[Mekdad]

TJ you are the man! Thank you for the pics!! I have some .024 steel welding wire do you think that would be to stiff?I also have some aluminum welding wire that I will see if it is to brittle

[tjwilhelm]

Don't know about the welding wire...never tried it; BUT, I'm pretty sure aluminum won't be a very good choice...breaks too easy with repeated bending. Good Luck!

BUT, just to reinforce what Ron posted. Most (if not all) States have pretty specific and restrictive laws regarding snaring and trapping.

Here's another point that may be relevant and important (Celticwarrior!!! Where are you???). I've been told (but have not yet confirmed) that Conservation Officers, Fish & Game Wardens, etc., are not beholding to the same restrictions as other LEOs. Allegedly, if they suspect you have illegal game-meat in your freezer, they have the right to enter, search, seize, and arrest without any kind of warrant. Has anyone else out there heard about this? IF this is true, it would be another very important point to consider before setting any snares.

[Celticwarrior]

Not true. Game wardens, like anyone else in Law Enforcement, have to abide by constitutional search and seizure laws. However, just like a LEO who sees a bong in your back seat, or sees you stuff that shotgun off your porch to just inside the front door, they can claim "probable cause" if they see things like hides or bones outside, or feathers that are from a protected or out-of-season bird. If they haven't seen anything but suspect that you have been poaching, they WILL call in for a warrant, and likely the local cops or sheriff, to come out with them to search your place. Remember, a bag limit is an "in-possession" limit, and if you have some in your freezer, that is counted toward that number! Don't get caught taking game out of season, or taking another animal if you have the maximum "in-possession" number already in your freezer.

[mscureman]

TJ, you answered my question perfectly. Thank you, also, to all the other folks who gave good additional information.

[stairman]

Thats how I do my eyelets too TJ. I learned it from one of Ron Woods survival videos. Game wardens have the right to search any camp or vehicle, but as CW said its different for the home.

[tjwilhelm]

Thanks for reminding me, Stairman...credit where credit is due. I learned this from Tom Laskowski of the Midwest Native Skills Institute. I've not heard of Ron Woods, but for all I know, both of these guys probably learned it from some old timers who have been doing it that way forever, having learned it from older timers that preceeded them. I'm just grateful these simple, little bits of survival skill and knowledge keep getting passed on to others...like US!

[stairman]

You got me to thinkin and I found the videos[2] and its Ron Hood not Wood. His wife is in them with him and shes kinda cute. I think my sister bought them for me several years ago and I watched them again the other night when the satellite went down in a storm.

[vthompson]

I use 7 strand copper wire for my snare's. It is rated for 45 pounds and is great to work with. I find it and buy it on ebay.

[Celticwarrior]

Originally Posted by stairman

Thats how I do my eyelets too TJ. I learned it from one of Ron Woods survival videos. Game wardens have the right to search any camp or vehicle, but as CW said its different for the home.

Vehicles are actually not covered under the Fourth Amendment. They are, in fact, personal property, (not "real" property, as a home or apartment would be considered) and as such can be seized and searched without the need for additional warrants. Most GW & Cops will ASK if you mind if they search your vehicle to avoid any problems in court about what a person BELIEVED their S&S rights were, but in fact they don't need your permission. If you say "no", and they want to make a case for it, they will place you in handcuffs, escort you to the station, and impound your car, at which point they can safely search it to their heart's content. If there is nothing there, you are released (and likely have to still pay the impound fee). If there IS something there, you are charged. Simple, but hardly what we IMAGINE our rights are in that situation. (Ain't it wonderful what you learn in paralegal classes?)

[TheAvatar]

Awesome pics TJ! Very good for a visual point of view