Which do you prefer to catch critters in and why? (let's assume that you are equally likely to be successful with either set and they took equal time to set up).

why one over the other? send some pictures of locations and i will pick one or the other for that spot.

Can’t use snares here and wouldn’t know how if I could. Footholds for me...because I know how to use them, lol.

Snares for cats and canines,or beaver under ice in certain situations.
And for rabbits for meat for the pot.

X2

Not looking for help. Thanks though! Just curious why you choose what you choose. Would you rather be hanging snares or bedding traps? Why?

Looking for more answers like Wanna Be's : "Footholds for me...because I know how to use them"



Why?

I do both I can snare the heck out of just about anything but when it comes to actual trapping, well I have my moments And those moments are the most satisfying to me The weather, freeze, thaw, not enough snow, to much snow makes it pretty hard to keep steel from working.

You mention everything being equal. In that case, cable, b/c it's light and cheap. But things in the field aren't always equal and relying only on cable would be limiting ones chances.

Footholds for me, but just because I know how to use them. Use a few snares at fences, but I need to learn how to make better use of cable in other spots!

Both, weather dictates when where and why mostly. But i would say i use both equally most years.

Would rather hang cable but unfortunately I can only do so from January 1st to end of season and only on private land which I don't have a lot of to set. I could probably get permission but then if I don't get there to set I feel I took someone else chance away. I know guys who get permission as many places as possible then never step foot on the property. It is their way of doing things, not mine. Therefore I use traps mostly.

Footholds for me. I've never set a snare (cable restraint in Michigan) in my life. I know I'm limiting myself, but I just have no desire to use cable. Plus, I just like making sets with footholds.

I like snares for canines and cats cause they are fast and effective,require hardly any mtc,and after you have a few dozen opened up,there is no wasted time re-setting-just go pick up the fur.
In the fall when getting ready I replace snares that took animals the year before,at the same time re-inforcing the others and fixing up the jackpots.
Once everything is set up in the fall,thats it-just go and pick up the fur during the season.

Both, I set a foothold or two and then try to find 1-3 spots that the critter will come into or out of that foothold trap and set snares in those spots. Gives me more chances...
Griz

Why limit yourself?

Use the best, most efficient tool and tactic given the location and conditions.

Foot holds for me. Easier to check from a distance, can see a coyote bouncing around better from a distance. I only have so much time before work to check so I do most of it from the road.

x2

Try a combination of both. The best 2 coyote trappers I know personally use both and either one of them kill coyotes like a daggum plague

I have been learning to use snares more and am more excited when I catch a critter in a snare than a foothold because I am just not as confident in my snaring. Positives to snaring for me is less maintenance, animal is already dispatched and cooled which means it has lost at least some of the hitchhikers. Downside is it is susceptible to damage from other critters and it always seems messier working on something that had been snared. I enjoy the art of setting footholds, but see the benefit of being proficient with a snare.

I run footholds at the start of the season before things freeze up. We have a 24 hour check here for footholds so that be annoying too. I switch to snares end of November. I throw the odd foothold out if a cat is eating my bait and won’t stick his head in a snare. Snares are pretty maintenance free and don’t have to check every day