up a deer or dog thus they can 'break free' using their weight. So much to learn, so little time.