Snares vs Body grips

Which do you use and why?

I use both. I prefer both over footholds. For h20 trapping.

A lot of my spots don't have enough h20 depth for a snare to work for a 4 day check, so I use BG's more.

I use both. All the 330's get set totally submerged for several reasons, 1- i get a 72 hour check like that,2- keeps the non targets out, like coon,3- people generally don' walk in beaver channels.
The bad thing about them in the warm weather is the turtles and the otter. You can put an extra trigger on and push them both to the side, this will save this will save alot of water wolves, can't keep the snappers out of them though.

Snare's are my number one damage control beaver tool. I can set them in dry land trails or in the water. Beaver usually don't mind seeing them and one bucket will hold enough traps and wire to set dozens of locations. bad thing is you will have live critters waiting on you in the morning, something to think about

Having said all of that I use footholds when I really need to get that spooky one.

Not if ya run a short snare and run it down a drowning rod Kenton!...didn't I teach you that at my seminar?.........hmmm.

S87, they both have places on everyone's line...since situations change from location to location.
I like snares hung on standing timber, leaning pole sets, and floating logs. They are away from folks and their pets, doing jobs in HOA's especially.
330's are great in runs
But like Brisket, I like footholds on drowning rods a lot, especially at dam break sets, pull outs, crossovers, and slides.

The BEST money I ever spent was on Pauls video Beaver Sites and Sets. It basically launched my ADC biz and shortened my learning curve by decades.
Ask for it for your Birthday or Anniversary or Mem Day gift !

Awesome advice. I really appreciate it. I caught two beavers last summer on dam crossovers in duke #2s that I got at the local feed mill here. Since then I have got an itch that I can’t scratch. Trapping has gotten under my skin, and I’m hoping to find some nucance beaver work around here. Again thanks for your comments and to the admin to keep this site going!!!

I catch more in cable than killers in water. can't use foot traps or killers on land, so all I have is cable. using cable for so long it is my first choice even when I can set killers or foot.

Depending on regulations and situations, there’s a time and place for all types of legal traps (or snares).

The advantages of bodygrips are well known, but I’ll give some examples of snare advantages...

Lighter. Carry more, carry em farther. Even if I’m not planning on setting snares, I still keep 1-2 coiled up and clipped onto my beaver bag—-just in case.

Cheaper = more sets for same money; less appealing to sneakums, less lost if stolen/vandalized.

Safer than BGs around people and pets

Can be made at home or even in the field without having to wait for an order of BGs to arrive.

Both BGs and snares can be used for most sets interchangeably, but there are some sets that can be made with a snare that can’t easily be made BG. (Torpedo, Beaver Snare KP, floating log, etc)

Can be set to be a restraining set, rather than only a lethal set. I’ve made lethal snare sets in water that was too shallow for reliable foothold lethal sets.

A miss with a snare tends to be a -less traumatic experience than with a BG, and that translates into getting 2nd chance vs set avoidance from a 330 firing and startling or making a poor catch that they’re able to escape from...


Less noticeable; many educated beavers all over the country have been put away by carefully placed snares. .


Snares can be made to be more or less sensitive on site by adjusting lock position.

Snares can be shaped by loading. Especially 1x19 cable.

Snares can also serve as extension cables if you’re in a pinch. The lock end becomes an adjustable loop.

You just keep adding to that list don’t you? You might throw in “easier to set species specific for certain animals in certain situations”. I can set a snare so raccoons will parade through all night long and rarely be caught, but every beaver that goes through is caught. With a 220, our largest legal size not fully submerged, I haven’t found a trigger configuration that will accomplish that as well as a properly set snare.

Yes, the list keeps getting longer. Species specific by adjusting loop size is another one, good call.


I’ll also add that release ferrules and breakaways can be helpful in some situations as they allow larger non targets to break free.

For beaver?

Yes

Properly constructed and used snare KPs are deadly.


My experience has been that a well loaded 1x19 loop, set between 1/2 and 1/3 submerged when beavers are swimming is a good way to increase the odds of neck catches. Even seatbelt catches are good. I’d rather snare a beaver than foothold them anyway.

Yes
Properly constructed and used snare KPs are deadly.
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Sounds good. If anyone cares to share such a setup with me, PM me. Thanks

Snares for me. Although I will use all 3 (bodygrip, foothold, snare)