Guitar string snares?

[mcantar18c]

I was restringing my guitar and it occurred to me that with the little bead on the end they might make good material for snares.
Anybody ever tried this?

For those that don't know, you string it up through holes at the bottom of the guitar and tie/tension them at the head. The bottom of the strings have beads on them to keep them from going completely through the holes that look like this:
http://www.frets.com/FRETSpages/general/glossary/BallEnd/BallViews/ballend.jpg

[Irving]

If you have a camera, you should make a video of you making some. It's a good idea. Very compact and light to carry/store.

[mcantar18c]

I'll try it out on a rabbit or something and let yall know how it works... there's a perfect bottleneck in the brush by my house.
It it works well, it'd be great cause you can buy packs of strings for pretty cheap and its basically pre-made for you.

[theskalickys]

I have tried this out before.. you just have to watch which size strings you get. With electric strings they have the super light packs, which the smallest gauge ones a large rabbit I would assume could snap..
As with tying snares its all about where you put it and making sure it is stable.

[mcantar18c]

I figure the D string would probably work best for rabbits

[Irving]

No, I meant making of video of how to make a snare. I don't know how.

It's been a while since I've strung a guitar, but I don't see a rabbit breaking through any of the steal strings. Nylon, sure.

[mcantar18c]

How to make the snare or how to set the trap?
The rabbits around here are pretty big... I could see them snapping an e or possibly a B string.

[Irving]

Both. Zero outdoors experience.

Seems like both would be easy enough though, especially with that loop already being built into the string.

[mcantar18c]

A snare is basically a slipknot. The goal is for the animal to walk through the loop, and as they walk through it it tightens around them (usually their neck, sometimes their abdomen depending on the animal, sometimes the feet depending on the trap), and then by struggling to get out of it they make it even tighter.
For a basic snare trap, simply anchor the other end of the snare wire to something strong enough to hold a struggling target animal and suspend the loop where you want it. Height, size of the loop, and placement all depend on the target animal.
In this case (when I test the guitar string in the next couple days), the target animal is rabbit and so I want the loop to be about 6" in diameter, the bottom of the loop about one hand's length from the ground, and the sides to be a fist's distance from any obstructions (like bushes). Because this is a bottleneck with thick brush and a sapling around it, I can anchor the snare to the sapling and hang it in the opening between the brush, suspended by some twigs or something.

I have a PDF about traps in my big file directory of everything survival-related if you want it... covers everything from basic snares, to deadfalls, to fish traps.

[theskalickys]

For a basic snare trap, simply anchor the other end of the snare wire to something strong enough to hold a struggling target animal

This is where most people fail.. I did when I learned at age 12. When any animal is trapped most will try its hardest to get out. Especially a rabbit (in Wisconsin) that is big, when you get it around the neck will charge as fast as it can. My first one was not tied strong enough to the branch I had it on.. Luckily my dad killed it before it ran back in the woods with the snare attached.
I have had friends trap them and they dont move at all, but back at my parents they all fight for their life, and usually break there own necks if that is what gets caught..
I really want to eat some rabbit now.. must wait until thanksgiving..

[Irving]

I DO want it. Can I PM you my email address?

Also, how will the snare with a guitar string stay tight?

[mcantar18c]

Yup, people underestimate the strength of a struggling animal, even squirrels. The anchoring point is the most important part of the trap... if your snare breaks from the anchor, your out a meal and your snare wire.
Biggest tip I have there is to not tie it down in a way that'll kink the wire.
This is another reason I like spring snares... usually breaks the animal's neck. Just have to make sure your wire and anchoring point are strong enough.

Rabbit does sound pretty good. Kinda hesitant to eat the ones around here though, being a suburban area I have no idea what they eat.

[mcantar18c]

I DO want it. Can I PM you my email address?

Also, how will the snare with a guitar string stay tight?

PM me your email and I'll send it to ya.
One of these days I need to compress the folder with all the good stuff in it and upload it to a file hosting site or something.

I'm pretty sure that the coiled wire on the E through D strings will keep it from slipping back easily, and even so the weight of the animal should keep it tight.

[Outlaw1]

The rabbits around here get worms under their hide during the summer months. I'm not sure if they get them up where y'all are. Even with the horrible drought, this year has been great for the rabbit population. My brother's 150 acres is overflowing with rabbits and I've really been wanting to put a few in a stew.

As far as the guitar string snares, I would snip that end off and just make a loop. If the barrel rolls a little bit it kinda hangs up on the wire. A regular loop in the end of the wire would be your best bet.

On another hunting note, Tuesday night we have a cold front blowing through and that just happens to be my favorite time to hunt hogs. The dove have also started moving down in droves. From the looks of it I'm going to spend at least a few days/nights hunting down there this week. It's also archery season for deer, so I might take my bow along and kill one of them as well. While I'm there I'll put out a few snares and see what I can come up with.

[Wulf202]

snaring and trapping are illegal in this state unless your in a survival situation. stop posting about using them illegally

[Outlaw1]

snaring and trapping are illegal in this state unless your in a survival situation. stop posting about using them illegally


wildlife.state.co.us/SiteCollectionDocuments/DOW/RulesRegs/Regulations/Ch03.pdf

[ChunkyMonkey]

OU5_9jSbMC0

[mcantar18c]

snaring and trapping are illegal in this state unless your in a survival situation. stop posting about using them illegally

Consider every post by myself and others in this thread, both prior to and after this posting, to be purely hypothetical.
Does that satisfy your PCness?

[alexc]

Da'darrio's ? Reminds me, I need to restring my PRS tonight

[cofi]

I have a PDF about traps in my big file directory of everything survival-related if you want it... covers everything from basic snares, to deadfalls, to fish traps.


i want that big survival directory!!

[mcantar18c]

PM me your email.

[Outlaw1]

PM me your email.

Put me on the list too. :D

[jackthewall81]

i want that big survival directory!!

[mcantar18c]

Ok, after dinner I'll post up a thread with a glossary of what all is in the files, then I'll figure out a way to compress the folder, and those who want it can PM me their email. Outlaw, I do still have your email in my PMs.
Gimme an hour or two.

Anyway... didn't get around to trying this out today. Probably will happen tomorrow.

[Beprepared]

The rabbits around here get worms under their hide during the summer months. I'm not sure if they get them up where y'all are. Even with the horrible drought, this year has been great for the rabbit population. My brother's 150 acres is overflowing with rabbits and I've really been wanting to put a few in a stew.

My Dad always reminds me to only harvest rabbits in months that have "r" in the end.

[mcantar18c]

http://www.co-ar15.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48197

[Kmanbay]

Guitar strings are great if that is what you have, but maybe try steel leaders from a fishing shop.
They sell 50 or 100 foot packs for less than $10. Most of it is rated 100 lbs, but it is way stronger than that.

[Badger]

Guitar strings work great for snares, and for what its worth, the D string also makes a very good garrote.







Badger

[hobowh]

Has anyone tried aircraft cable? I have son 1/16" with a 480 pound break strength and a swager with swages and stops, might put one together later today any ideas on the best length?