I’m just wondering if anyone else has been running any snares here in Wisconsin during the snare season? I’ve got a few out for some farmers that want some ‘yote removal. Much more fun to call but an interesting way to take them as well.
I have considered it, but the regulations are kind of a pain to work around. I may get into it in the next season or so. I sat in on a seminar a couple years ago with a guy that was part of the group of people working with the DNR during the study. He brought his snares in and gave us a demonstration on how they were used and all the rules to using them. He also brought in a photo album with pics of the coyotes he and the biologist had snared during the study. It looks like a very good way to catch some coyotes and they are a little easier to set up than foothold traps. How have you been doing with your snares?
I have considered it, but the regulations are kind of a pain to work around. I may get into it in the next season or so. I sat in on a seminar a couple years ago with a guy that was part of the group of people working with the DNR during the study. He brought his snares in and gave us a demonstration on how they were used and all the rules to using them. He also brought in a photo album with pics of the coyotes he and the biologist had snared during the study. It looks like a very good way to catch some coyotes and they are a little easier to set up than foothold traps. How have you been doing with your snares?
Hey? Does MN have a snaring season?
How do we keep dogs for getting in the snares?
I live “in” town, but my mail box is “out” of town…and can shoot on my mailbox side…but it’s tough getting over there without being spotted.
I hear the howls frequently and would like to put a dent in their population…but I don’t think the rifle is the answer here.
Any thoughts?
Hey? Does MN have a snaring season?
How do we keep dogs for getting in the snares?
I live “in” town, but my mail box is “out” of town…and can shoot on my mailbox side…but it’s tough getting over there without being spotted.
I hear the howls frequently and would like to put a dent in their population…but I don’t think the rifle is the answer here.
Any thoughts?
BrianK,
As a very young kid (8-12 y.o.) I use to follow my grandfather on his trapline. Where we lived in Northwest MN we didn’t have any coyotes, but we had a lot of fox. He also trapped coon, beaver and mink.
He used “pan traps” made by Blake and Lamb mostly, but did use snares as well. Every year he would catch someones poor farm dog. This was an area where people were spread out several miles apart.
I would not recommend snaring or trapping as close to a residential area as you seem to be.
Would a shotgun work? Rifle seems dangerous, but if it’s legal, and you know the area you are shooting in, I would think you’re alright. Maybe keep your caliber small and only take the close shots.
I personally have never “hunted” predators, but have always wanted to. Seems like it would be fun and very challenging.
Scott
BrianK,
As a very young kid (8-12 y.o.) I use to follow my grandfather on his trapline. Where we lived in Northwest MN we didn’t have any coyotes, but we had a lot of fox. He also trapped coon, beaver and mink.
He used “pan traps” made by Blake and Lamb mostly, but did use snares as well. Every year he would catch someones poor farm dog. This was an area where people were spread out several miles apart.
I would not recommend snaring or trapping as close to a residential area as you seem to be.
Would a shotgun work? Rifle seems dangerous, but if it’s legal, and you know the area you are shooting in, I would think you’re alright. Maybe keep your caliber small and only take the close shots.
I personally have never “hunted” predators, but have always wanted to. Seems like it would be fun and very challenging.
Scott
The rules and laws surrounding WI cable restraints are pretty strict. These snares are not like the days of old where what was caught was “choked” to death. We are required to have a deer stop on the cable which prevents the snare from choking an animal. All deer, coyotes, and in rare cases a farm dog, are alive and well in the snare. We also have a stipulation where there can be no entaglement situations in a 3 foot area. This means they cannot be able to reach a tree, fence, or anything that would allow the animal to become entagled and not be allowed to move. I am very happy to see that WI allowed this to become legal. It is a big step toward possibly allowing us to use snares on other animals in the future. The way the snares must be constructed is great in that it will allow trappers to release non-target catches instead of killing them. I am not sure on MN laws however.
The rules and laws surrounding WI cable restraints are pretty strict. These snares are not like the days of old where what was caught was “choked” to death. We are required to have a deer stop on the cable which prevents the snare from choking an animal. All deer, coyotes, and in rare cases a farm dog, are alive and well in the snare. We also have a stipulation where there can be no entaglement situations in a 3 foot area. This means they cannot be able to reach a tree, fence, or anything that would allow the animal to become entagled and not be allowed to move. I am very happy to see that WI allowed this to become legal. It is a big step toward possibly allowing us to use snares on other animals in the future. The way the snares must be constructed is great in that it will allow trappers to release non-target catches instead of killing them. I am not sure on MN laws however.
Cool!
I would like to see a pick of the new snare. Maybe I’ll snoop on line for one.
As much as I admired my Grandpa and loved going with him to check his traps on the weekends it always bothered me a little to come up on an animal he’d caught in a pan trap. So many of them had obviously been struggling for a long time. Thankfully grandpa quickly put them down with his 22.
As a teenager, I actually bought a dozen traps to start my own “line”, but never did it. I think it was that little part of me that was bothered that kept me from doing it. I wish I could have, because there was so much of trapping that I loved.
