Snaring For Coyote

Snares are really a preference of the individual. What works best for your style, your locations etc. Many opinions exist on what is the best coyote snare and those opinions are wide ranging but our pick is the Micro Lock 60 inch and the Cam Lock 84 inch snare. So lets do a quick overview of different type snares and you can know a little more about each one. Most important is the snare size. Too small and they will simply chew through them or twist them until they break. Too large and they wont close fast enough. We use 3/32 diameter 7×7 cable. More on cable configurations in this article on how to make a snare.

The common configurations are 7×7 and 1×19 GAC. The 7×7 as we said is a more flexible cable, it does not form a loop that is rounded but more of a tear drop shape so it requires a bit of finesse to get it positioned right. The 1×19 cable is a stiffer cable that forms a better loop but in my opinion it does not close as fast. You will have to test them to see which is right for you. In addition to 3/32 there is the 5/54 cable that a lot of people use but again we prefer the 3/32 and it seems to be the more preferred among trappers.

The locks again are more about preference but we suggest the following two locks when snaring for coyote as we have had the best success with those. The first is the Micro Lock which is a relaxing lock. Relaxing meaning that when tension is applied the lock with grip tight but when the animal stops struggling it will back off slightly causing less fur damage. Micro locks are a very popular type lock due to this fact and the fact they close lightning fast. The next popular lock is the Toothed Cam Lock and this lock is a bit different. When this lock closes it will stay closed, the only way to release it is to press the arm down releasing the pressure of the teeth on the cable. This is a kill lock, anything caught in this around the neck will die. Take care to use these only in locations where domestic animals will not be caught.

When considering your snare you need to take into consideration your local wildlife regulations. Some states require the use of a deer stop. This is simply an aluminum stop placed on the cable that only allows the lock to slide down so far. The common deer stop is 2.5 to 3 inch loop stop. Even if not required, it is a good practice to use these as they help prevent accidental catch of deer in your snare. The deer stop will not make the snare close any slower and they only cost a small fraction more. A deer caught in your snares could bring a lot of scrutiny upon you by wildlife wardens.

So our suggestion is the 3/32 7×7 cable in an 84 inch length with spiral support collars. The spiral support collar is a great addition that allows the insertion of the support wire and it can be tightened and loosened to readjust whereas crimping on the support wire can make it difficult to readjust. All of our snares come with the #9 gauge swivel that allow the cable to twist without fraying and stressing it. Use swivel extension cables for an even better result.