grey fox snaring ... my style
Jun 27, 2009 21:56:01 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2009 21:56:01 GMT -5
I've been asked by a few about my style of snaring grey fox ... I really don't give what I do too much thought, I just do it ... it's just taking a few simple concepts and tweaking them for wherever whatever the situation location throws at ya
I like and use 1x19 1/16" cable with slim locks, light to medium loaded and a 11 gauge swivel on the end ... My good friend Newt Sterling turned me onto using these locks, small loops and small diameter cable ... it turned what I thought I new about snareing upside down ... I always enjoyed snareing but the 1x9 slim lock combo and durability of the super smooth small cable instantly impressed me and made my snareing twice as enjoyable and a lot more productive
Treating snares ... I don't always treat all of my snares and I never boil them ... I've set many a "raw" snare ... I'll use water base F1 on my snares if anything ... brown seems to be about the best color for snares ... with a wire or something similar strung between two points proceed to dip your snare ... close the loop down to it's smallest size ... dip and then suspend from your wire by placing bottom of closed loop over wire ... this allows any excess to run down the cable ... away from the "action end" of your snare ... eliminating potential buildup or bubble which could slow your snare ... you may need to redip several times ... I'm usually satisfied with any dulling effect , but often redip once after first dip has dried
I support all of my snares using 14ga annealed wire with an inverted "S" bend on the end which the snare is laced through ... the other end is wrapped around a sturdy sapling etc. ... either naturally on sight or taken from within feet of location and transplanted exactly where you want it ... takes only seconds ... I will usually use one secure anchor point but it's even better to twist your wire secureing it tightly to two points eliminating any potential looseness or wiggle
this pic shows the inverted "S" bend used to support and keep the loop stationary
The tools and hardware I use include a pair of linemens pliers (with 5 inch rubber grips ... this makes them very handy for sizeing loops and adjusting/checking height), 14 gauge annealed wire, good pair of hand held pruneing shears, extension cables, quick link connectors ... all carried in a tool belt and easily accessible
Anchoring ... I anchor 95% of my snares using extension cables ... at times I'll use rebar or disposable stakes ... my extension cables are made from approximately 6 feet of 7x7 3/32" GAC ... (the ultimate extension cables are made from 1/8" stainless 7x19 cable ... but quite pricey) ... if one isn't enough connect two or more together until your anchor point is reached ... I prefer to use quick links to attach my snares to my extension cable ... as said above most of my snares are set for intentional entaglement ... true swiveling is not a factor ... but I like the swivel as a soild reusable anchor point in which I also attach my trap tag
------------------ -------------------------- -----------------
I like to set thick cover for greys and set most of my snares for entanglment ... greys can slink through some of the tightest spots and will frequet the same trails ... almost religeously ... makeing their travel ways almost predictable and somewhat easy to see
loop size ... well, I've learned to like a 5 to a 5 1/2 inch max loop roughly 5 - 5 1/2 inches off the ground ... under the right conditions your loop can be sized even smaller ... most have been questioning using such a small loop , well, I did too briefly until I learned that's what it took to target greys and get a unbelievable high percentage neck catches ... setting traditional 7-8 inch loops 6-8 inches off the ground when targeting greys just isn't where it's at ... I personally think a lot of that mentality comes from working with the common 7x7 3/32" tear drop fox snare ... heck, I've been there thinking like that myself ... but even when I used 7x7 3/32" I usually hung about a 6 inch loop for greys roughly 5-6 inches off the trail ... it was my catch all set up ... fox coon etc. (* even with the small 5 1/2 inch loop I'll pick up a hip caught grey or one that is caught behind the shoulders ... yeah, if loaded a lil heaver it might have made a difference but that isn't the point I'm stressing ... just try to wrap your brain around the fact a slinky lil grey can actually slip through such a small loop ... amazing how many go through large loops set for them ... a lot of them slip through unknown to the snareman!
