How Do I Make a Tree Snare?

Requiring a little practice and patience to properly set up, tree snares are effective for catching fur bearers for profit or game animals for food. Devised to take advantage of the natural spring of a sapling, tree snares secure the animal in a noose designed to pull tightly around its neck, leg or body. As with setting any type of trap, the greatest chance of success comes when a tree snare is set along a well-used game trail or at the entrance to a den.

Things You'll Need

  • Saw
  • Stake
  • Mallet
  • Paracord
  • Knife
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Instructions

    • 1

      Locate a stout sapling, at least 3-feet tall, next to a game trail that shows signs of recent use by the target species, such as tracks or droppings.

    • 2

      Bend over the sapling and use a saw to cut off the tip of the tree, leaving an end with a 1/2-inch diameter.

    • 3

      Use a mallet to drive a 1-inch diameter, 1-foot long stake 8 inches into the ground on the opposite side of the trail from the sapling. Cut a piece of paracord with a knife and tie the end of the sapling to the stake.

    • 4

      Use a knife to carve a 1/8-inch deep, 1-inch long notch into the trail side of the stake 1 inch from the top of the stake. Cut an identical, upside-down notch in the side of the sapling facing the stake.

    • 5

      Hook the notch in the sapling under the notch in the stake. The notches in the tree and stake should fit together loosely so the only contact is at the top of the notch on the stake and the bottom of the notch on the tree -- as the tree pulls against the stake.

    • 6

      Tie a noose in the end of a piece of paracord. Open the noose to a diameter 3 inches larger than the diameter of the head of the target species. As an example, raccoons having an average head diameter of 6 inches will require a 9-inch noose. Consult a wildlife book or trapping manual for average animal sizes.

    • 7

      Cut a 1/2 deep notch, at a 45 degree angle, on the outside of the sapling facing away from the game trial with the knife.

    • 8

      Locate to two “Y” shaped branches onsite. Cut the branches down with the knife so the distances from the bottom of the branches to the bottom of the Y are 1 inch longer than the noose. For example, a 9-inch noose will require 10-inch long branches. Whittle points in the bottom of the braches with the knife. Stick the branches into the ground, just far enough so the branches stand upright. Place the branches even with the stake and sapling, on opposite edges of the trail.

    • 9

      Hold the paracord so the bottom of the noose is 1 inch off the ground. Hang the noose over the Y in the branches. Run the paracord through the 45 degree notch in the sapling and then down along the tree. Tie the end of the paracord to the 1-inch long notch in the tree, just above the stake, with a triple half-hitch knot.

    • 10

      Place brush along the edges of both sides of the trail, for 10 feet in both directions from the trap, to funnel the animal into the snare.

    • 11

      Confirm the notches in the stake and sapling are firmly set and release the rope holding the tree to the stake. When the animal steps into the snare the tree will pull loose from the stake and snap upright, snaring the animal. Check the snare at least once each day.