Using Snares on Land

Snares can be used on land to capture furbearers.

• Use 9- or 11-gauge wire as a stabilizing wire (or “pigtail”) to hold the cable loop in position to trap the target furbearer.
• Do not set snares on trails used by people, domestic animals, or deer. Instead, place the snare in an existing path or trail used by your target furbearer. Ideally, choose a spot where the path narrows. Center the loop in the path.
• Adjust the size of the loop and the distance from the bottom of the loop to the ground to fit the furbearer you are targeting.
• Since snares are species-specific, a snare that is set to catch one type of furbearer is unlikely to catch another type of furbearer unless the furbearers are of similar shape and size.
• A snare set for a raccoon might catch an opossum, but it probably would not catch a coyote.