I wish I had a greater ability to put thoughts into words but hope this might help those who were curious
Newt sells all the componets you need to build the same snares I build and use ... if you haven't given 1x19 1/16" cable a try ... maybe you oughta
... www.snareone.com
Here are some pictures you might glean something from
some folks just do not like the absolute round loops that can be achieved with using the 1x19 cable ... me, don't bother me and hasn't bothered a good and plenty greys etc. ... the snare in the pic is very lightly load yet faster smoother than any 7x7 3/32 you've most likely ever used
some trail set ups ...
a few catch photos
Reds are taken in this same loop set up
I'd always suggest that you roll with what works for you ... not me ... we all develop our own styles and preferences ... take a lil of this and mix it up with a lil of that and develop your own style ... have fun
I like and use 1x19 1/16" cable with slim locks, light to medium loaded and a 11 gauge swivel on the end ... My good friend Newt Sterling turned me onto using these locks, small loops and small diameter cable ... it turned what I thought I new about snareing upside down ... I always enjoyed snareing but the 1x9 slim lock combo and durability of the super smooth small cable instantly impressed me and made my snareing twice as enjoyable and a lot more productive
Treating snares ... I don't always treat all of my snares and I never boil them ... I've set many a "raw" snare ... I'll use water base F1 on my snares if anything ... brown seems to be about the best color for snares ... with a wire or something similar strung between two points proceed to dip your snare ... close the loop down to it's smallest size ... dip and then suspend from your wire by placing bottom of closed loop over wire ... this allows any excess to run down the cable ... away from the "action end" of your snare ... eliminating potential buildup or bubble which could slow your snare ... you may need to redip several times ... I'm usually satisfied with any dulling effect , but often redip once after first dip has dried
I support all of my snares using 14ga annealed wire with an inverted "S" bend on the end which the snare is laced through ... the other end is wrapped around a sturdy sapling etc. ... either naturally on sight or taken from within feet of location and transplanted exactly where you want it ... takes only seconds ... I will usually use one secure anchor point but it's even better to twist your wire secureing it tightly to two points eliminating any potential looseness or wiggle
this pic shows the inverted "S" bend used to support and keep the loop stationary
The tools and hardware I use include a pair of linemens pliers (with 5 inch rubber grips ... this makes them very handy for sizeing loops and adjusting/checking height), 14 gauge annealed wire, good pair of hand held pruneing shears, extension cables, quick link connectors ... all carried in a tool belt and easily accessible
Anchoring ... I anchor 95% of my snares using extension cables ... at times I'll use rebar or disposable stakes ... my extension cables are made from approximately 6 feet of 7x7 3/32" GAC ... (the ultimate extension cables are made from 1/8" stainless 7x19 cable ... but quite pricey) ... if one isn't enough connect two or more together until your anchor point is reached ... I prefer to use quick links to attach my snares to my extension cable ... as said above most of my snares are set for intentional entaglement ... true swiveling is not a factor ... but I like the swivel as a soild reusable anchor point in which I also attach my trap tag
------------------ -------------------------- -----------------
I like to set thick cover for greys and set most of my snares for entanglment ... greys can slink through some of the tightest spots and will frequet the same trails ... almost religeously ... makeing their travel ways almost predictable and somewhat easy to see
loop size ... well, I've learned to like a 5 to a 5 1/2 inch max loop roughly 5 - 5 1/2 inches off the ground ... under the right conditions your loop can be sized even smaller ... most have been questioning using such a small loop , well, I did too briefly until I learned that's what it took to target greys and get a unbelievable high percentage neck catches ... setting traditional 7-8 inch loops 6-8 inches off the ground when targeting greys just isn't where it's at ... I personally think a lot of that mentality comes from working with the common 7x7 3/32" tear drop fox snare ... heck, I've been there thinking like that myself ... but even when I used 7x7 3/32" I usually hung about a 6 inch loop for greys roughly 5-6 inches off the trail ... it was my catch all set up ... fox coon etc. (* even with the small 5 1/2 inch loop I'll pick up a hip caught grey or one that is caught behind the shoulders ... yeah, if loaded a lil heaver it might have made a difference but that isn't the point I'm stressing ... just try to wrap your brain around the fact a slinky lil grey can actually slip through such a small loop ... amazing how many go through large loops set for them ... a lot of them slip through unknown to the snareman!
I wish I had a greater ability to put thoughts into words but hope this might help those who were curious
Newt sells all the componets you need to build the same snares I build and use ... if you haven't given 1x19 1/16" cable a try ... maybe you oughta
... www.snareone.comHere are some pictures you might glean something from
some folks just do not like the absolute round loops that can be achieved with using the 1x19 cable ... me, don't bother me and hasn't bothered a good and plenty greys etc. ... the snare in the pic is very lightly load yet faster smoother than any 7x7 3/32 you've most likely ever used
some trail set ups ...
a few catch photos
Reds are taken in this same loop set up
I'd always suggest that you roll with what works for you ... not me ... we all develop our own styles and preferences ... take a lil of this and mix it up with a lil of that and develop your own style ... have fun