How Did You Learn To Snare?

[Snareman]

How did you "begin" to learn to snare?

As a kid my father first turned me to snaring by teaching me to snare rabbits. After trial and error, I started to have very good success then started being interested in snaring other animals. I then read Raymond Thompson's snaring info along with Leonard Pavek's info... especially his book The Snareman. It wasn't long after this I got professional snaring instruction and read a few more books, but between my dad, Thompson and Pavek, I got enough success to keep wanting to pursue snaring! The rest, as they say... is history!

Snareman

[snaresRcool]

I've read everything I could get my hands on. Shoot, I've just about tried it all too...until I got on this forum and learned different! I tried for 3 years to snare something with little success. On the 4th, it began to click and I started to "see" locations, and, this last season I caught all but five animals with snares and I'm hooked. I love snaring coon and am planning to try some new methods. Most importantly, I'm going to try #9 supports and neck catches to put 'em down and I can't wait!

sRc

[Snareman]

img.ranchoweb.com/images/snareman/adcnewt.jpg [/img]

[ADC]

snareman you've got way too much time on your hands. Isn't there a bird in need or something? ;D

[SteveCraig]

My Dad was a great blind set fox trapper. He could tell you right where a fox was going to step while walking around any field. He just set his trap in the place where the fox would step. No bait or lure. He never used the stuff. Just 1 1/2 longsprings. He caught 100's of fox this way. I read the FF&G Book, Deadfalls and Snares over 45 years ago, and as You say the rest is history for me. I just adapted my Dads trail trapping to snareing. Used lifting poles, spring poles, etc the whole gammit. Used 18 gauge brass wire to make all my early snares, and that was all I ever needed for red and grey fox. Occassionaly would lose a coon or too, but it was rare. Snared dozens of fox on logs crossing" hollers". Fox just fell off log and that was that. Went to using picture wire later on, and then to 1/8 in aircraft cable that my Dad would get for me at his job. Used alot of Raymond Thompson snares over the years too and a guy by the name of Larry Wittman from ND got me my first 3/32 in cable. We corresponded for many years and also learned a bunch from Keith Gregerson as well. Keith introduced me to 5/64 cable in 1978. I learned the Art of foot snaring from a couple of good snare men and I simply love to foot snare coyotes. In 1980 I took instruction from Johnny Thorpe and he taught me many things that I use today, but have never seen in print about snares and snaring of bobcats and other critters too. I have corresponded with some of the best snaremen in the country, like Vernon Hopkins, Len Pavek, Keith Gregerson, Larry Wittman, Ardell Grawe, and many that you will never hear about, but would pop some of these guys eyes with their snare catches. I have been very blessed to say the least.
Steve

[RWaddell]

Steve,
Someday it would be nice if you would put a book out a book about bobcat snaring and your thoughts and percetions.

There truely is little good material out there on the subject, or at least I haven't found any yet.

Always appreciate your input.

Robert Waddell.

[SteveCraig]

Thanks Robert,
I truly am considering that very thing. Doc Wendt says I should as well. I have taught some very good trappers the art of snaring. I am currently working on both a Mtn Lion calling book and a snaring video at this time. The video will be on the line stuff. You are absolutley correct about a lack of good bobcat snaring knowledge. Ardell knows it, but doesnt tell a whole lot, as do others. I notice that John is starting to put out alot of good info he has gleaned over these many years on different critters etc. He has some really no nonsense videos out right now. I consider his mink video a classic Johnny Thorpe" say it the way it is" thing. Thanks again
Steve

[RWaddell]

Johnny thorpe said something in an article one time that really stuck with me and I have repeated it many times to students about bobcats behavior (I always give Johnny credit for it).

He said (more or less) "bobcats are the dope smoking pot heads of the predator world, they don't have anything to do and all day to do it in".

Pretty hard to describe a lot behavior that I have witnessed in bobcats any better than this!

[SteveCraig]

HeHeHe!,
I remember him saying that to me. We were somewhere in the Adirondacks at the time! He also told me if I wanted to catch alot of bobcats, that I should "mink trap your bobcats". Same thing! Not a truer couple of statements ever spoken.
I want to know when you are going to come out with a book or two?!!!! ;D
Steve

[RWaddell]

Darned if I know. Kept thinking this last season how I needed to start writing down things that needed to be included as I thought of them while dealing with paticular situations on the trapline.

The truth is that it's not easy for me to write. I'm very self critical of any thing that I do of this nature.

Unless it's something that the reader hasn't already seen and better information than currently available then it would be a waste of paper.

I've got it in me, just going to have to get it all organised and scribbled out on paper one of these days.

I guess I still spend to much time seeing how many critters there are over the next hill to catch.

[dschurr]

I havn't learned yet, but I'm going too come this January. Here in PA. starting in Jan. we can set snares for fox & yotes. I just got done reading "Snaring 2000" and ordered some supplies and can't wait.
ps. I have to pass the training course first.

[mmwb]

Just started. Better luck with snares on canines than footholds for sure! Mainly reading the forums and the Snare Shop stuff.