How to Make Snare Traps

Next time you get lost camping, want to impress your friends, or get chosen for the Hunger Games, knowing how to make a snare trap can be a great way to impress or survive. There are a few different methods to catching small game outlined here to help you survive another Great Depression or just get you out of the camper.

Snare Trap Overview

Use string or wire to tie a noose that’s the size of the animal you’re hoping to catch. Tie the end of the cord to a bendable sapling or branch and connect it to a hook, fishing, or three-stick trigger. Set some bait out and wait for the trap to activate.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Preparation

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1
Choose a sturdy noose material, preferably wire. To build a noose, the most effective material to use is wire. You can use anything as long as it's flexible and not too thin or brittle. It must quickly and easily tighten. ^{[1]
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Research source} There are a number of wire types you can choose from:
- Craft wire
- Headphone wire
- Stripped wires from cars
- An uncoiled spring
2
Use string or cord if you don’t have wire. Make sure it's strong enough to hold a small (5-8 lbs; 2.5-3.5 kg) animal. If it snaps under your own strength, it probably won't work. The following items are suitable for a snare trap if you don't have or can't find wire near you.
- Shoelaces
- Dental floss
- Fishing line
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3
Consider the tools found in nature if you don’t have string or cord. That means stringy tree bark and plant fibers. It's going to be more work, but if primitive cultures did it, so can you.
- Milkweed
- Dogbane
- Cattail
4
Scout out the area. A snare can be used day or night, rain or shine, and in any climate. All you need to make sure of is that animals pass by more than once in a blue moon. Place your snare on a trail frequented by your prey. ^{[2]
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Expert Source

Doug Flinders
Wilderness and Survival Expert

Expert Interview} Placing random snares with no eye for signs of small game is a waste of time. ^{[3]
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Research source}
- Look for signs of game in droppings, shelters, tracks, scratches, and signs of feeding.
- A significant source of water and food for the area is a safe bet as well.
5
Pick your "engine." Now that you've found the general area you want to build your snare in, look above you. What sort of trees do you have to work with? The tree will be the beef of your machinery. ^{[4]
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Research source}
- Find a sapling (a young tree) that is strong enough yet bendy. Keep in mind, it must be able to hold the game high in the air until you find it. ^{[5]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Doug Flinders
  Wilderness and Survival Expert
  
  Expert Interview}
- If no saplings are around, look for a large tree limb and decent-sized rock. This is an alternate method that uses the same idea but doesn't require a bendable, well-placed sapling.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Building a Hook Trigger

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1
Carve a mouth, or hook, into two sticks. Think of linking your own hands together (fingernails tucked into the other hand) and pulling your elbows apart. That is the tension you'll be using. ^{[6]
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Research source}
- The base should be longer than the hook and a bit sturdier.
- The hook can be small--as long as it fits into the mouth of the base.
2
Plant the base into the ground. It is easier to drive into the ground if you carve it into a peg shape first. The point breaks the soil much more quickly.
- The base should be very close to the sapling you scouted out; the two will work in tandem.
3
Tie your cord around a bendable sapling. Make a knot that will not come off, even under tension. It should be about 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) from the top, depending on the strength of the sapling.
- Test it before you assume it's sturdy. Remember: the animal will be struggling.
4
Attach the other end of your cord to the hook. Place the hook in mouth of base. Right now, the base should be the only thing preventing the hook from flying up into the air and the sapling straightening out. ^{[7]
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- Make sure your cord is the proper length. When the hook is in place, the sapling should be bent towards a 90 degree angle. When the hook is removed, it should straighten up again (dangling the animal).
Again, make sure the knot is securely in place. At this point, the hook should have two cords attached: one to the noose and one to the sapling.
6
Set up your trigger so the noose can be activated. With the noose on the ground, a small animal is unlikely to disturb the rope heavily enough to trigger the hook. So, create a trigger for them! You have two choices here: ^{[8]
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Research source}
- Option #1: Suspend the noose in the air. Tie another string to the noose on the opposite side of where your hook is. Tie that rope to another sapling or branch so the noose floats in midair and the line on the side of the hook is taut. Whenever an animal brushes against it, it should disturb the noose enough to trigger the trap.
- Option #2: Put a stick in the middle of the noose and connect it to the hook. Wrap a tiny branch around another piece of string and tie it to the taut rope holding your trap in place. Then, hang a second branch in mid-air over the side of the noose using two rocks (or other branches) as supports. Wrap the tiny branch and string around the support branch and pin it in place by setting a larger branch on top in the middle of the noose.
  - The trick here is to get the tiny branch in the middle of two layers that pin it in place. We’re describing a large branch under and another branch on top. You can set it up using whatever weights you’d like, though.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Building a Three-Stick Trigger

