I have never used drags before but am planning on making a few for this season as I had a few occasions where it would've been handy in keeping my site in good shape to remake.

My question for everyone is have you seen it necessary to add a shock spring towards the trap end? I have seen some set up this way and can see where it should help in theory with a coyote lunging on a long chain. Your thoughts?

Also, when adding swivels in the chain, do you weld j-hooks shut?

Thanks

Not needed but wouldn't hurt.

They generally wrap up pretty close and if it is in brush,which it often is,there is lots of flex and shock absorption as it is.They also fight the brush more and the trap less.I see no harm in putting one on but also don't think it is needed.

nope.

X2 I've used drags exclusively for 60 years and like said above, the drag is seldom if ever being held solid by some object, but rather caught on small trees, brush, etc that serve as shock springs when an animal lunges

Sums up my experience too.

Thanks guys, I won't worry about them then.

ok im new to drags as well this will be my set up 4.75lbs drag, 3'log chain ,10'#2 chain ,these will be intended for cats in timber country. Will that set up on these drags hold a cat from taking off?

Tony those drags will work just fine for cats in timbered stuff, the 10 foot of #2 chain would be fine without the additional 3 foot of logging chain in my opinion, especially with an Airedale assistant.

thanks turd im just leary about losing a trap! And a land owner finding a dead animal with my rig on it! My hopes are the airedale will start owning her keep this winter! I started her last season at 5 months old. Shes come along ways but still a lot of pup in her!.That was my sole purpose in owning her was to run a lot more drags. I've made a few that i've been told should lock down a yote in open country! This season I plan on attaching one of those drags to a caught yote and see for myself. Lol but im going to try it in a frozen bean field! If it makes it a 100 yards or less ill be happy!Then its game on!!

...im just leary about losing a trap!
TONY.F, a trick I use with my drags- (shown to me by Kyle Renninger, Pa. aka Renny28)

I tie surveyor ribbon, with long tail, onto my drags. I can spot the ribbon faster than see a caught animal.


Trap set on breast of pond. Drag & chain 35 yards away, leading into uprooted tree...


A closer look under the root ball...

Thanks herm I considered attaching a surveyors flag to the drag so I could check from a distance

Nice lil fox drag design if your making your own. Half inch rebar body and prongs are the big spike nails from the feed store sharpened up

Herns spot on with the surveyors tape. I attach it in three places along the chain. Leaves a trail to follow easier and much easier to spot the animal.

I'd hope a dog helps aliviate finding a caught critter.Seen were lots of fellas use surveyors tape on drags. Honestly im to green with drags to know the rite answer. But im not scared to try new techniques. As a teen I used lots of clogs on coon and mink sets but yotes were a oddity then. My concern are how much weight for a drag is best? My big drags I intend to try on yotes in open country are 12.lbs! On 5'of log chain swivel then 8' of #3 chain, swivel then trap set up 10" of chain and two more swivels! I think im over thinking drags I've tested them behind a 4 wheeler at 15mph to see if they drag or bounce. so far they dig trenchs! My confidence is building on them!

All of my traps are set up on drags that I made my self from 1/2 inch sucker rod and cotton picker spindles. They are all on 10 to 12 feet of #2 or #3, with at least 3 swivels, sometimes 4. None of my j hooks are welded shut and I don't use shock springs and have never had any problems, but I'm just after coyotes and bobcats. I did catch one of them 30 point 4 legged critters one time, and didn't have anything get tore up or bent. With that being said though, when I get ready to go after a lion I will definitely have a heavier drag, with heavy chain, welded j hooks and possibly shock springs. I think the most important thing on a drag is to have the points out far enough that they really hook up good. This pic is of some that I made to go on my k9 jrs, the rest of mine have a longer shaft on them, like wolfdog91s, but basically the same concept.