Let’s talk Cable Restraints

Was looking through the search engine for information but didn’t find the answers.

Do you make your own or buy them pre-made?
What set up do you have to make them?
What about setting them in trails and such? Photos would be helpful.
What about using them for beavers?
Any other info would be appreciated!!!

Here in Missouri we have to say cable restraint!

Thanks for your time.
B

check your state reg. here in Michigan our are terrible , almost useless , thanks to dog hunter's

Already have and took the class a few years ago.

Thanks

Years ago at Ted Shanks Conservation area I use them to trap beaver just after otter were introduced. We set them up so otter would get through hoop. Dave Hamilton came up and he showed us how. He was a great furbearer man for MDC Took the course the first year and followed book and caught a lot of red fox and coyote.It was taught by a person in the course that had never trapped in his life. He did a great job on the course. Follow book and set at height they recommend and you will have fun. Only problem I had was the stick idea to make deer jump over CRs and I caught a deer. Was not fun turning loose.May not teach that any more. I don’t know. Don’t know if they teach that trick any more. I do not encourage to start early as hunting dogs are caught. Wait till fur primes and have fun. The first few years you could not CR early. I know they changed that. I think it was all set up for the live market but all of the ones I caught over the years went to NAFA. Have fun Enjoy the outdoors

I'm interested in this thread also. What size of cable and where can you order supplies, or does anybody have some made up that are for sale?
I just read that in Missouri you don't have to take the class anymore

If they give the course take it. I never made CR just ordered them. The trapper supply company’s on here can tell you what you need for Mo. I’m 68 years old and just take my grandkids to teach them about our history. Hope we don’t loose it

You Missouri guys the fall rondy has a guy doing a demo on cable restraint the 19 of September. I don't know the man personally but have heard a lot about him name is Derek search. What I hear he put up triple digits in yotes.. may be worth checking out if you are interested. I plan on catching that demo would like to learn more about cables so I can add to my bag of tricks.

Here demo list

I’ve heard similar things about him Salem I’m looking forward to checking out his demo, I caught some coyotes in CR’s 4 or 5 years ago, biggest thing I had trouble with was damage to the fur, would like to try it again sometime though

I buy my PA legal CR's from the Snare Shop.

Our season doesn't start until after Christmas and the use of CR's is highly regulated. The "no entanglement" rule really limits where they can be legally set.

I target reds and what I like most about CR's is that they are mostly unaffected by the freeze/thaw cycle that will put my footholds out of commission and cause me a lot of extra work rebedding traps.

I took the required class at John Epler's place (Epler's Fur Company) and got my certification. Once I had a little experience I started connecting.

This pic shows a typical location for CR's, a lightly used two-track through a CRP field. You can see the second CR on the right side of the photo.






Another catch pic.



A newly created Two-track where the farmer was driving his tractor to gather firewood. I hung a cable on each track.



One on either side of the hump.



Another catch pic.



This pic shows a method I use to deal with the giant catch circle created by CR's. If anyone has questions about this dispatch method PM me.



Another location pic. This one is where an old (sometimes still used) ATV trail intersects the main two-track. There are two CR's, one one either side of the small brush pile in the middle. I made the trails in the snow to encourage reds to take the path of least resistance. At the time this pic was taken I had caught three or four reds here and just kept rebuilding the area.



Here is another one caught at that location.



A CR double!



This is the only CR death I've had. It was killed by a coyote that picked it up by the neck/back and shook it. There was enough snow to tell the story.



My lab pup eyeballing a CR'd red.



The biggest problem I have with CR's, other than being very limited to legal locations because of the "no entanglement" rule, is deer knocking them over. I've never caught one, they just walk into the loops/support wire and knock them down. It makes checking a pain. Cables are hard to see. If not for the deer I'd just slow down and if I didn't see a critter I'd keep going. But I have to either walk up to them or use the binos to make sure they are still hanging.

Even if one somehow got it's foot in the loop and cabled itself, I doubt it would be there when I rolled in to check. We are required to have break-away devices (BAD's) built into our CR's that must be rated at 375 lbs. or less. They are designed to break and free a large animal like a deer when it lunges.

We only started using CR's legally in PA about ten years ago. It's another tool. A good one in freeze/thaw or snowy conditions.

