Coyote Snaring

[trappnman]

Just watched Clint Locklears snaring video. Enjoyed it, but am wondering if there are any snaring videos that concentrate on snow snaring?

And also am wondering if any MN trappers are having much success using a true 10" loop 6" off the ground. I personally find it very limited and very unsuccessful on yotes.

Coon and even fox, aren't much of a problem. Getting that down pretty good. but yotes....

I know up or down, a smaller loop works better, and at crawl unders (a very rare setup here if any at all).

but on a flat- a loop that has its top at the bottom of my kneecap 16"- puts that loop right at eye level.

not good.

Am I ever going to catch enough coyotes with that setup to worry about? or should I say screw it and just snare coon, with footholds in between?

Thoughts?

[thorsmightyhammer]

Steve I should be careful what I say but the hell with it.

You opened up this can of worms for yourself.

I mean if you can only have an eight inch loop eight inches off the ground I'd lay an even grand there isnt a legal snareman in the state.

Who carries a tape?

You know what I am getting at.

Its time to get the law changed because we know that everybody is breaking it wether intentional or not.

You call your director I'll call mine lets get it rolling. We'll both call Erb.

[trappnman]

steven- I am being a legal beagle on this- I don't want to make headlines and be accused of ruining snaring in the farmland zone.

But you have indeed answered my question.

Would you say thats the norm?

funny you should mention John. Was thinking of calling him and crying a little....

[thorsmightyhammer]

Per your original question.

Am I ever going to catch enough coyotes with that setup to worry about?

Probably not.

Have you tried an eight inch loop eight inches off the ground? Could be better than ten 6 inches off.

In my limited coyote snaring I have caught several yotes in an eight inch loop in heavy cover. I've never specifically targeted yotes.

[k9]

As you already know I am sure, smaller cable for coyotes offers less visibility. Are you restricted to 10" loops in Mn? Bigger loops are always better, We are restrivted here to 8 inch loops unless close to a waterway. With 8 inch ones on trail snaring you are just flat out going to have refusals, but you will still catch some coyotes. I am assuming you have tried white snares for snow snaring? If you have a good snow that stays on the ground, a white painted snare, or even a baking sodaed snare is superior to a dyed one.

Most Iowa snaremen are fence snaremen. So when Iowa decided on the mandatory loop sizes, the input they got was 8 inches was a plenty. Coyote can get his head in there, so it must work. Big difference between what a coyote CAN get his head into as opposed to what a coyote WILL put his head into.

I have probably already posted this on here, but as you may know I have a theory that a coyote going under a fence, or through heavy brush, is mentally prepared to be crowded. He has commited to the fact that he is going to squeeze through something. So smaller loops are far more effective there.

A coyote in open trail snaring situations has a different mental state. He is booking along, and is likely to avoid being crowded. He is not committed to that, and has the ability to go around quite easily.

Slim changed my mind about open snaring. If you have say, a cow trail in an open pasture, and you want to snare that trail, a lower snare will catch more coyotes. If you observe a coyote running or walking in an open feild, he is normally travelling with his head down, often nose to the ground. Do some experimenting and set a couple in those spots down low, almost to the ground, and see how you do.

When that coyote enters, say some higher grass such as CRP, his head comes up and he travels with it held higher.

Note I am talking coyotes that are travelling normally, and not fleeing from you. It is hard to judge how a coyote normally travles by wathcing one that you have kicked up and is running from you.

[trappnman]

been trying both, and like the "looks" of the 10 and 6- but right now have them out in several combinations.

[Iowa Badger]

I use a legal loop(8 or 11 horizontal inches depending on distance from water)STUPID reg, around 12-14" off the ground.

[thorsmightyhammer]

Would you say thats the norm?


You put in faster than I could edit my other.

Sure.

I mean I like to use and 8 inch loop 8 inches off the ground. Not that I was giving thought to the law per se.

But I dont know if I am using a 9 inch one 9 inches off the ground

Or a 7 inche one 10 inches off the ground

Or... you get my drift.

I dont carry a tape and neither does anyone else.

[17HMR]

I couldnt make that work here, only in very, very few locations, they give you a tool and cut the handle off. You may have to go to foot snareing.

[thorsmightyhammer]

Steve other state that have maximum laws like Iowa do think they are carrying a tape?

You know what I am getting at.

These laws are ambiguos at best.

Good post K9

What was the original intent of the law to protect.

Surely not dogs.

Deer? I spose in the early seventies but is it relevant today?

[k9]

Some years ago I tried to get Iowa Law changed. This 8 inch loop thing is ridiculous, but started back in the fur boom when every body was going nuts and deer were being snared.

Fact- A properly set trail snare for coyotes (12 to 14 inch loop where legal) is going to hit most deer in the feet and chest. Foot catches are the concern, unless a small yearling deer. Break aways or deer stops negate that concern.

Fact- The only place an 8 inch loop can save some deer, is at the dry washes under fences. In those locations the smaller loop still catches coyotes anyway. Yearling deer are still going to get caught and die.

Fact-Though I do not try to catch deer, there are too many of them anyway, and I would lose no sleep over one.

Fact-DNR does not want ANY deer to die that they did not sell a license for.

[ChrisM]

Steve, what are the restrictions you have to work under? Max. 10" loop with the bottom of loop 6" off ground?

[cowman]

chrism, I think he has a 16" max. snare height overall.

[coonhangman1]

k9 said:

Fact-DNR does not want ANY deer to die that they did not sell a license for.

No truer words have been spoken!

[Steve Gappa]

Steve, what are the restrictions you have to work under? Max. 10" loop with the bottom of loop 6" off ground?

thats pretty much the exact wording- maximum of 10" loop,. maximum distance of top of loop 16" off the ground.

so one oculd have a 4" loop 12" off the ground.

[JWarren]

trappnman said:

Am I ever going to catch enough coyotes with that setup to worry about?

I doubt it. You would have to find a way to get them walking with their heads down. With 20$ coon if I were you I would set for coon neck catch and/or either set for coyote or forget about coyote. A 10 incher 6" high is going to be a body catching sob on everything else and probably still not get coyotes.

[bobwendt]

jwarren nailed it. your loops should be 12-16" and 14-16" off the ground at the bottom, at least for the big eastern woofers. sounds like your state likes coyotes and really doesn`t want any snared.

[trappnman]

Its really is dumb Bob- I was the one that started this last snaring drive, and my only reasoning for it was coyotes.

Fooish me- I assumed that those making the laws actually understood what a coyote looked like- but alas, not so.....

I hate to be illegal- but it sounds like thats what everyone else snaring does.

[bobwendt]

would work good for ONE family group I caught here in indiana a couple years back. must have been 1st generation crosses with bassets as their legs were all about 1/2 length. looked like aahnold possumeggers.

[Wiley]

I caught a number of coyotes this year in coyote/cat combination snares with 6" loops (across) about 8" of the ground (to the bottom of the loop) with a little creative "V" fencing up from the ground.

I would venture to guess that the reason for your loop restrictions would be due to timbers in Northern Minnesota.

Rally Hess would be the one to ask.


~SH~