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 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 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
cable ties
2 - 3 ft. long cable/ zip ties can be used to quickly open Conibear traps.
Carry four cable ties to ensure that you can open the two coils found on larger Conibear traps. This will give you two extra cable ties to use in case one might break.
Examples of 2 ft. cable ties:
Amazon
Ace Hardware
Carry four cable ties to ensure that you can open the two coils found on larger Conibear traps. This will give you two extra cable ties to use in case one might break.
Examples of 2 ft. cable ties:
Amazon
Ace Hardware
large Foothold Trap Openers
Use a pair of these tools to open large, wolf-sized, powerful foothold traps.
If you and your dog recreate in areas that are known to have foothold traps set for wolves, you might consider carrying a pair of these 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, you might consider carrying a pair of these 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.)