I have the first 40+ inches made out of 1x19 x 3/32nds cable Then I have a barrel swivel attached at that point. Then the rest of the CR Is made out of 7X7X 3/32nds.
The reason for the 1X19 on the loop end Is It doesn't unwind like the 7X7 cable and that makes It pretty much chew restraint.
If you get them made to your specs get them made with J hook BADs. I had tons of crush on BADs that failed. I would never trust them.
I have only caught 2 deer and the CR killed them stone dead.
I use a steel rod for my stabilizer and a very stiff wire support. I have driven right down the trail with the truck and have just pushed the loop out of the way and It just swung back Into position when I went by.
I don't like those wire pig tails or the plastic collars. The wire pigtails are nothing but junk and the plastic crap gets hard In the winter and It's hard to get your support wire In. I use a rubber gas line hose for my cable support wire. If your Cs come with any of those support collars Just cut It off and replace with the rubber collars. Just split the rubber collars slip them In place and hen make a couple of wraps around them with some electrons tape.

If your state offers a class take it That way you should be starting out using the proper size cables and set ups.Plus you will have a better understanding of the regulations A younger friend had been urging me to take the course and try CR'S on my line . I kept saying I was not all that interested in adding a lot more gear to what I already had .Finally in the spring of 2017 I took the course and I was ready to go I thought . It took me about 10 days or so until I caught the first fox in a CR I was having trouble with hanging them the proper way Once I caught a few It was a simple way to catch .As Lugnut said they keep working even in the freezing and thawing conditions Even freezing rain only puts them out of commission for a day or perhaps two.Windy days sometimes cause them to get knocked over .But most of the time it is set them and check them .Lugnut great pictures They show great locations and the kind of place you look for when setting CR'S I should do a ride along just to learn how to take pictures

With the right support system wind will never knock down a CR.

Beav, I use the wire pigtails and you are right, they're junk. I like your idea of rubber gas line. I'm going to try that this season. Does it release off the support wire after a catch?

What killed the deer? PM me if needed.

The support wire comes right out of the hose with no problems.
Those 2 deer were adult deer both does and no catch circle. I have been told It's partly do to stress.

I think my CR's are close to same as Beav's.
1x19 loop end, swivel, 7x7 on bottom end.

One piece of advice I can give you-
Don't set CR's in the middle of a Burdock patch.

Had to comb out a lot of burdocks from this guy

A lot of info can be found on line. Cable restraint makers, videos on setting, and how to make your own. It's all out there on the internet if you search for it. Attend the state trappers meeting in St Roberts and you will find trappers willing to show you in person.

Spot on. You can't go wrong with this set up.

So after a catch I save all the parts. Of coarse the loop part Is pretty much toast. So I made a deal with my snare builder to just sell me the loop end with the lock and the BAD. You can reuse the 7X7 end with no problems.

CRs are just like snares you just can't set In, In entanglement. If you have snow find a track and hang a loop. A 12" loop 12" off the ground.

Lugnut thanks for the pictures and explanation

I took the class when they first started offering it but I was still in highschool then so it’s been 12 or 13 years. Never set many but I could see where they would come in handy in spots I’d like to try some again this fall

Hern and beav Those set ups look likely might be more fur friendly

You are welcome to ride along with me anytime West Side.

... good info in here

If you're interested in good CRs don't buy anymore from the snare shop. Their components are just fine but their premade snares/CRs are poorly constructed IMO. Those pigtail cone shaped wammies(support collars) are PURE JUNK! Rubber or vinyl hose is ok but real metal wammies properly sized for your cable and support wire are top of the line IMO.

PM Newt or get a hold of Rally or call JD at Roadrunner Snares if you want the good stuff, properly put together and loaded for smooth operation. If they cost a little more it'll be paid back fast in more catches.



~ADC~

Yes I agree and as I was new to the use of CR'S i WAS NOT using the right support system

Foxes are so much easier than coyotes and don't chew out either if you have them around to catch!













And my favorite picture of a double on a two track....

Great pics ADC, love the double with the happy youngster.

Thanks for the good advice, I'll take it.

Just wanted to say thanks folks for the information and photos I appreciate it.

B