Scott
Cool!
I would like to see a pick of the new snare. Maybe I’ll snoop on line for one.
As much as I admired my Grandpa and loved going with him to check his traps on the weekends it always bothered me a little to come up on an animal he’d caught in a pan trap. So many of them had obviously been struggling for a long time. Thankfully grandpa quickly put them down with his 22.
As a teenager, I actually bought a dozen traps to start my own “line”, but never did it. I think it was that little part of me that was bothered that kept me from doing it. I wish I could have, because there was so much of trapping that I loved.
Scott
Well, this year has been a lot tougher than last year, due to the lack of snow. Last year we picked up 12 ‘yotes in about 2 1/2 weeks… so far this year we have only picked up 4. Without consistent snow it’s been hard to pattern them and keep track of their movements. I’m real impressed with the snares, though. All of the ‘yotes that we have caught have been 100% alive, I’m sure due to the fact that we have been following the guidelines setup for the use of cable restraints in WI (non-entanglement sets, etc.). The snares are also great to keep running in rough weather… it takes quite a bit to put them out of commission. I’m nearly positive that if a dog would get caught up in one, they would be waiting for you alive and well the next day. I believe the DNR reported that they had like a 97.5% live catch rate during their study. I’ll try to post a few pics of our catches over the past two winters. I picked up a real nice one last Saturday that I’m going to get tanned. If you look real close you should be able to see the snare cable leading from his neck.
Well, this year has been a lot tougher than last year, due to the lack of snow. Last year we picked up 12 ‘yotes in about 2 1/2 weeks… so far this year we have only picked up 4. Without consistent snow it’s been hard to pattern them and keep track of their movements. I’m real impressed with the snares, though. All of the ‘yotes that we have caught have been 100% alive, I’m sure due to the fact that we have been following the guidelines setup for the use of cable restraints in WI (non-entanglement sets, etc.). The snares are also great to keep running in rough weather… it takes quite a bit to put them out of commission. I’m nearly positive that if a dog would get caught up in one, they would be waiting for you alive and well the next day. I believe the DNR reported that they had like a 97.5% live catch rate during their study. I’ll try to post a few pics of our catches over the past two winters. I picked up a real nice one last Saturday that I’m going to get tanned. If you look real close you should be able to see the snare cable leading from his neck.
Brian,
I’m not sure about the laws regarding snare use in MN? I did a quick search and it looks like the MN Trappers Association is working on getting them legalized in the “farm land zone”? but apparently haven’t gotten it passed yet.
‘nother one from this year…
Brian,
I’m not sure about the laws regarding snare use in MN? I did a quick search and it looks like the MN Trappers Association is working on getting them legalized in the “farm land zone”? but apparently haven’t gotten it passed yet.
‘nother one from this year…
… last year when we actually had some snow
… last year when we actually had some snow
The pic of the coyote with the snare on is awesome. That is the beauty of them, no discomfort and alive and well when you get to them 
Have you had any trouble with them chewing the snares yet? Also, did you buy your snares or build them yourself?
I have the perfect place to snare them and will start next season. Riverbottoms seem like an ideal place to run the snares. What type of staking are you using?
The pic of the coyote with the snare on is awesome. That is the beauty of them, no discomfort and alive and well when you get to them Have you had any trouble with them chewing the snares yet? Also, did you buy your snares or build them yourself?
I have the perfect place to snare them and will start next season. Riverbottoms seem like an ideal place to run the snares. What type of staking are you using?
Hey, thanks Wats… so far I haven’t had much problem with chewing. I have noticed a bit of it on a couple of snares but I’m checking them by 6 a.m. so they don’t have too much time. I purchased the snares from The Snare Shop in Caroll, IA. I’ve been real happy with them, but this year they changed the design a bit and shortened them a couple of inches which made them harder to get the right loop height. As far as staking, last year with a normal freeze I just single staked them w/ a 20″ re-rod stake. One of the employees at the shop assured me that 20″ was long enough and I would be happy just to get them in the ground. They were right and the stakes held great. This year was ridiculous with all of the warm weather. I ended up cross staking all of my snares which made for a lot of stakes but I’m sure we would have had pull outs because in most places the ground wasn’t even frozen, 1 to 2 inches at most. Good luck with the snaring…
Hey, thanks Wats… so far I haven’t had much problem with chewing. I have noticed a bit of it on a couple of snares but I’m checking them by 6 a.m. so they don’t have too much time. I purchased the snares from The Snare Shop in Caroll, IA. I’ve been real happy with them, but this year they changed the design a bit and shortened them a couple of inches which made them harder to get the right loop height. As far as staking, last year with a normal freeze I just single staked them w/ a 20″ re-rod stake. One of the employees at the shop assured me that 20″ was long enough and I would be happy just to get them in the ground. They were right and the stakes held great. This year was ridiculous with all of the warm weather. I ended up cross staking all of my snares which made for a lot of stakes but I’m sure we would have had pull outs because in most places the ground wasn’t even frozen, 1 to 2 inches at most. Good luck with the snaring…
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