I had some cable ferrules left over after running my electric fence around my front yard garden. This ought to keep the suburb deer at bay. The cable ferrules were used to splice onto my hot wire in the back yard (keeps my dogs from digging out). I had some picture wire hanging on some peg board in my shop. Bingo! I’ll make some more snares for my BOB.
Bill of Material
Picture wire – Braided wire that can be bent and twisted to form and hold the diameter needed for your trap set. (Free – Hanging in my shop)
Cable ferrules – There’s several sizes so choose the one that will fit your wire. (Under $1.00)
I bought the ferrules from Tractor Supply. The package held about 20 ferrules. You can find them in most hardware stores.
Tools
Wire pliers or leatherman multi-tool.
Tools, material, and ‘Smokey Joe’
I’ve got a few cable snares in my bag already, but thought I might need more. Trapping animals is a passive activity in a survival situation which allows you more time for other important elements of surviving (water, fire, shelter, etc.). Increase you chances of eating by having more sets. So I’m adding some of the new ones to my bag and a few in my wife’s BOB.
Step A: Cut the cable. I just measure from my chin to the end of my finger on my outstretched arm. That’s about 3 feet. Since I was at my shop, I cut the cable with a pair of wire strippers.
Ferrule threaded over end of cable
Step B: Pull enough cable through the ferrule to make a loop about 1/2 inches in diameter. Insert the loose end of the cable back into the other side of the ferrule until a small amount (1/8 inch) of cable is showing out the bottom of the ferrule.
Loop cable back through ferrule
Step C: Use you wire cutters or leatherman tool to crimp the ferrule onto both wires. The ferrules are soft metal so don’t cut through them when crimping. I used the wire cutting part of the tool for the first crimps. Be sure to crimp both sides of the ferrule with the cutting edge. Then, squeeze the ferrule with the flat part of the pliers.
Crimping with the sharp edge of pliers
Squeeze with the flat part next
Step D: Now, feed the loose end of the cable through your newly formed loop making a noose. Repeat the whole process on the loose cable end with another ferrule and your pliers. This second loop you created will be used to anchor the snare with cordage or paracord on the game trail. Placement of the snare will determine how much cordage you’ll need to secure the snare.
The completed snare
Step E: I use an empty Altoids tin that holds 5 snares with room for more survival items. The snares aren’t stainless steel so they’ll rust over time with use. But for the price, they’re hard to beat.
Altoids tin for storing snares.
Now for a little test on my new snares. I’ll update you on the prey I catch. But for now, this will have to do.
Works great on gnomes!
Survival Sherpa 