Originally Posted By: VarminterrorSome states require break-away links on snares (wanna say 150#) in case you catch deer. Frankly, my experience has been that break-away links are worse than hard tied. At least if a deer gets stuck in my snare set, it has a chance of me finding it in the morning before it's dead. On the other hand, I've found dead deer with torn away snares that got snagged over fences, in brush, etc. Around the neck, 150lbs is enough to set the snare tight enough to kill a deer, but if it catches a leg, the break-aways let the deer escape WITH A SNARE SET AROUND THEIR LEG. A tarp, a pair of partners, and some wire cutters get a leg snared deer free. But if it runs off, then it's usually coyotes that get it out of the snare after it snags up on something else.
That's the bad part of catch/kill traps like conibears or snares, non-specific catch, and kill before you get there. Gotta have a tough stomach, 'cuz every now and then a deer, neighbors run-away dog, etc will find their way into your trap. (Not condemning it, just saying it happens).
I think you have the wrong idea on how beakaways work, The idea on a breakawy snare is for the snare to breakaway on the lock end of the snare when deer or livestock are accidently caught. The snare should remain attached to the staking device not with the animal.