Rabbits are common in many areas and knowing how to make a rabbit snare can be the difference between eating and not eating in a lot of cases. In this article I show you how to set a survival snare for rabbits.
Where to Set Rabbit Snares
The key to placing any trap or snare is knowing areas the animals are in. For rabbit snares, most people put them along trails. I think that’s a mistake for two big reasons. One, it’s easy to catch non-target animals (though you can eat anything). And two, you don’t have as many opportunities to snare rabbits on a trail because they jump along a trail rather than walk along it.
I prefer to set my rabbit snares and traps where they are feeding, in hiding spots, or in their lays.
If you’ve spent much time watching rabbits, you’ve seen them bolt to a hiding spot. That’s a great place to set your survival snares. The rabbit is less cautious when bolting and its head is in a predictable spot.
In the snaring video on this page, you’ll see that I set the rabbit snare in a feeding area. The rabbit is walking through an area like this. Sometimes, like the area that I picked in the video, the rabbit will both feed and use an area for cover.
I also like placing at least one rabbit snare in their lays. Lays are areas that rabbits sit and rest in. They are used over and over and well worn. You’ll see a bare spot or a rabbit-sized area where the grass is flattened. Lays are often found in thick cover or on fence lines.
Snare Loop Size and Ground Clearance for Rabbits
I think most people make their snare loops too small when snaring rabbits. I prefer to make them about six inches in diameter. What I do there is allow for the rabbit’s ears to get into the snare without the snare twisting or falling off to the side. It doesn’t do you any good if the snare doesn’t get around the rabbit’s neck.
I set my snares about 4 inches off the ground. You want the rabbit to get its head into the snare without stepping through the loop. That means that you’ll put it a little higher than what I see a lot of other people recommend. Maybe it works for them, or maybe it just doesn’t matter.
If you have any questions about how to make rabbit snares, either check out my other articles or send me a message.
Talk soon- John
Hi Jeff,
Great to hear from you! i’m glad you’re getting out and enjoying the wilderness, you’ve got plenty of it in NorCal.
You’re right, the snare is made of cable. It’s actually 2 different cables. One that goes around the animal’s neck, which is thinner. And the other cable is heavier. The two cables are joined together at a swivel that keeps the snare from getting all twisted up if the animal doesn’t die right away.
Bike shifter and brake cable… either of those will work. Make sure you give the cable “memory” by running the cable over a broom handle or something like that. You want the cable to open wide, but as soon as it’s disturbed to constrict automatically to the place where you set the memory in the cable. This is something a lot of people don’t talk about or know, but it really increases your catches.
Good luck, and let me know if there is anything else you have questions about.
John
Hi John,
I live here in Northern California and spend a lot of time in the wilderness. I came across your site while doing a search for rabbit snares. Love your page, lots of great stuff here !
Question about your rabbit snare. You mentioned it was custom made. Is it cable ? It sure looks like cable to me and looks pretty easy to make if it is. I have bike shifter and brake cable that may work. What are your thoughts on that ?
So glad I found your pages here, I will be adding a few things to my survival gear list along with notes as well. I enjoy learning new things and like your stuff !
Thanks for all the info !
Jeff