I'm looking at snares.

[Uncle Albert]

This is all about prepping. I want to start practicing now so when I need it I will be educated. I leave the house every morning at about 3:30 to go to work and the road I travel from semi-country to downtown Baton Rouge is full of critters. Armidillos, possom, raccoon, rabbits, turtles...I always wish the best for the turtles because they move so slowly. And I wonder, "why do they think they have to the other side of that road?"
Anyway, I'm asking all my new and "prep smart" friends out there, what snares do you suggest to capture these animals? Right now I don't want to harm them, I don't need them for food, I just want to practice. You can also give me ideas to end their journey quickly for later. I've been reading that you need to pick them up off the ground at least 5 feet so other predators don't steal them from you.
My second question is: does anyone have receipes for said unknowing features of the stew pot?

 

[Trapper]

If you want to get into snaring start looking at trapping supplies on the internet. Minnesota Trapping Supply is one of the bigger suppliers on the net. I use them for trapping supplies. There is a learning curve in snaring like anything else. You will need to learn to get a basic knowledge of animals you intend to target, game trails, traveling patterns, food & water sources to even become remotely successful. Dont go trying to build snares with inferior wires or even paracord. All you will do is make animals suffer and they will destroy your "play equipment". Get the right tools for the job and your success will be greater.
As far as recipes, do you hunt game now at all? From your post is seems that you dont. Not bashing, just trying to get a level of your experience. If you dont have much experience I suggest getting a small game license and begin hunting this fall. Not only will it sharpen you outdoor skills it will develop your shooting skills as well.

 

[Uncle Albert]

If you want to get into snaring start looking at trapping supplies on the internet. Minnesota Trapping Supply is one of the bigger suppliers on the net. I use them for trapping supplies. There is a learning curve in snaring like anything else. You will need to learn to get a basic knowledge of animals you intend to target, game trails, traveling patterns, food & water sources to even become remotely successful. Dont go trying to build snares with inferior wires or even paracord. All you will do is make animals suffer and they will destroy your "play equipment". Get the right tools for the job and your success will be greater.
As far as recipes, do you hunt game now at all? From your post is seems that you dont. Not bashing, just trying to get a level of your experience. If you dont have much experience I suggest getting a small game license and begin hunting this fall. Not only will it sharpen you outdoor skills it will develop your shooting skills as well.

Thank you for your help, I'll look into Minn Trap Supply. You're right I don't much hunting anymore. I started with squirrels when I was a kid and moved up to deer. Dressing them out...you don't ever get used to that smell do you? I hunted in Calif. but I'm sure things will be a bit different here in Louisiana. Once again thanks for your help.

 

[Trapper]

That is the smell of success! I really dont smell much of anything gutting deer or any other game for that matter. Maybe I do so much of it I dont notice it anymore.

 

[Uncle Albert]

That is the smell of success! I really dont smell much of anything gutting deer or any other game for that matter. Maybe I do so much of it I dont notice it anymore.

I need to know more about you. I apologize if I don't have the tech savy to research your bio. You must be out there doing it. Where are you? What is your job? I think that most of us would love to be doing what you are doing. If I could go back to my childhood from 8 to 18 that's where I'd go. I worked dairy, cattle, and did camping and hunting in between. I, like so many from my neck of the woods was forced to go to the city if I wanted to support a family. Being in this forum is so much fun.

 

[gimpdog]

I am also interested in learning to snare small game. Is it possible to snare game for practice, and then release them if i do not intend to eat them at that time?

 

[Trapper]

I am also interested in learning to snare small game. Is it possible to snare game for practice, and then release them if i do not intend to eat them at that time?

Most animals will fight a snare until its dead choking itself out. Check your local and state regulations to see if it is legal in your area. Many states dont allow it. Raccoons generally wont fight a snare, neither will beaver. They will wait like a tied dog until you get there.

 

[Trapper]

I need to know more about you. I apologize if I don't have the tech savy to research your bio. You must be out there doing it. Where are you? What is your job? I think that most of us would love to be doing what you are doing. If I could go back to my childhood from 8 to 18 that's where I'd go. I worked dairy, cattle, and did camping and hunting in between. I, like so many from my neck of the woods was forced to go to the city if I wanted to support a family. Being in this forum is so much fun.

My wife and I have been prepping since the 1990s. We are fortunate enough to live in the country. I hunt, trap, fish, camp, canoe, basic survival skills, reload (shotgun, rifle & pistol), garden, can, raise chickens. We butcher all our own game. We both grew up in families that did the same stuff so it comes natural doing what we do. My wife and I also have farm related backgrounds and that makes a big difference I think. If this is what you say is "doing it" then we are blessed to have this life.

I would like to be even more self reliant. Money, like for everyone, seems to be the biggest hurdle. If we could produce our own electricity we would be much further along. I wish I could also raise a few head of beef, thats a long term goal at this point.
I hope I dont come off sounding like a know it all, because I certainly dont. We learn new things all the time. That is the biggest reason I am here....to learn. If I can share a few nuggets of what I know along the way I am happy to do so.

