How to Make a Bird Snare

Birds are quick creatures that are easily startled. This makes trapping them by any method other than a snare almost impossible. A bird snare can be set and left for long periods of time so that wildlife can carry on naturally without the unsettling presence of a human. Building a bird snare can be an essential survival tool for outdoorsmen who might encounter long periods of isolation with little food. With the right approach you can create an effective bird snare with minimal resources.

Things You'll Need

  • Twitch (small sapling still in ground)
  • 2 forked sticks with a long and short leg (short leg on one end and large leg on opposite end)
  • 6-foot string
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Instructions

    • 1

      Find a twitch that is sturdy (not green or sappy). The twitch should be located at a place where it can touch the area in which you plan to trap when bent. Remove the leaves from the body of the main branch. This will minimize wind resistance and increase the strength of the trap.

    • 2

      Stick your two forked sticks into the ground where you plan to trap your bird. Place the end of the sticks with the long leg into the ground. The long leg will secure the stick in the ground. These sticks will hold the loop of your string (that acts like a lasso enclosing around the bird) in place, so set them apart around the area you would like your trap to cover (probably no more than 6 inches wide).

    • 3

      Tie a sliding knot at both ends of your string. A sliding knot moves back and forth on a string increasing and decreasing the size of the loop it creates. This is the same knot found at the end of lassos. Attach one of these knots to the tip of your twitch, tightening it securely so it will not slide loose.

    • 4

      Bend the tip of your twitch toward your forked sticks in the ground. The tip of the twitch should be about 3 feet from your forked sticks. Your string will travel the distance between the twitch and the forked sticks.

    • 5

      Widen the loop of the remaining sliding knot so that it will fit around the small legs on both sticks. Place the loop of your knot around your forked sticks. Use the small legs on the sticks to hold the loop in place. Your trap is set. A bird's foot will slip the string from around the forked sticks and be snatched up by the force of the bent twitch.