Good morning,

What is the smallest loop size and height I can go with and still catch coyotes? The farm I set cable restraints on is LOADED with deer and I don't want to catch one. I either have to set small loops or not set at all out of fear of catching deer. I'm thinking about setting a 8.5" loop 8" off the ground.

Go what's legal In WI. Smaller then 12" and lower then 12" won't get you any more coyotes.

Those 12" restrictions are costing us coyotes.

Why do you think you will not catch deer still?

Loop size isn't the problem. Biggest thing is to not set fences, your in WI so that's not an issue, and don't piddle around and stink up the snare site. Making a doe duck or get curious and start sniffing is how you get neck caught deer. So don't do those.

I wouldn't know what's legal in Wisconsin. First off, there should be BADs to release most deer. I have caught a number of coyote in bobcat snares with 8" loops 8" off ground. If the snare is in a narrow opening the coyote wants to push through you will catch him. If the same 8x8 loop is on an open trail expect it to be avoided.

I'm a little confused by the replies.

Beav-you say don't make them smaller?

late bite-I'm hoping the smaller loop lower to the ground will cause the deer to knock the cable over and not go in it? Is my thinking off on this?

SNIPERBBB-I try to stay scent free and will do my best to get in and out of the set.

Shoulder height on deer goes 21-47 inches. Most deer north of the Mason Dixon will be closer to 47 than 21. On a normal snare set, the top of the snare is going to be well under the deer's neck so your snares are going to be knocked down by deer if they come through. The lower you go, the better chance of getting a foot catch. But with properly crimped deer stops, the deer will just leave you with a now unusable snare as they usually get a bad kink from the deer.

We have to use relaxing locks and #350 pound BAD but I have #285 BAD on mine because the rule changed last year allowing the #350s. Any other tips would be great.

Knock on wood I have yet to neck snare a deer, we don't have a ton of deer. My experience with a snare set with a 12" loop and 12" off the ground results in either a knocked down snare or leg caught deer, which with a leg caught deer all but one opened the B.A.D and the one that I had to cut free was a yearling caught in a thicket. ND regs are 12" by 12".

Set the loop as High as you can legally. And make It as big as you can legally.

A deer Is going to knock It down no matter what. Loop size Is very important. The bigger the loop the less visible It Is. And It's easier to guide a coyotes head through a 12" loop then a 10" loop.

Here's what you need to do.
Your stabilizer needs to be as solid as you can get It. This stuffing wire In the ground Isn't going to cut It. Then you need a positive hook up between the whammy and your support wire. And you need to have that lock somewhere around 11:00 so It won't just fall when It's being pushed around.
With my system I can walk right through my loop and It will just swing back Into place . I have even been able to drive my f-150 through snares hung in my tire tracks and have them swing back Into place. Not all the time but most of the time.

I use 3/8" square stock. I drill 2 holes through the metal about 4" apart. I shove the support wire through the top hole bend the wire and shove It through the bottom hole. In most cases there will be a short tag end sticking through the bottom hole. Just bend that down and your support wire Is attached. I use a very stiff wire, but don't get something to stiff where It's brittle. Or that wire will snap off when your trying adjust It. You could heat It so It becomes softer. I have about 12" of wire to work with when I attach It to the whammy. I think my supports are about 18' long. And I only drive them into the ground about 3."

You could use those 3/8s fiber glass fence posts. But since they are round they have a tendency to spin In the ground and they don't dive as well as steel. And the steel supports just bend over when the coyote Is running In circles. And you can easily bend the back to where they are pretty straight.

A caught deer will be gone because of the BAD whether caught by the leg or the neck + with the 3" stop any leg caught deer would be gone.

I held one deer last year by the neck and It was stone dead. No catch circle just laying there dead. But that's the only deer that was still there out of many years of hanging Crs. The guys that came up with these dimension's had their heads somewhere where the sun don't shine when they developed these CRs.

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I agree with Beav. Depending on the terrain, if it is brushy thick areas I set my loop a little smaller then I would if the terrain is more open. A bigger loop is easier to blend in when it is more open country..

Here in MN we have to use a ten inch loop. If the setting allows it, I
Will lean a stick lacrosse and above the snare which fear will generally jump over. Now if I could keep me the out of my foot holds!

Fill the trail.


8” trail, make a 8” loop.

10” trail, make a 10” loop.


You get the drift.

If the coyotes are used to pushing down a 8” narrow trail, a small loop at the right height will get em.

BADs are great. But not fool proof. And any BAD that’s light enough to reliably release neck caught deer will release an unacceptable percentage of coyotes.

The ONLY way to reliably avoid deer with snares is to avoid trails frequented by deer. Period.

Make a habit of setting deer trails, and youre GOING to catch deer. That’s just a reality. Especially whitetails that walk around with their nose in the dirt a lot.

Unfortunately, this means passing up some great locations. But some dead coyotes aren’t worth jeapordizing the use of such a great tool.

I’d never recommend using a “jump” stick.

Usually turns into a “dive” stick for fawns and yearlings.

At 10 inches off the ground? I suppose it's possible, though haven't had it happen

Deer go under fences lower than that.

A 10” loop 10” off the ground is 20” high.

Even adults will try to crawl under that.

Most people would be amazed at what even adult deer will try to crawl under.

One reason I NEVER set in barbwire fences.

Thanks for the education. I had picked up that concept from a book on snarin g u bought when I first started.

Remember the original poster Is from WI and we can't set In entanglement.

Most------------------ deer will go under a snare set at 10" off the walking surface.
Deer NOT spooked------------- when traveling carry their head low to the ground.