 

[realisticdude]

@uncle albert , google -live animal traps , I use one for armadillos ... any local feed store will have them for $50.00.

 

[old_anorak]

I've never seen a catch and release snare. I think your best bet would be a live trap like realisticdude suggested. The animal is unharmed and won't be harmed by another animal. You can decide what to do with the animal from there and you won't hurt your cat if you catch it by mistake. Now if you catch a skunk... well I'm sorry.

 

[Uncle Albert]

I've never seen a catch and release snare. I think your best bet would be a live trap like realisticdude suggested. The animal is unharmed and won't be harmed by another animal. You can decide what to do with the animal from there and you won't hurt your cat if you catch it by mistake. Now if you catch a skunk... well I'm sorry.

One thing that I noticed when I first moved to the Baton Rouge are from Calif. is you hardly EVER see stray cats. And I wondered about this. Is it because of the predators out there, or are felines not desired by people in the south? I thought about it and came to the conclusion that if I snared someone's pet...that would not be good. So, you guys are all correct, I will have to go with traps. Being the frugal guy that I am, I was looking at the cheapest way I could catch a supper but there are so may variables aren't there? Thanks to all once again for your input.

 

[Trapper]

If a cat is out running in the wild it would not be considered someones pet. Most out running look ragged and shaggy. They will also not come toward a human. At this point they are considered a ferral cat an a nuisance. They kill alot of small game and song birds. Needless to say ferral cats become extinct rather quickly. If I saw a collar on one it would be the exception to the rule.

Something else to consider is getting large rat traps, like the board mouse traps. They can be baited and will take squirrels easily. Drill a hole in the corner and put some cord to tie them off so they dont disappear. A couple in a BOB take up little room or weight. Another trap to consider is a body grip trap. They are square and humanely kill instantly. 2 0r 3 in a 110 size would do the trick. They would take a variety of small game. A 160 or 220 work well for raccoons size animals. Again before setting these in practice be aware of your laws as some places they are outlawed. Also getting a dog in a 160 or 220 would be lethal to a pet.

 

[Uncle Albert]

All right! Someone who actually catches and consumes armadillos. Please tell me all about it. I have accidently run over a couple and it's like hitting a big rock. They are plentiful here, are they good eating, do they bite if you grab one, how do you cook 'em? I have just recently been told how to cook a turtle, another tasty critter I didn't encounter on the West Coast. I was told to boil them and the shell turns soft and you can pop it right open. But I wasn't given a receipe or eating instructions, I mean there are some parts on every animal that you don't want to eat.
I'm sure some of you folks know what mountain oysters are, my old time relatives promoted these things but I could not hang with it, knowing what they were. When I was growing up I ate scrambled eggs and brains, cow's tongue, tripe and who knows what else? In those days you wasted nothing. Want to know the truth, I really would like to see America return to that day where farms were family owned. I would like to see the collaspe of fastfood-garbage food, I'd like to see kids outside playing in the dirt...which reminds me that my old Irish Grandma used to tell me I had enough dirt in my ears to plant potatoes. I guess you get my drift. Thank you for letting rant.

 

[Uncle Albert]

If a cat is out running in the wild it would not be considered someones pet. Most out running look ragged and shaggy. They will also not come toward a human. At this point they are considered a ferral cat an a nuisance. They kill alot of small game and song birds. Needless to say ferral cats become extinct rather quickly. If I saw a collar on one it would be the exception to the rule.

Something else to consider is getting large rat traps, like the board mouse traps. They can be baited and will take squirrels easily. Drill a hole in the corner and put some cord to tie them off so they dont disappear. A couple in a BOB take up little room or weight. Another trap to consider is a body grip trap. They are square and humanely kill instantly. 2 0r 3 in a 110 size would do the trick. They would take a variety of small game. A 160 or 220 work well for raccoons size animals. Again before setting these in practice be aware of your laws as some places they are outlawed. Also getting a dog in a 160 or 220 would be lethal to a pet.

Thank you I appreciate this post. Everyone is really helping to educate me. I've always said that you should never stop learning. Last thought: It's funny how people look at raccoons, due of course to Disney etc. I used to raise chickens out in the Northern Calif. outback and I mean coons were my biggest problem. If you corner a coon who is sitting there munching down on one of your chickens he can get down right nasty and will even attack you.
Though I have killed a few, I have never tried to eat one. Any knowledge out there? I guess you skin them like a rabbit and I guess you can wear their hides like a hat but what else? Thanks for your input.

