How to Make a Locking Snare

Setting snares is a cheap and effective method for catching game or nuisance animals. Snares can be set nearly anywhere, and trappers can target nearly any animal species with them. While snare traps are available for sale commercially, many trappers prefer making their own. This allows you to customize them to suit your specifications, or simply have something to do between trapping seasons. The washer lock snare is one of the most effective versions.

Things You'll Need

  • 3/8-inch washer
  • Drill
  • 1/8-inch drill bit
  • Vise grips
  • 2 nuts
  • 9-gauge wire
  • Swivel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Insert a 1/8-inch drill bit into the drill and use it to drill a hole near the top of a 3/8-inch washer and near the bottom.

    • 2

      Bend the washer into the shape of an L using vise grips.

    • 3

      Slide a steel nut onto a 2-foot piece of wire with your hands. Use the vise grips to flatten the nut at one end of the wire. The flattened nut becomes the stopper.

    • 4

      Thread the free end of the wire through the holes in the washer. Pull on the wire until you cannot pull anymore.

    • 5

      Thread the free end of the wire through a snare swivel. Push the snare so it is against the washer.

    • 6

      Adjust the free end of the wire to make a 3-inch loop -- or a loop that is just larger than the size of the head on the animal you are targeting.

    • 7

      Slide a nut onto the free end of the wire and push it against the loop. Use the vise grips to flatten it on the wire and prevent the loop from getting any larger.