BY BOB NOONAN

Snaring is now legal in several states where it was previously prohibited. However, confusion about snare cable designations has spread among trappers and the fish and game departments writing new regulations. My goal is to clarify a few key technical and usage points for trappers new to this method of trapping.

To root out the most common questions, I called a number of snare manufacturers. These trappers not only have considerable snaring experience, but they have received invaluable feedback from the thousands of trappers who buy their snares.

Of course, statements about cable use and preferences are the opinions of the people I interviewed. Across the country there are many variables in weather, habitat conditions and furbearer size or behavior. What works well in one area and condition might not in another. Lock type is also a factor in cable performance, as is an individual trapper's style.

Understanding Cable Construction,
Richard Sinrud of Thompson Snares in Lynnwood, Wash., was invaluable in explaining the technical part of cable construction.

He pointed out one of the most common misunderstandings is between the terms "single-strand" and "multi-strand" cable.
There is a misconception, Sinrud said, that single-strand cable is a single piece of wire, and therefore much weaker than multi-strand. Exactly the opposite is true. A single strand of cable is still made up of a number of single wires twisted together, and it is usually stronger.

Tests show conclusively that single-strand cable is about 10 percent stronger than multi-strand cable. In addition, single-strand cable is also more resistant to chewing and fraying because of its harder, smoother surface.

The softer multi-strand cable is easier for animals to flatten- out and separate with their teeth or by twisting, and once separated, the small wires are easier to break.

Sinrud explained snare designations to clarify the strand issue. The three standard snare cables are 1x19, 7X7 and 7X19.

The first numeral indicates how many strands are in the cable. The second number indicates how many wires are in each strand.

Thus, 1x19 is single-strand cable. However, although 1x19 is made of only one strand, that strand is made up of 19 pieces of wire. There are seven inner wires twisted one direction, and 12 outer wires twisted the other direction.

By contrast 7X7 is a multi-strand cable. It consists of seven separate strands, with each strand made up of seven single wires twisted together. There are a total of 49 individual wires in the whole cable. It is made of an inner strand core of seven wires twisted one direction, and six outer strands with seven wires in each, twisted the opposite direction.

Single-strand and multi-strand cables we available in the same diameters. In this article, we'll only consider 3/32-inch, 5/16-inch and 1/16-inch.

Some states have adopted regulations specifying that only multi-strand cable can be used for snares. This is a disservice to trappers and manufacturers because it denies them the use of single-strand cable, Sinrud said.

Ken Stewart, of PDK Snares in Newark, Ohio, pointed out that this Stems from a confusion in terminology.

Ohio actually regards 1x19 as multi-strand because there are many wires in it. As with lock terminology - relaxing or mechanical - cable terms are not Standardized, and can lead to regulatory confusion.

Sinrud made a valid point that regulatory bodies should create functional criteria, not design criteria. They should regulate performance, not manufacture.

Design Dictates Properties
Single-strand and multi-strand cables have different handling properties. It's a technical fact that the' more wires a cable contains, the more flexible, or relaxed, it is. Thus, 1x19 cable is the stiffest, 7x7 cable more relaxed, and 7X19 cable is the most limp. In fact, 7x19 cable is so limp it can be difficult to form a loop with, and it is also much easier to chew through. For these reasons, many trappers and manufacturers consider it unsuitable for snaring.

Because 1x19 cable is made of only one strand, it is smoother. With more wires in its composition, 7x7 cable has a rougher surface. Some trappers see the smoother surface of 1x19 cable as an advantage, saying it fires faster. Some feel the flexibility of 7x7 cable gives the same result.

Because 1x19 cable is more stiff, it is easier to form an almost round loop. Because 7x7 cable is more relaxed, it forms a more teardrop-shaped loop.

What About Stainless Steel Cable?
Richard Sinrud of Thompson Snares said stainless cable is twice as expensive as galvanized, but in his opinion, offers no real advantages.

It's identical in loop formation, he said, although a tiny bit more limp and weaker. Its only benefit is that it resist rusting better. That's good in salt water or brackish water, and places like Hawaii, where the acidic volcanic soil is corrosive.

In other areas, Sinrud said stainless is a disadvantage, because it won't biodegrade, and abandoned stainless snares can remain functional indefinitely.

John Graham, of Fur Country Lures, experimented with stainless cable in the early 1990's. He said stainless has a finer grain and the locks close fast, but because it is more brittle, he found more chew-outs. Also, he reported that it never lost its shine

Neil Bock, of the Snare Shop, said the shininess of stainless cable is a major problem.

