{"id":22873,"date":"2012-03-29T18:18:34","date_gmt":"2012-03-29T23:18:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/artofmanliness.com\/?p=22873"},"modified":"2021-06-01T21:40:43","modified_gmt":"2021-06-02T02:40:43","slug":"how-to-build-a-small-game-survival-snare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/skills\/survival\/how-to-build-a-small-game-survival-snare\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Build a Small Game Survival Snare"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Survival<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s note: This is a guest post from Creek Stewart of Willow Haven Outdoor.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

I practice and learn survival skills not because I need them on a daily basis, but rather for the one day when I must use them to stay alive.  Survival is the intersection between knowledge and necessity.    The outcome in a survival scenario can be dramatically influenced by practicing survival skills before <\/em><\/strong>you need them.  One such skill that requires thoughtful practice is How to Build a Small Game Survival Snare<\/em><\/strong>.  A primitive make-shift snare can be used to trap and kill a variety of animals for food in a survival situation.  This basic concept can also be modified and used as a “man-trap” or “perimeter alarm”–both of which are commonly deployed in guerrilla warfare.<\/p>\n

While constructing a survival snare is fairly simple, it is often oversimplified with vague instructions and limited photos.  By the time you finish reading this article you will know the who, what, why, when, where, and how of the simplest and most efficient survival snare known to man.  If your knowledge ever crosses paths with necessity, this may prove useful.<\/p>\n

The Why<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For short term survival (1-7 days), food is not a critical priority.  Shelter, water, fire, and signaling are typically more immediate concerns.  At some point, though, you must put calories on the human furnace or suffer the debilitating consequences of starvation.<\/p>\n

To my knowledge there isn\u2019t one single primitive culture, tribe, or people where meat is\/was not a critical component of their diet.  Modern equipment, farming, transportation, food processing, supplements, and complex supply chains give us the option not to eat meat if we choose.  Remove these luxuries for an extended period of time and the calories from meat once again become necessary for survival.  It would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to source enough calories in a primitive survival scenario by gathering wild plant edibles alone–especially in cold weather climates or seasons.<\/p>\n

Time and energy conservation are both very important factors to consider in any survival situation.  This is precisely why<\/em><\/strong> snares are such an important survival tool.  Once constructed and set, a snare will allow you to focus on other survival priorities.  And, it will keep working even while you are sleeping.  With 10 snares you can be hunting in 10 different locations at the same time while expending ZERO energy.  You become a one man hunting party.  Snares are a survivor\u2019s secret weapon.  Not only are snares incredibly reliable and effective, they also require very few resources to build–in materials, energy, and time.<\/p>\n

The Who<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Before you even think about spending time and energy on building and setting a snare, you must first determine whom (or in this case which animal) your snare is targeting.  For survival purposes, small game represents your best chance of success.  While the snare design I will show you can be scaled up to catch animals as large as deer, it is more practical to target small game animals such as rabbit, squirrel, and ground dwelling fowl such as quail or grouse.  This snare can also be modified to fish for you as well.  Not only are smaller game animals easier to catch and field dress, but you can set numerous small game snares with the same time and material resources it would cost you to set one larger snare.  Setting snares is a numbers game.  The more snares you set, the greater your odds of success.<\/p>\n

The When and Where<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This snare can be effective in virtually any climate and any environment on any continent.  It can be deployed any time of the year and is equally effective day and night.  From desert to rain forest, I can\u2019t think of a place where you can\u2019t use some version of it to catch small game.<\/p>\n

With that said, placing random snares throughout the woods is foolish and a waste of time and energy.  Though they can be baited to draw in animals, snares are most effective when strategically placed in-line with existing small game trails.  As you will see in the HOW section of this article, the heart of this snare is a noose which should be positioned across a frequently traveled small game path or shelter entrance such as a den or burrow.<\/p>\n

To be successful, you must read the forest or terrain in which you find yourself.  You must look for signs of small game traffic and activity.  These signs include scat (droppings), tracks, rubs, scratches, signs of feeding, shelter or burrow entrances, food and water sources, and well-traveled game trails.<\/p>\n

I took a walk in the forest here at Willow Haven Outdoor<\/a> and snapped a few photos of some telltale animal signs that should catch the eye of a passing survivor.  See if you can identify the small game activity in these photos below:<\/p>\n

\"Small<\/p>\n

\"Animal<\/p>\n

\"Animal<\/p>\n

\"Animal<\/p>\n

\"Animal<\/p>\n

\"View<\/p>\n

\"Forest<\/p>\n

\"Walking<\/p>\n

The best place for the snare I detail in the next section is across a well-traveled small game path.  These paths, called “runs,” typically lead from the nest, shelter, or den to water and food sources.  Animals are the ultimate survivors and also live by the survival code of energy conservation.  Consequently, several animals may travel the same trail or path on a regular basis.  Animals travel the path of least resistance and strategically placed snares along this path can be very effective.<\/p>\n

Finally…The What and the How<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There are literally hundreds of different snare sets and designs–some of which are overly complex.  If you only learn one snare design in your life, it should be what I call the Trigger Spring Snare.  I wish I could take credit for the design, but it dates back to the beginning of mankind and versions of it have been used by primitive people in all parts of the world.  It has been time-tested, field-tested and survival-tested.  It is my #1 GO-TO Survival Snare set.<\/p>\n

The Trigger Spring Snare consists of 4 components which can be readily sourced in nearly any survival situation.  These components are:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The Noose (made from some kind of cordage–preferably wire)<\/li>\n
  2. The 2 Part Trigger (carved from wood)<\/li>\n
  3. The Leader Line (also made from some kind of cordage)<\/li>\n
  4. The Engine (typically a bent over sapling)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The Noose<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    The noose does exactly what you think–it nooses the animal.  The most effective noose material is wire.  There are many different types of wire that will work.  The wire must be flexible.  It cannot be too thick or brittle.  When set in the shape of a noose (shown later), it must tighten easily and quickly when pulled upon.  Some examples are:<\/p>\n