I had asked this a couple hours ago in the ADC forum. Thought I would get a lot more eyes on the post in this forum:


In Oklahoma a snare has to have a stop to prevent it from closing to 10" circumference which comes out to 3.18" diameter. I know that a live catch coyote snare is 3.5" diameter..
So will 3.18" be enough to kill the coyotes on the snare or will I have a large amount of live animals to deal with?

New to snaring and ADC work.
Thanks for the info.
Ken Smith

I'd be surprised if you killed any with a 3" loop unless it's on a good slope or gets tangled just right.

They will die if you have a Lot of intaglement. Does the snares have to be intaglement free? If they get tangled up in a fence quick they will 85% of the time be dead. If out in the open they will be alive.

Yes all snares have to be free of intanglement .. what about adding a dispatch spring that should take a little bit over and inch out if the circumference bringing the diameter of the loop down pretty good.
The laws here are very vague on what a snare is, but never at all calls it a cable restraint.

I might just need to call the warden.

I don't think a kill spring will function correctly with a stop on the cable.

No,it's not going to kill a coyote.That's about the diameter of his neck.I imagine a kill spring not only wouldn't work but would be illegal.

I’ve been trapping off and on in Oklahoma since around 2011. I thought snares were illegal. Did they use to be? Can someone post a link to the OK snaring regs?

They are if your not a NWCO
Here is text from the link...
) The NWCO may use snares (snares set on or just above ground level shall be equipped with a locking device that prevents the loop from closing to a circumference less than 10 inches. Snares set above ground such as in an attic do not need the loop restriction).
The link
https://www.wildlifedepartment.com/laws_regs/nco2.htm

That's good to know. I spoke with the warden and they don't have any secret regulations on it at all and the only think in any regs on snares is that they have to have a stop at 10"
So I am still wondering if this regulation makes the 10" circumference which is 3.18 diameter a live hold cable restraint nor if a 3.18" diameter snare will kill a coyote?

The warden said I should be good to use springs. As long as my snare falls into the regs. So if I added a dispatch spring to the end of the 10 inch loop will that not kill the coyote?
If not why does this keep the the coyote alive rather than dispatching it?

Once the lock hits the stop it will not go any further...no matter if there is a spring there or not. It simply can't move.


I suspect you will end up with a lot of cases of waterhead under these circumstances. The loop you describe is just too large to dispatch most coyotes

Use the longest spring you can find, build the snare with a stop at 10'' then show it to your game warden and have him sign off before you set. It would be nice to have his OK on paper with his signature. Different wardens see the things differently.

As I see it and I see it quit clearly. If the spring makes the loop smaller the spring should compress before the lock hits the stop. Assuming you can use a non relaxing lock such as an Amberg It should work.

I ordered some with Amberg locks to try out and I also ordered some cams with teeth to make my own snares with different types of dispatch springs. I'll play with a variety of springs to determine what works best. I don't want any waterhead nor do I want to have any dogs get snare shy by getting out.

If you are using a breakaway s hook on your snares where you attach it to your lock I believe you are gonna have a bunch of dead coyotes if you use a senneker spring .Ive never had to use a deer stop on a snare but the spring where it is located will tighten the loop from other end and make it smaller than your legal size , correct ? I see no advantage to adding a spring if you dont want dead ones , as a matter of fact it will be a hinderance as it makes hiding the snare harder .

That's what I was thinking. And sorry for not being clear I do want dead yotes. I want all of them dead before I get to them. And I would prefer that they die fast. So that is what I have some springs, and some breakaways, and some fresh 5/64. Gonna make some up after I read a couple snare books and put them to the test.

Thanks all for the input

I consider you lucky to have a warden that sees it that way. I'd say that the majority of Wardens wouldn't, because if you can just take out the slack by adding springs, then what's the point of the Regulation? A person could stretch open a senneker or even use two killsprings and it'd be like a deer stop isn't even there.

Just don't see that flying very many places, no wonder why a "signature" is required. I do Commend your effort, and if they let you get away with it, then great. Not having a signature would likely result in citations for most imo


Glad I don't have to use deer stops here

Then Senneker kill springs and triggers are the answer . I have seen a coyote snare caught on video that acted much like a dog on a leash for a minute and a half , must not have really sunk into his brain that he was . When he realized that he was contained he made a leap to get away and trigger went off and he was dead within 60 seconds .