In the Field
I asked several manufacturers and snaremen about the advantages and disadvantages of snare cables. All the manufacturers agreed single-strand cable is at least as strong as multi-strand, and forms a rounder loop. After that, opinions varied.

Both Newt Sterling, of Snare One in New Jersey, and Clint Locklear, of Tennessee, said they prefer single-strand 1X9 snares for most species.

They like to make a round, stiff loop. Both said a round loop makes it easier to control the snare position - in particular, the height of the bottom of the loop off the walking surface. Loop height is universally acknowledged as extremely important in snaring.

A rounder loop allows them to get the width they want without excess height. According to both trappers, this produces a higher percentage of neck or front body catches, resulting in fewer costly snare marks on the leather - a problem common with beavers and raccoons because these animals fight a snare hard and their pelts have visible leather when dried. Snare marks from lower body catches downgrade a pelt more than marks on the neck or upper body.

Sterling and Locklear both said a teardrop loop, being higher than it is wide, is better for multi-species sets - if a trapper wants to take any raccoon, bobcat or fox using the trail. But when targeting a specific species, or trying to reduce body catches, a smaller, rounder loop is more effective.

Both Sterling and Locklear said they have found 1x19 cable to be more fray and chew-resistant. Locklear said about 12 beaver per 100 twist out of multi-strand 7x7 5/64-inch cable. On those beavers, the snare frayed apart and the individual wires broke. With single-strand 1x19 snares, his losses drop to two or three per 100 beavers. Locklear said if he was forced to use 7x7 snares for beavers, he'd use 3/32-inch cable.

Both men added that a swivel on beaver and raccoon snares helps reduce twisting.
They both also said the anti-fraying quality of 1x19 cable, combined with its superior strength, lets them drop down a diameter size for all species.
Sterling routinely uses 1/16-inch cable for beavers, and Locklear said 5/64-inch is more than adequate for coyotes.

It's universally known that thinner cable kills faster. It's also harder to see, which some trappers feel is important when snaring canines.

Coyote Considerations
Sterling and Locklear snare predominantly beavers, raccoons, foxes and bobcats. For coyote snare observations I called John Graham of Fur Country Lures, in Montana. He has snared thousands of coyotes, built and sold countless snares and has experimented with every cable type and size available.

Although Graham agrees 1x19 cable is strong, dense and hard, holds a good loop and kills quickly, he prefers 7x7 cable. He gets requests for snares built with 1x19 1/16-inch cable - usually from trappers who are targeting bobcats or foxes and expecting an occasional coyote. Also, some wolf and wolverine trappers in Canada and Alaska favor 1x19 3/32-inch snares,

Still, Graham prefers 7x7 cable. He finds no problem with a teardrop shaped loop in land trapping, and said the most crucial element is the height of the loop off the ground. Extra loop height is not a problem.

He said the teardrop can be made more round by positioning the lock at 2 o'clock - the position he prefers anyway. Wind is a serious problem in prairie and western states, and this lock position is better than the customary I o'clock position at preventing loops from firing too easily.

While we talked on the phone, Graham opened a 1x19 1/16-inch snare to an 8-inch loop. The height measured 10 inches. Next, he opened a 7x7 1/16-inch snare to the same 8-inch width, and the height measured 11 inches. This was with both locks at 2 o'clock - not much difference.

He then told me that although the smoother Ix19 snare fires faster at first, it slows rapidly because of its stiffness.

Graham pulled slightly on the bottom of the Ixl9 snare and it fired quickly, but the 8-inch loop stopped closing by itself at 6 inches. When he began to pull it shut, it started to drag at 5 inches, and took increased force to pull it completely closed.

Then he pulled at the bottom of the 7x7 snare. It fired a bit slower at first, but the loop dropped easily all the, way down to 3-1/4 inches, and was easily pulled shut with no drag.

In his opinion, the 7x7 cable might start a fraction of a second slower, but actually closes more easily than the stiffer lx19 cable. For this reason, Graham believes the IxI9 cable produces more, body catches on canines and bobcats.

