Building Loaded Snares

[~ADC~]

First cut your cable to the desired length. Next, attach a stop to one end. (I pound on aluminum stops but nuts work too) Then, roll the cable between your fingers to see which way it naturally wants to curve. This is called finding the "memory" of the cable...



Then using a pair of small needle nosed pliers bend a small loop exactly back wards of the natural curl. (if the cable wants to bend down you bend the little end back up)...





Now, using a piece of smooth rod, run the first several inches of the cable over it to, in effect, curl the cable like curling a ribbon. This curl should be with the natural memory of the cable not against it like small curl at the end. This is the "loading" of the cable....





Next put on your lock. I'm using a Reichart Slammer Lock here. (180* reverse bend lock) These are one of the locks that are recommended for live snaring and on cable restraints (great for coon and beaver)....



Next add your support collar (whammy), swivel, swivel washer and end stop...



To be Iowa legal I add the nut to create a "deer stop" which pervents the loop closing smaller than 2 1/2" in diameter. (this is to allow leg caught deer to step out of the loop) You then have a completed loaded snare....



Here's short video on building my live catch snares...



~ADC~