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How to Make a Snare: Catching Small Animals in the Wild
In the quiet of the wilderness, survival skills are not just a pastime—they can be life-saving. One such skill is the art of snaring, an ancient practice that can secure food when you're far from civilization. We'll walk you through creating a basic snare trap using materials found in nature and some you should carry in your bug out bag.
At a Glance
To make a snare, locate a game trail and use materials like snare wire, stringy tree bark, or fishing line, and a sturdy tree limb or sapling. From there, you can follow these simple steps:
- Find a game trail where animals pass regularly. Look for signs like tracks or droppings.
- Use a sturdy tree limb or a well-placed sapling to anchor your snare. It should be semi-straight and capable of holding the necessary tension.
- Carve out mouths into two sticks to create a hook trigger method. The peg shape and the hook method are crucial for the snare's effectiveness.
- Attach the snare wire to the trigger system. Ensure the noose is large enough for the animal's head and placed at the proper height above the game trail.
- Use a bendable sapling or a large tree limb to create the necessary tension. When the animal hits the trigger point, the sapling should straighten, pulling the wire tugged tight and capturing the animal.
Table of Contents
Building a Basic Snare
A snare is a simple trap used to catch small animals. Here’s the most barebones way to do it:
Materials:
- Snare wire or substitute (dental floss, fishing line, stringy tree bark)
- A sturdy tree limb or a young tree
- A peg-shaped stick or a thin stick for the trigger system
- Bait (if necessary)
The Basic Snare
- Location: Find a game trail where animals pass regularly. Look for signs like tracks or droppings.
- Support: Use a sturdy tree limb or a well-placed sapling to anchor your snare. It should be semi-straight and capable of holding the necessary tension.
- Trigger System: Carve out mouths into two sticks to create a hook trigger method. The peg shape and the hook method are crucial for the snare's effectiveness.
- Noose: Attach the snare wire to the trigger system. Ensure the noose is large enough for the animal's head and placed at the proper height above the game trail.
- Tension: Use a bendable sapling or a large tree limb to create the necessary tension. When the animal hits the trigger point, the sapling should straighten, pulling the wire tugged tight and capturing the animal.
Advanced Snare Triggers
While the basic snare is effective, knowing other variations can come in handy too:
Notched Upright Trigger
This trigger mechanism utilizes two upright stakes driven into the ground. Each stake has a notch carved into its upper portion. The stakes are positioned facing opposite directions along an animal trail. A crossbar is placed across the tops of the stakes, serving as an attachment point for both the snare and the spring pole.
Materials:
- Two sturdy stakes
- A crossbar
- A spring pole
- Snare wire
Construction:
- Select two straight, sturdy stakes of suitable length.
- Carve a notch into the top of each stake, ensuring they face opposite directions.
- Drive the stakes into the ground, maintaining a distance appropriate for the target animal.
- Prepare a crossbar that fits snugly across the tops of the stakes.
- Attach one end of the snare wire to the crossbar.
- Attach the other end of the snare wire to the spring pole, ensuring sufficient tension.
- Bend the spring pole downward and hook one end of the crossbar into a notch, then the other end into the opposite notch.
Rolling Snare Trigger
This snare uses the momentum of an animal to tighten the noose around its body.
Materials:
- Sturdy sapling
- Snare wire
- Strong branch
Construction:
- Bend a sapling into a U-shape and secure it with a strong branch.
- Attach the snare wire to one end of the U-shape, ensuring it can slide freely.
- When an animal brushes against the wire, the sapling springs back, tightening the noose.
Pencil Snare Trigger
This is a very simple snare that uses a sharpened stick as a trigger.
Materials:
- Sharpened stick
- Snare wire
Construction:
- Insert the sharpened stick into the ground at an angle.
- Attach the snare wire to the top of the stick.
- When an animal bumps the stick, the wire tightens around it.
Dealing with the Caught Animal
Once an animal is caught, approach with caution. A struggling animal can injure itself or you. Use a decent-sized rock or a sturdy stick to dispatch the animal humanely.
Preparing the Animal
After dispatching the animal, it's essential to prepare it properly. Use tools found in your bug out bag, like a knife or wire cutters, to skin and clean the animal.
Cooking methods can vary depending on what resources you have at your disposal. Roasting on a stick over an open fire is a classic technique. Cooking over an open fire is also another simple and effective method to prepare your catch. Experiment with different cooking methods to find what you prefer.
Survival Techniques
Knowing how to make a snare is just one piece of the survival puzzle. To better your odds, having a bug out bag would be a safe bet. It should contain essential items like water purification tablets, a first aid kit, a fire starter, a knife, and more. Other techniques include:
- Filling your bug-out bag with other essentials like different wire types and peg shapes for basic snares.
- Learning primitive methods like the three stick trigger or the fishing trigger, which use the same principles as modern snares.
- Understanding the environment, such as knowing which plants can provide fibers for snares or which berries are safe to eat.
Conclusion
Setting snares is a balancing act of patience, skill, and respect for nature. With practice, you can master this ancient technique, ensuring that in a survival situation, you have the knowledge to sustain yourself. Remember, the goal is to survive, not to harm the ecosystem or engage in illegal activities. Always check local regulations before setting snares and practice ethical hunting.
Equip yourself with the knowledge and respect for the wild, and you'll find that even under a blue moon, you can thrive in nature's embrace. Stay safe, stay prepared, and respect the balance of the wilderness.
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