Graham also believes "loading" a cable to make it fire faster and give it a rounder shape is unnecessary. In windy areas, where trappers don't want light firing snares, it should be avoided. Quality 7x7 cable, he said, should produce a fairly round loop by itself

In Graham's opinion, 5/64-inch 7x7 cable is the best all-around choice for coyotes, foxes and bobcats. It also works well with a variety of locks. The1x19 1/16-inch cable is his second choice. He said IxI9 5/64-inch cable is particularly slow to close, and he doesn't like to use it.

Some trappers still use 3/32-inch cable for coyotes, particularly for the larger eastern and northern animals. Many trappers think heavier cable is needed for larger animals - in part to prevent chew-outs. But Graham said chew-outs are caused by bad lock systems, not cable diameter.

He said his customers have snared thousands of larger coyotes with 5/64-inch cables. He pointed out that with the correct locks, many Canadian and Alaskan trappers routinely use 5/64-inch cable for wolves.

Snaring Bandits
For raccoon snaring ideas, I called Neil Bock of the Snare Shop in Carroll, Iowa. Bock has snared many raccoons, and has sold countless snares to 'coon trappers.

Bock said while lx19 cable is stiffer, holds a rounder loop, and is slightly stronger, it causes more fur and leather damage to raccoons caught around the body. To prevent fur damage on raccoons in open grassland - and beavers in open water - he recommends 7x7 cable in either 3/32- inch or 5/64-inch diameters. He uses a swivel in the snare, and a 24-hour check, because the animals are usually held alive.

He said 5/64-inch cable produces more neck and front body catches on raccoons, but also a few more chew-outs, so some trappers prefer 3 /32-inch cable.

Bock prefers the 7x7 cable's higher teardrop loop for land snaring. He agreed with Graham that lock position influences loop size and shape, and that loop height off the ground was the most crucial factor.

To kill animals quickly, Bock recommended longer, thinner cable with a dispatch spring on the lock. He said 5/64-inch cable is fine for coyotes, and some trappers even request 1/16-inch cable.

An Ohio Opinion
Ken Stewart and Doug Wilson of PDK Snares do a lot of snaring themselves, and sell to a number of trappers. Stewart said IxI9 and 7x7 cables are equally effective if used properly, and the differences are sometimes a matter of splitting hairs.

Stewart and Wilson have booth had such good luck with 7X7 cable they use it for their standard snares - although they custom make snares and will use IxI9 cable if it is requested. They said southern trappers in particular like IxI9 cable for bobcats.

Stewart added that IxI9 cable makes fantastic drowner cable, because of its stiffness and smoothness. The lock slides rapidly and easily down the cable, and the stiffness makes it difficult for the animal to bring the lock back up. He recommends 3/32-inch cable for drowners.

Stewart said 7x7 5/64-inch cable is by far their most popular for raccoons, foxes, beavers and coyotes.

Under-Ice Snares
Jerry Braley of Maine uses, 7x7 1/16-inch cable for under-ice beaver snaring. He said 1/16-inch IxI9 cable kinks too easily when handled, because it is thin and stiff.
Braley said he has more misses with IxI9 snares. The more limp 7x7 snares close so tight that they have held wrist and toe-caught beavers, but IxI9 snares don't close tight enough to do that.

He also likes the teardrop shape because beavers approach the vertical bait sideways to the snare loop, and their oval body fits the teardrop loop better.

Rally Hess, of Rally Hess Enterprises in Minnesota, agrees that 7x7 cable is better for under-ice beavers. He said 20 percent of his beavers are caught by the feet, nose or tail, and those would be misses with I x1 9 cable.

However, he prefers 3/32-inch cable, because the heavier snares do less damage to the leather. Plus, thicker cable is easier to feel underwater.

When checking snares, Hess chops a small hole, puts on a rubber gauntlet, and feels if the snare and lock are in position.

Heavier cable is also easier to push through slush without the loop being disturbed. When small beavers are caught, the loop is easier to re-shape and use again.

In his area, temperatures often fall far below zero, and above the ice, 1/16-inch cable and small locks freeze quickly when wet and are harder to handle.

Hess also snares coyotes, foxes, bobcats and fishers, and likes IxI9 cable for these species because of the round loop, and fast firing time.

Conclusion
There's no doubt that IxI9 single-strand cable is as strong and useful as 7x7 multi-strand cable. Obviously, the use of single-strand should not be prevented by regulation.

Although everyone has an opinion on which is better - based on their own experience, conditions and style of snaring - there is enough basic agreement to allow beginning snares to make good choices.

Bob Noonan, of Canaan, Maine, is a field editor for T&PC.

- Bob Noonan