5/64'' vs 1/8'' for Cat?

[Jacktheknife]

Howdy ya'll,   I just came in from out in the knife shop.
Have an order for 25 R.R. spike knives, just finished #19 & #20!               and this will bring in enough money to get the last thing on my trapping list.  Snares ...
Whacky?  Asa?  What size of snare wire would you say is good for Cat.                   I mean north Texas Cat, average size Cats. I use to use 5/64 '' with a thompson lock on it,  5' long.  R. P. Outdoors says 3/32"  is good for Cat.
And the 3/32'' is cheaper than the 5/64''!!!   I caught a coyote by one hind foot a long time ago, with a 3/32'' snare - washer lock on it,   and have a picture of him where he jumped over the fence, and his leg is held up by the snare.  He got his whole body through the snare and was caught by the hind foot!  Thatws a good snare!  So I could use either one, but the Cat is a sneaky and sensivitve critter, and wouldn't a 5/64''wire be more subtle of a snare for some thing as sneaky as a Cat?

                                                      Good trapping  and Thanks

                                                                      J. Knife

[Wackyquacker]

We're talking cat's now and we're hangin the loops in a manner not to take coyotes, 1/16 7X7 or 1/16 1X19 are my #1 cat snares.  I like cams or Ambergs.  

I run dispatch springs on all snares, but they are not needed for cats; they'll be dead with any lock. The addition of a dispatch spring allows me to hang the snare in a coyote likely place if I don't have my 5/64's in my pocket.  The 1/16 works wonders on coyotes but, if you get a "sitter" it can chew out of the smaller cable very easily.  1X19 1/16 makes a pretty desecnt coyote snare when combined with a dispatch spring and is more chew resistant.

I haven't hung 3/32 snares for years...too many refusals.  The large cable is needed only if you are in a non-lethal situation...chew outs are a bigger concern in retraint snaring.  If you can and want to use dispatch set ups, you should considered Stinger springs.

Hope this answers some of your questions and shows some of the "on the other hand" considerations.

[Jacktheknife]

See! Mr. Bog sir,    This a great forum!
Their ain't none better!                                                                              1/16th  wire,  and [7x7, or  1x19]  twist...   for 'North Texas Bobcats.'                                            Just what I was wondering, and thanks Wacky!
Where else can one find out information like this so easy!
Like what? I am going to the library downtown, and spend all day... or a week, trying to learn some thing so simple to someone who knows?

            I am amazed!  Wacky, I am sending you a skinning knife for that one!  I have a bunch I am working on right now!  And one of my favorites is yours!  Do you have a big hand or a small or medium hand?

                                                                    J. Knife

[Wackyquacker]

Geeze Jack, while I'd be flattered to own one of your creations, but it just isn't necessary.  If I can help I'm pleased.  Many have helped me, and, well, it's just the way things should be; least that's the way I got it figured.

[lynx/cat-trapper]

great....GREAT nice job there Jack....now not only does the stupid duck have a big butt...but now he's got a big head!!!  :shock: ....stupid duck... :grin:  keep in mind...the 1x19 IS more chew resistant...BUT the 7x7 has better "hair grabbing" tendancies...could account for an extra or two that could slip thru otherwise...a cat can climb thru a loop that'd BLOW your mind!!! NO...not yours "duck"...ya aint got one...
later
lynx

[Wackyquacker]

Stinky go FISH! :twisted:   ya grill happy left handed frog sucker :shock:  I do to have a mind...she tells me what to do every day :eek:

...and another thing them cats can flat FLY through loops!  I'd recomend no larger than 8" and that could be too big at times.  Remember you can crowd cats in more ways than one.  

The 1X19 vs 7X7 is a hard one to resolve.  Chew out is probably the biggest consideration.  Use to be that loading played a major role in cable selection.  With the heavier locks and springs (Ambergs or Cams plus Stingers) I doubt that loading adds much to the speed in the 1/16 cable size.  Loading will, however, give you the option of loop shape, especially in the 1X19 cable (be careful our you will pig tail em).  I do find that a bit of loading of 5/64 7X7 widens the typical teardrop loop shape (Ambergs) to a more round form which I sometimes prefer.

[lynx/cat-trapper]

You're just mad that I told you those fish guts were sushi and that all the GOOD trappers eat em.. :shock:  :shock:  On to the topic tho....that was my "egging" on reason...cats can go thru a loop that will BLOW your mind!!! I dont use 3/32 for cats...but do on coyotes due to the chew out possibilities...on cats I generally use 5/64 due to it's lower profile and better flex. I've never used the 1/16" but hear many positive things about it..WITH kill springs and good entanglement situations. My primary lock I use is just a camloc...never tried the kill spring setups as I feel there's just toooooo much "junk" hanging in the air then. Had a good run last week on snares...got 6 yotes,7skunks,2 badger and 16 fox....all but one were neck snared!!!(wish I could neck snare all of em like that) did ok on my traps too!! Good way to "end" the season...it's getting close to "cat time"...all else comes to an end....
later
lynx

[Wackyquacker]

Stinky , you got to get over the "Junk in the air" issue, it really doesn't amount to a hoot.  For yotes you can make the loop bigger and the lock will hang much higher, out of the view line.  I don't do this all the time but on occassion will.  For cats, a leaning pole or other duck under allows the "junk in the air" hidden.  I hang nothing but dispatch spring equipped snares and have no problems.  I have seem big improvements in catches by going from the 3/32 to 5/64, the 5/64 having all the junk.  5/64 to 1/16 is just better for a number of reasons especially for pokey cats.

One thing to think on, in entanglement situations the springs may not add much to the killing speed...the critter needs to get a good lunge to set the spring most efficiently.