 

[Trapper]

Thank you I appreciate this post. Everyone is really helping to educate me. I've always said that you should never stop learning. Last thought: It's funny how people look at raccoons, due of course to Disney etc. I used to raise chickens out in the Northern Calif. outback and I mean coons were my biggest problem. If you corner a coon who is sitting there munching down on one of your chickens he can get down right nasty and will even attack you.
Though I have killed a few, I have never tried to eat one. Any knowledge out there? I guess you skin them like a rabbit and I guess you can wear their hides like a hat but what else? Thanks for your input.

My primary quarry when trapping is coons, fox & coyotes. Coons can be eaten. I have had coon stew and thought it was tasty. One old farmer friend has be bone out a few coons for him every year. He loves fried coon meat. He cubes it up and fries it up in a little oil, bacon grease I think as thats all I see him use. The biggest thing with coons are glands in the meat that need to be removed. They are in the arm pits and hind legs. They look like a navy bean. If you leave them in the meat will have a musk flavor.

The old farmer friend tells me of when he was young they trapped and hunted coons with dogs. As soon as the coons came home they were skinned. His mother would bone them and let the meat soak in salt water for a few hours. The meat was then ground into burger and used like any other meat.

The best way to skin them is to hang them upside down. Cut around each of the ankles. From the hind ankle on the inside of the leg cut down to the rear vent. Do the same on the other leg. Start pulling down toward the head. When the rear legs are down to the base of the tail, cut the bottom of the tail about 3 inches. Work your finger around the tail bone and seperate the hide. Take a plier and on the skinned part of the tail bone exposed put the wide part of the plier jaw there. Pull down and pull up on the tail bone and it will slide right out. Keep pulling until your to the nose. Be careful around the eyes. The back of the ears will look like lumps from the inside, cut at the base so the ears stay with the hide.
Bone out the meat. No need to gut. Funny thing about coons is the only thing that will eat the meat it seems is birds, raptors and crows. For some reason fox and coyotes will not eat them from what I have seen. There are alot of critters that can be eaten. Just need to take the time to learn. For the most part when I trap little goes to waste. Beaver and muskrat meat is good to eat but also makes great bait for other animals. Leave nothing to waste.

 

[old_anorak]

I like to slow roast a coon that has had most of the fat trimmed off and then cover the carcass with side pork or good bacon. Serve it with roasted root vegetables or shred and mix with bbq sauce for sandwiches. You can also parboil the meat and then cook it almost any way you like. It's a very rich, flavorful meat.

 

[Wiredog8]

One thing that I noticed when I first moved to the Baton Rouge are from Calif. is you hardly EVER see stray cats. And I wondered about this. Is it because of the predators out there, or are felines not desired by people in the south? I thought about it and came to the conclusion that if I snared someone's pet...that would not be good. So, you guys are all correct, I will have to go with traps. Being the frugal guy that I am, I was looking at the cheapest way I could catch a supper but there are so may variables aren't there? Thanks to all once again for your input.

two milk crates wired together with a home made pin trigger through a slide gate. My father in law used to make these for the stray cats around his house. I'll try to find a picture.

 

[realisticdude]

All right! Someone who actually catches and consumes armadillos. Please tell me all about it. I have accidently run over a couple and it's like hitting a big rock. They are plentiful here, are they good eating, do they bite if you grab one, how do you cook 'em? I have just recently been told how to cook a turtle, another tasty critter I didn't encounter on the West Coast. I was told to boil them and the shell turns soft and you can pop it right open. But I wasn't given a receipe or eating instructions, I mean there are some parts on every animal that you don't want to eat.
I'm sure some of you folks know what mountain oysters are, my old time relatives promoted these things but I could not hang with it, knowing what they were. When I was growing up I ate scrambled eggs and brains, cow's tongue, tripe and who knows what else? In those days you wasted nothing. Want to know the truth, I really would like to see America return to that day where farms were family owned. I would like to see the collaspe of fastfood-garbage food, I'd like to see kids outside playing in the dirt...which reminds me that my old Irish Grandma used to tell me I had enough dirt in my ears to plant potatoes. I guess you get my drift. Thank you for letting rant.

I don't eat armadillos dude , kill them to keep them away from the garden/ blue berry orchid.....now the occasional possum /coon /rabbit that happens into the trap .....Well ,buy a crock pot.............................Country folks always ate squirrel/ possum etc. during the week , cause they were poor.........always ate chicken on Sunday....Why ? ........................................They never knew if the Pastor would drop by after Sunday service for dinner, and that's Southern reality, ex - California dude.

 

[Wiredog8]

I grew up with a pet coon. We got her with eyes closed. Bottle fed her and she lived in the house. They are like a retarded 15 year old. Always getting in to EVERY thing. She was 16 years old and 65 pounds when she passed away in her sleep. They are a ton of fun and will keep you busy.
That said, I still miss running the coon dogs at night in the bayou in LA with my PawPaw.

 

[Wiredog8]

Only thing I've caught with a cable snare is a 15 pound bull skunk that was stealing my chickens.
Gave his skull to the high school for the science lab.