Cable cutters
To cut the loops of snares, the best tool is a cable cutter.
Wire cutters and Leatherman-type tools do not readily cut the braided wire of a snare.
Cable cutters typically have blunt-ended jaws (causing less damage to an animal's neck) and have notched jaws that will grab around the circumference of the braided wire of the snare and then quickly cut.
Wire cutters and Leatherman-type tools do not readily cut the braided wire of a snare.
Cable cutters typically have blunt-ended jaws (causing less damage to an animal's neck) and have notched jaws that will grab around the circumference of the braided wire of the snare and then quickly cut.
Footloose Montana has offered RavX cable cutters during our workshops.
These cable cutters are designed for bike mechanics to use on brake and shifting cables.
Whichever cutter you purchase, ensure that the cable cutter is meant to cut hardened steel cable (not just softer metals like aluminum and copper).
Links to cable cutters similar to the RavX cutters:
Amazon
Home Depot
These cable cutters are designed for bike mechanics to use on brake and shifting cables.
Whichever cutter you purchase, ensure that the cable cutter is meant to cut hardened steel cable (not just softer metals like aluminum and copper).
Links to cable cutters similar to the RavX cutters:
Amazon
Home Depot
Cam-lock straps or cable ties
4 ft. long cam-lock straps can be used to quickly open Conibear traps.
Carry two of these straps to open the two coils found on larger Conibear traps. Straps that are 1" wide will open larger Conibear traps (e.g. Conibear 330 with 10" jaws) and will still fit into the fit into the coils of smaller Conibears (e.g. Conibear 220). As a bonus, these straps can be used for many things and are really light in weight.
Examples of 4 ft. cam lock straps:
Amazon
NRS
Carry two of these straps to open the two coils found on larger Conibear traps. Straps that are 1" wide will open larger Conibear traps (e.g. Conibear 330 with 10" jaws) and will still fit into the fit into the coils of smaller Conibears (e.g. Conibear 220). As a bonus, these straps can be used for many things and are really light in weight.
Examples of 4 ft. cam lock straps:
Amazon
NRS
Foothold Trap Openers
To open most any size coiled-spring foothold trap...you can use a pair of foothold trap-setting tools.
These tools will give you more leverage to push the levers down and open coiled-spring foothold traps and are lightweight (~0.9 lbs./ pair). They can even be used to open wolf-sized foothold traps.
You will need two of these tools (sold as a pair) to open a trap:
Scheels
Amazon
These tools will give you more leverage to push the levers down and open coiled-spring foothold traps and are lightweight (~0.9 lbs./ pair). They can even be used to open wolf-sized foothold traps.
You will need two of these tools (sold as a pair) to open a trap:
Scheels
Amazon
To to open large, wolf-sized, powerful foothold traps...these Universal Wolf Trap Setter tools are the best.
If you and your dog recreate in areas that are known to have foothold traps set for wolves (e.g. open and gated logging/ US Forest Service roads during the winter months), you might consider carrying a pair of these heavy-duty tools.
The coiled springs of wolf-sized foothold traps are extremely powerful and make it difficult for most people to open these traps - either with their feet or hands.
These tools will work on all popular models of wolf-sized foothold traps, are fairly light-weight (~1.75 lbs total), are easy to use (see photos on company website) and allow one to open a wolf-sized foothold trap in a couple of seconds.
You will need two of these tools (sold as a pair) to open a trap:
Universal Wolf Trap Setter
If you and your dog recreate in areas that are known to have foothold traps set for wolves (e.g. open and gated logging/ US Forest Service roads during the winter months), you might consider carrying a pair of these heavy-duty tools.
The coiled springs of wolf-sized foothold traps are extremely powerful and make it difficult for most people to open these traps - either with their feet or hands.
These tools will work on all popular models of wolf-sized foothold traps, are fairly light-weight (~1.75 lbs total), are easy to use (see photos on company website) and allow one to open a wolf-sized foothold trap in a couple of seconds.
You will need two of these tools (sold as a pair) to open a trap:
Universal Wolf Trap Setter
(Footloose Montana is not sponsored by these companies, nor does FM receive compensation from sales of these products.)
