Snaring pigs

I have been running snares for a bit for pigs. Have had success, but recently been having boars go through and work snare off. Not sure how, snares looked to be winched down and cable bent, even sure lock bent. Was wondering if anyone has ran kill springs or even power snares for them. Was thinking of getting wolf power snares to try out. What are y’all’s thoughts. Been using 1/8 cable 7/7 sows have been easy board have had some close calls with cable fraying. Hopefully Newt will chime in.

The biggest improvement to hog snares that I made when using them was adding a swivel behind the loop. I was experiencing cable failures from large hogs breaking it. Swivels solved that for me.


Secondly, changing from 7x7 to 1x19 made a better hog snare in my opinion. 3/32” for standard snares, 7/64” for heavier duty snares. Those sizes with a swivel can handle serious hogs.

Finally, anchoring high as you can to trees that have some flex can really help a lot. Ideal trees are a luxury not afforded to people setting in wide open spaces.


This is all using loaded snares. I have no use for non loaded snares.

I think the wolf power snares would work very, very well. I just don’t think I’ll be using them, at least not in significant numbers, because they cost too much. If I were to invest the sort of money in the number of Rams needed for hog control, I’d feel thermal scopes and/or wireless cameras with remote control traps would be a better investment.


My opinion

I second the anchoring up high. Like 5 or 6 foot high. When pigs get to the end of the cable, they don’t get a good yank. Here shortly, when it heats up a bit more, you won’t need a spring to kill them. They’re usually DRT when you arrive. If you want them alive you need to get there early.

Aix is on the money.
He did go to our SOUTH JERSEY SNARING and TRAPPING SCHOOL.Good student.He takes what we tought him and expans on it. Thinking out of the box.

Sometimes I add a 2"x8" 500# shock spring to my hog snares.
3/32" Slim Locks on 3/32" 1x19 cable and 1/8" Slim locks on 7/64" 1x19 cable. Thats Korean cable of course.
Also 5/16" 1250# (working load swivel) . Two swivels are a good idea12/0 saltwater swivels are asking for trubble if you hook up to a 300# plus hog.200# hogs the 12/0 will work fine.
7x7 is not snare cable in "NEWT'S World"

Thanks for the replies guys will have to buy some new cable and swivels. Also thanks Newt, will have to get on your website and order some of your pig snare’s. The last boar I had anchored to a tree limb about 5” around took it right off. But a 12’ tree limb made one (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) of a drag.
Again thanks

If you’re ordering from newt, you may want to consider getting some 1/8” Kieper locks. They’re reusable and they make great hog snares. I use 1/8” kiepers on 3/32”, 7/64” and 1/8” cable.


Sure locks are excellent too. Work very well and cheap, but they’re a one time use. I held several hogs by the snout using sure locks. I prefer upsizing sure locks. 1/8” locks on 3/32” cable. In my world, there are only a few ways the tag end of a snare cable can be bent for sure locks to slide easily on a loaded cable. That’s something that’s easy to show but difficult to describe.

My preferred locks for 3/32” on up to 1/8” cable:


1/8” Kiepers
1/8” tooth cam locks
1/8” sure locks

Slim locks in appropriate size.

Also, I will not use extension cables that are smaller than 1/8”. Hogs are animals I learned not to underestimate strength on. 1/8” makes better extensions, without doubt.

I use Wolf Master Rams on 10' extensions. Puts em down in a hurry.

x2 but if no good tree limbs for them to fight I have good look looping in a garage door type spring. They can fight the spring instead of my gear and then they are still waiting for me when I come by.

Leftlane do you have a pic of your set up.

This is one of my Springs, it will expand to nearly 2 ft but it takes over 100#s of pull to do it. The best test I gave it was snout snaring a boar north of 400#s with an 8ft extension meaning he had 14 ft of run & it snapped his neck.

I prefer camlocks for hogs. I tried ordering snares advertised as wolf snares and the locks snapped in two.
Whatever you use, you need a fast closing snare. I have seen videos of hogs shrugging improperly loaded snares off with a little shake of the head.
They are not clumsy creatures bulling their way through thick vegetation.

Carl, as well as properly loading and using good gear Bigshane got me to rethinkin where I hang snares and it helped up my catches. He said John Graham showed him that instead of worrying about loop size and putting a snare where animals are confined just hang the bottom the right distance and put them on wide open trails where the animal should be moving at a good clip. If they are, they are much more likely to be fully looked up b4 they realize it and could back out of shake it off.

I saw a video of Locklear hanging with some good snare hands after hogs and he spent quite a little time stating he had not thought of it but once these other guys got him to snaring wide open trails he caught a lot more pigs. I know his name can cause a little stir on here but to me he must have a scientific mind and I like the way he explains the mechanics of his sets and gear