How to find Snares & Traps with out the help of a Metal Detector or the use of the excellent GPS system by satellites.
1). If you do not have access to a Metal detector or GPS unit when looking for snares or traps in some cases you may be lucky and have foot prints or quad bike tracks to follow if the area is very muddy or snow has fallen.
2). In the case of the foot print you can use a tape measure and measure the size of the foot print left at the snare or trap this is very use full if the person setting the snares or traps starts to head off in a direction with a lot of vegetation or mud this idea is similar to following animal trails.
3).What happens here is when they are walking on the vegetation or mud their own weight will leave a mark from their shoe size using the tape as before you can just measure the size like before if it is the same size then you are more than likely on the correct track.
4). If the person setting the snares or traps is in a very muddy area or snow covered area this is good news you can look at the foot print look at the print next to the snare or trap then look for a shoe Patten the same as the one that moves out from the snare or trap then follow that one.
5). If the person setting the snare or trap is using a quad bike to get around just follow the foot print from the snare or trap to the quad bike track as often the case the bike would have long gone but the track may still be their so follow the quad bike track look for foot prints from the main quad bike track.
6). Then look around where the track is for more foot prints just in case some one has come along the track or crossed the vegetation on to the track if you don't see any then the person may have got off the bike at this point look for the foot print that goes from the quad bike in to the woods this idea can be used even if you are using a metal detector.
7). To check you have the correct person look around the track to see if their are more foot prints if not then you know you have the correct person.
8).When looking for snares or traps look around to see if you find dead animals or birds this may give some indication they have been left their look around bushes and so on look around to see if you find more dead animals or birds in a area this would indicated some one was attracting wild animals to that area..
9). If you are looking for traps or snares in your local woods depending on the time of year which can be of grate help to us say in spring time when every thing is starting to come out look at the vegetation off the beaten track. If it has been flattened by some one walking on it follow this track see if it takes you to a snare or trap if you do find one then see where this tack goes from there and follow it this may take you to the next snare or trap. This can be help full if you know snares or traps have been set in this area in the past don't for get it is not just gamekeepers that set snares or traps some poachers do as well.
10). At about October time as the leaf's will be falling from the trees this can help find snares as you may be asking your self how can this be down to the leaf's falling the snares are not being hidden so well now by the leaf's so it may make it a little simpler to spot them as they will be a little way off the ground move a long stick around bushes to see if you hook one.
11). In December when it is colder by now most plants and leaf's would have died or fallen from trees to look for snares look at tree branches lying over the next one look for a snare here look for freshly cut branches that may have been cut to fix a snare on to look along fences look at holes in fences wooden or metal fences.
12). If you see animal trails if possible try and follow them this is often a place where gamekeepers or poachers will set snares or traps.
13). The ideas here can be used any time of the year but just to give you some examples of what you can do to help wildlife and remove dangerous items from the countryside.
14). Look around your local woods for small ponds or pools of water that are often there this is a good place to look for Snares or Traps as every animal needs water they may use this for there water supply.
15). If you do see dead animals and they look a odd color or smell odd this may indicate they have been poisoned in this case it is very important to contact DEFRA as soon as possible. The Campaign Against Illegal Poisoning of Wildlife aims to protect some of Britain’s rarest birds of prey and wildlife from pesticide poisoning. Click here to see how you can help.
16). If you can afford a Metal Detector I would strongly recommend one this will help you find ground lying traps and snares quicker.
17). If you are in some parts of the world like Africa and so on if you see non targeted animals with snares court around their leg or body please contact your local park or wildlife ranger their number will be in the phone book or ask the operator or the local vets can be very help full here. Snares are not just a UK or Ireland problem but a Global one as well.