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1
Hammer down two sticks into the ground. They should both be shaped like a one armed man and roughly two feet apart (.6 m).
- Carve them into peg shapes beforehand to drill them into the ground more easily.
- Place their "arms" parallel to each other. You will use the armpits as a source of support for the necessary tension.
2
Hammer down a third, peg-shaped stick. It should be, again, two feet or so apart from the other two, forming a triangle. ^{[9]
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Research source}
- This stick does not have to be any particular shape but semi-straight.
Using your same wire, make sure the stick is securely in place in the armpits of the two original sticks.
4
Tie your string around a nearby sapling. Just like in the hook method, it should be 6-12 in (15-30 cm) from the top, depending on the strength of the tree.
- Test everything before you assume it's secure. A struggling animal will not go easy on your trap.
- Tie your wire around a rock and throw over a sturdy tree limb if easier or more convenient. The rock should dangle above the ground and emulate the same methods used with the sapling.
5
Attach a small stick at the end of your wire. This is your trigger point. Knot your wire and then knot it again.
- A stick that is around 4 in (10 cm) is long enough. Hold it under the stick that's in the armpit of the first two, wire tugged tight in front. It uses the tension between the cord and armpitted stick to stay where it is when propped up.
6
Place a stick between the peg and small stick on the wire. This will be the stick that gets hit, falls, and pulls up the sapling. It is propped up between the smallest stick and the peg, just waiting for trouble.
- This is a balancing act. Make sure it's centered near perfectly or a breeze could knock it off kilter.
7
Tie a noose underneath the trigger system to the smallest stick. The noose will follow the small stick flying in the air when an animal walks across its path.
- Use small pebbles or twigs to widen the noose, lowering the possibility of your target just tripping the snare and escaping.
- Place your bait within the noose. Choose whatever bait appeals to the type of game you are aiming to catch.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Building a Fishing Trigger

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Test it for strength and flexibility. Try to see if fish seem to venture close to the area.
You will need two sticks with carved out mouths and several feet of wire. The only difference between this method and the hook trigger method is that you must make sure the soil is compact and will not erode away while your trap is waiting for its target.
3
Tie one end of your line to the hook and place the baited line in the water. Instead of a noose, you will be using your baited line to catch fish. The bait dangles in the water and the top of your line rests on the hook, ready to fly into the air upon even the slightest of tugs.
- Make sure algae or seaweed won't mess up your trap. Try to clear the area of any needless shrubbery that could trigger your snare unnecessarily.

How Do You Make a Snare Trap?

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Common Questions: Making Your Own Snare Trap

What legal regulations should I keep in mind when making my own snare trap?

In most states, you'll need a trapping license to operate a snare, but every state has its own particular legal regulations, and some don't allow the use of snares at all. ^{[10]
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Research source} It's imperative that you educate yourself regarding all state and national laws and regulations before making and operating your own snare. You can learn your state's specific regulations at ICWDM.org and take a trapping course via the North American Trapper Education Program developed by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agency. The course is available online at afwatrapping.outdooreln.org or via downloadable booklet at fishwildlife.org . ^{[11]
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How can I ensure my and others' safety when making and operating my own snare trap?

Snares pose major safety risks when used improperly, including risk of injury to you, other people, or animals, but you can learn how to set snares safely via reputable training courses or with the help of an experienced trapper. ^{[12]
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Research source} Here are some general safety tips, but it's important to thoroughly educate yourself before operating a snare:

Make sure you're adhering to all laws and regulations when setting a snare, and be sure to clearly mark its location with bright colors.
Keep your snare set at the right height for the intended target animal to avoid capturing non-target animals or even humans.
Use breakaway devices (such as S-hooks or shear pins) to let larger non-targets escape if caught.
Keep wire cutters or pliers in your kit for emergency snare removal.
Maintain your snare daily to keep it in good working condition and so you can release or remove captured animals humanely.

How can I make my snare trap more humane?

Snare traps are inherently inhumane and cruel because they're designed to capture and potentially injure animals, and many states have banned or restricted their use. ^{[13]
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Research source} However, there are some steps you can take to make a snare somewhat less inhumane (many of these steps are required by law in various states, so be sure to check your state's requirements at ICWDM.org ):

Include a safety stop that prevents the trap from closing completely, which may reduce the animal's risk of strangulation.
Check your trap at least once a day to handle any trapped animals quickly.
Opt for a free-running snare—that is, a snare that can relax if the trapped animal stops pulling, which may reduce the risk of injury and allow for live release.
Use snare supports, which hold the snare loop in place and minimize movement, which may alleviate the animal's struggling.
Anchor the snare, rather than fastening it to a drag, to reduce the chance of larger animals—such as wolves or hogs—running away or becoming entangled in the snare or vegetation.

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Tips

Always check your surroundings before setting a snare. Are there any pets or small children around? Remember: if anything does happen, it is your responsibility. ^{[14]
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Research source}

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Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
If moving from an area, disable all snares you’ve set.

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The more snares you set, the greater your chances of success.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

If no saplings are available but there are 2 trees near each other, use a paracord to wrap around the 2 tree trunks. Find a sturdy 2-3 inch diameter stick at least 18 inches long. Place one end between the wraps of the paracord and rotate the stick so its downward stroke passes over your intended snare placement. By twisting the paracord, you can create tension that can be used in place of a sapling or counterweight.
If the snare is close enough, add an alarm. One way to do this is to put some rocks in a soda can and tie the can to the snare.

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Warnings

If you kill it, eat it. A diseased animal is the lone exception.

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This is for a survival situation only. Snare traps, makeshift and elementary, are otherwise illegal.

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Things You'll Need

Tree
Wire
Bait
Sticks
Knife (if carving)
Rock (optional)
Fishing hook and line (for fishing method only)

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[2]

Expert Source

Doug Flinders
Wilderness and Survival Expert

[3]

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[5]

[6]

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[8]

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How to Make Snare Traps

Snare Trap Overview

Steps

Preparation

Building a Hook Trigger

Building a Three-Stick Trigger

Building a Fishing Trigger

How Do You Make a Snare Trap?

Common Questions: Making Your Own Snare Trap

Video

Tips

Tips from our Readers

Warnings

Things You'll Need

You Might Also Like

Expert Interview

References

About This Article

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