Trigger Snare | Survival Life

Trap For Your Life, Part 3: The Trigger Snare

Previously in the Trap for Your Life Series (part 1 and part 2), I showed you the basic snare, which is great for trapping small animals like squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks. In this article, I will teach you how to construct the trigger snare. The trigger snare can be used for larger animals than just squirrels and rabbits.

You can trap raccoons, opossums, groundhogs, and skunks. If you’re in a survival situation, you will eat any animal you trap due to your need for nourishment. Believe it or not, the raccoon doesn’t taste too bad, as I have eaten it before. The trigger snare can also trap smaller animals as well. This being said, let’s get started.

 You need:

• Two sticks
• 18 to 20 gauge wire
• Paracord
• Bait (if you have any)
• A knife
• Pliers
• A pencil

Note: There are laws regarding trapping; check the laws in your local area.

Step By Step Guidance

Step 1

This part may take some time. Get your knife and the two sticks, and sharpen the end of one stick. The stick that will have a pointy end should be at least two feet long.

Using that same stick and your knife, cut a one-inch long groove at the top of the stick. Get your other stick and cut a portion of the stick in half, but leave an inch as it is. Now see if the groove and the other stick fit within one another, like the picture below.

Step 2

Using your pliers, cut about 15 to 30 inches of wire. Grab your pencil and the wire, and loop the wire around the pencil twice. Twist-tie the loop to the other part of the wire.

Pull the pencil out. Put the normal end of the wire through the loop, and make that loop 3 to 10 inches in diameter, depending on the size of your targeted animal. Attach the snare onto the bottom of the stick that is mostly cut in half.

Step 3

Get your paracord and tie it onto a sapling that is flexible. Then find a good and tight length from the sapling to set snare.

Once you find your length, tie the other end of the cord to the top of the stick that is mostly cut in half.

Step 4

Put your grooved stick in the ground, pushing in the pointy end. Pull down the other stick. Push it down to the sharpened stick and set it in the groove.

It should hold; if not, cut the groove in the stick deeper. Make sure your snare is upright.

Step 5

If you have bait, it two feet in front of one side of the snare’s noose (loop) and two feet in front of on the other side.

If you don’t have bait, you may remember in our last article, The Basic Snare, we talked about snare location. Be sure to set your trigger snare in one of those locations. Your trigger snare should look like the diagram below.

Never stop…no matter how hard it gets…keep trapping for your dear life!

Want to learn more about trapping? Check out the rest of our series below:

Part 1

Part 2

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on March 21, 2016, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.