Using snare traps for hunting (and for SHTF) is one of the most important survival skills you can learn.
Snares primarily trap small and medium-sized game. And if you build them right they’ll trap the animal while you’re out and about. That way when you come back, you’ll have fresh game ready and waiting for you.
They’re also sneakier than a gun. For example, when you fire a gun you risk giving away your location. Not with snare traps – you can catch animals right and left without letting anyone catch onto your whereabouts.
There are lots of snares to choose from in a survival scenario. So before you get started, check out these…
Survival Tips: Using Snare Traps For Hunting & SHTF
Things To Consider
Before we delve into the different types of snare traps, there are some factors every prepper needs to consider.
For instance, many people foolishly believe they can just set up a trap willy-nilly and catch whatever they want. Not true. You need to be very strategic about how you build your snare – and where you put it. You also have to make sure it works every single time – otherwise you’re letting your supper get away.
When selecting a location, shoot for somewhere thats a good distance away from where you set up camp. For one, this makes it more likely for animals to come forward, since they won’t be scared off by the noises around your campsite.
Not to mention, this allows you to hunt game outside the immediate vicinity of your site. This is a plus if/when the surrounding area of your bug-out location becomes too dangerous.
Also, keep a keen eye out for burrow holes, animal droppings, footprints, game trails, and watering holes. These are signals that animals roam here and will likely come back through the area.
Spring Snare
This trap is time-tested; after all, people have been using it practically since they learned how to hunt. This is a great snare for small game, but is adaptable to catch larger prey.
There are many versions of the snare trap. However, they all contain a noose (which can be made from paracord, a shoelace, wiring, etc) a base (which stays stuck in the ground) and a hook (which disengages from the base and helps trap the animal).
They also each have an overhanging tree (such as a sapling) which causes the “spring.”
Here’s a cool video showing you three types of snare trips you can make for catching rabbits:
The Fishing Snare
Here’s a similar setup to the one in the previous video. The trick here is to attach a baited fishing line to the trigger and set it in the water.
The fish will take the bait, and the trap will snag the fish and keep it on the line. It won’t take the fish out of the water, but it will keep it from getting away.
Watch the video below for one way to make this cool trap.
The Hammer Time Trap
Also known as a “tension trap” this trap can be very dangerous. That’s because it’s meant to impale its victims. Of course, this means the trap can’t distinguish between friend or foe – so you’ll need to be careful when setting it up.
Here’s a video showing you one way to set it up:
https://youtu.be/iNRAo–V5Y0
Ojibwa Snare
The Ojibwa Bird Snare is a great way to catch your feathered friends. And since it requires very little materials (some cordage, a rock and a pole with a hole drilled through) you can set it up pretty easily.
Here’s a video showing you the building process:
Trapping Larger Game
Most snares are built for small game. But what about larger predators, like coyotes?
When SHTF (and in everyday life) you’ll be competing with predators for food. And one of the best ways to ensure you get your meals is by removing the competition.
Obviously, stronger material is necessary to make a snare like this. However, if you use the basic functionality of a normal snare, you can trap one of these animals on the spot.
Here’s a video showing you how it’s done:
**BONUS: How To Cook Squirrel Meat**
Once you’ve caught that small game (like squirrel) you may wonder what the best way is to cook it. Well with a few natural resources you can spice up that meat and make a mighty fine supper.
Watch the video below to see how it’s done.
