as a 1 1/2-inch piece of a paper clip that allows the snare to easily release (Figure 2). The bottom of the loop should be about 2 inches above the bottom of the hole or coyotes and foxes may be caught by a front leg. With either of the above snare support systems, anchor the snares to the heavy-gauge wire on the bottom of the fence. The upper wires on a woven wire fence usually are too weak to secure a snare. Snares occasionally are placed in the field but left unset for one to two weeks. This placement allows trappers to quickly set snares when pelts become prime and reduces human scent at the site. Snares usually are set in the form of a round or oval loop. A round loop that is 12 inches in diameter can form an oval loop that is about 14 inches high and 10 inches wide. The following round loop diameters and heights above ground are recommended when snaring furbearers (Table 1). A 5/64- or 3/32-inch diameter galvanized aircraft cable is recommended for snaring coyotes, beaver, and raccoons. Foxes and bobcats can be captured in 1/16- to 3/32-inch-diameter snares. Table 1. A snare set in a hole under a livestock fence Furbearer Type of set Round loop diameter (inches) Height of bottom of loop above ground (inches) Coyote Trail 9-12 10-12 Coyote Under Fence 7-10 2 Coyote Leg Snare 8-11 4 Fox Trail 8-10 6-9 Fox Leg Snare 8-11 4 Bobcat Trail 8-10 6-8 Raccoon Trail 8-10 3-5 Beaver Den, underwater 8-11 Cover bottom of loop slightly Beaver Dryland Trail 8-11 2-4 Beaver Slide in water 8-11 Set bottom of loop 2 inches below water Where to Set SnaresAnimals usually follow the easiest route through heavy cover. These routes, which generally consist of trails, are excellent locations to snare furbearers. Specific locations to set snares for individual species follow. BeaverTrails to uplands--place in water or on land along the route. Trails over dams--set on top or bottom side of water. Narrow creek passages. Den entrances: Construct a 2- to 3-in...
