Snaring jackrabbits

L

Lance1

New member
I realize this is a shooting forum but I'm hoping someone can help. Plus I don't have a night scope.

The jackrabbits keep getting out of my spring snares. What is wrong with my rig?
This 0.035" SS cable and the end is SS electrical terminal.
 

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The cable is fairly springy and wants to retain it's straightness. It is also pretty slick and the connecter has that big ol' hole in it that lets yur bunny slip out just as soon as it manages a little slack.

Maybe try copper or soft steel wire (like bailing wire) and a loop with a smaller hole.
 
Never tried snaring a jack rabbit but on cottontails, I use "picture hanging wire" It will not try to return to it's original shape and will stay whereever you put it. Now, I know that jacks are bigger and stronger than cottontials but they do make different weights of wire and my snares have taked big possum and some coon. I also do not use wire terminals and just twist and tie a good strong loop. This loop will tighten when pulled and stay. With this wire, the tighter you pull, the tighter it gets. Hope this helps !! :)




Be Safe !!!
 
Everyone is pretty much on target here, the loop is too big and the cable is too springy. Having snared rabbits in the past, I can tell you that you either need very fine single-strand stainless steel safety wire, mild steel wire, or fine copper wire with a tight loop, preferably with several loops around the main wire. The idea is that once the animal is snared, they will pull it tighter and it will not loosen if they let up on it.

And be careful, because snaring rabbits can be very surprising, especially if you walk up to your snare early one morning and there is a skunk caught in it. They really don't like that sort of thing and have a poor sense of humor.

And, like skunks, most game wardens take a dim view of it also. Like skunks, they are usually very happy to point out the errors of your ways.
 
OK......I have to ask the obvious (to me).....

If your snares are empty, how do you know the jackrabbits got loose, or were never snared in the first place?:confused:
 
G'day Lance1. This thread brings back memories, I used to catch lots of rabbits this way. I used a single strand of copper wire and twisted a loop in one end. I have seen rabbits get out of my snare, but I have also had lots of success with them. I have even caught feral cats. Cattle dogs (working farm dogs) would get their snout caught, but they would get out easily.
Try to create some friction on your wire so the loop does not slide out so easily. Maybe lay the SS wire on some sticky tape length ways then wrap tape around the wire. Cut off any excess tape and try that.
Another idea is to open up the strands enough to feed the other end through.This might give enough friction to prevent it slipping loose.
Good luck.
 
I'm using picture hanging wire, the thinnest I found at Home Depot.

Can someone post a picture of this loop I should be using instead of the thermal? Or describe it real well so I dummy can understand.

I know they are jackrabbits because cottontails are so easy to catch. One snare I used twine and was chewed thought. I never had a cottontail crew thought, they sit all night waiting for me in the morning. And the noose on the cable snare was drawn tight, only a foot size loop.
 
Gees, never had to think about this before and did review the haywire. I make a small knot loop and just do the barrel wrap, five or six times, then slip the end back through the loop. At least this is what I'm getting away with. Did not mention this before but the loop should close tight once there is tension and sinches it in on the main line. Kind of like a hangman's knoos. Have to repeat to keep the knot loop small and make sure it slips well on your set. I'm not sure If I'd go with the lightest line. I guess we use the most common size. The critters do struggle some but not for long as the knoos and their struggle, strangles them. Gees, I hope the wife doesn't read this as she likes rabbits. :eek:
Heck, practice and you'll work it out. We also set spring traps, with small saplings and that gets them and hangs them in the air. That is unless you get one in front of the hind legs. Then they bounce around some and will eventually break your line.

Be safe !!!
 
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I'd just use a bent washer snare, as long as your state allows the use of snares.

They're easy to make, and effective.

Do a search, or go look at trapperman.com. Seems like I saw some instructions there once, although I already knew about them.

Daryl
 
I appreciate all the help.

The bent washer snare sounds interesting. I have only found close up shots, does it loop like the attached picture?

I got a jackrabbit at dusk today!! I had to use a shotgun though. (too much fencing for a rifle)
 

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Lance,

Yep, that's pretty much it. You can make a solid loop on the other end of the cable to use in securing the snare to a fence post, etc. Just feed the snare through the fixed loop in the end to form a "lasso" to slip around a post, tree, or whatever.

When you drill the slide-hole in the washer, use a drill bit that's just slightly larger than the cable (I.E. 1/16th inch cable, and a 3/32 inch drill bit).

The critters don't slip out.

Oh, and you can put one of those "barrels" shown in the picture of the snare in a position to keep the loop from getting small enough to catch a deer's leg, dog's leg, etc. Since it won't get small enough to lock on the leg, the leg slips out. You prevent catching larger animals by using that, and setting the snares at rabbit level, rather than high enough to catch the head of the larger critters.

Snares can be made and set to target very specific animals; you just need to be sure to use certain precautions to keep from catching something that can get you into trouble.

Oh, and congrat's on catching the jackrabbit.

:)

Daryl
 
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