Tips on Properly Preparing Your Snares

In order to be the most successful for trapping, snares need to be properly prepared prior to use. Snares that are free from oil and as scent-free as possible have the best chance of success, and there are several steps you can take to ensure they are properly prepared prior to use.

Boiling Snares

According to the National Ag Safety Database (NASD), new commercial snares and extension cables ought to ‘...be cleaned by boiling in detergent and hanging outdoors for a few months until they turn a dull gray. Snares can also be changed to a dull gray by building each dozen snares in four tablespoons of baking soda for one hour.”

If you require darker snares, you can achieve this by “...boiling in brown logwood crystals and dye,” according to the NASD. Some snare enthusiasts suggest using old tea bags as a way to darken snares.

Why darken the snares?

Snares that are darker in color blend better with natural vegetation, which helps to better conceal them when set. Once you have boiled your snares, it’s important to keep them free from any foreign odors as these can deter your targets from entering the snare.

Boiling your snares is an important step because it helps “weather” them. While the natural weathering process can take a significant amount of time, boiling dulls shine quickly and effectively.

Proper Handling

After boiling your snares, it’s important to wear clean gloves when handling and setting your snares. There is some debate as to what type of gloves are best for handling snares, however, a safe bet is a pair of cotton washable gloves. Take precautions to wash your gloves in scent-free or dye-free detergent, so you don’t impart an artificial scent to the gloves that can be transferred to the snare.

Always handle your snares with clean, scent-free gloves.

At The Snare Shop, we offer an impressive selection of snares and accessories to help you achieve the greatest success. If you’re looking for more information, reach out to us or take a look around the site to learn more about our various snares and their intended uses.