I have always staked all my coon set solid with either pogo or rebar stakes however I have a few areas were I want to try and get the animal out of view and cut down on the weight I hall in and have always like the idea using drags but have never tried it. Was just wondering what everyone else use for coon drag set ups are you buying and hook up commercial drags? and about how far are they getting before hanging up? I was thinking of using fence staples to large logs since the woods I trap is full of them just not sure how well it would work or if the coons can work the staples loose? Just wondering what you all think?

i like 6 ft of chain and coyote grapple with at least 3 swivels between the trap and drag.go nowhere.

I have cut live saplings for drags but would be leery of stuff found on the forest floor. Coon will climb so look up. Fasten for your largest possible catch.

Hardwood limb about 6 foot long, 4 inches thick used to be how I fastened all coon sets. In any brush they only go a few feet, in most cases. I've gone to staked, Staples (into tree roots), or grapples now. They tangle fast but very occasionally will climb with a grapple. To cut down on weight, I'd just use the Staples. To hide them, put him behind a big tree. Drags don't always work so well for hiding stuff.

Freedom brand drags come with a built in dp holder. I think! Those drags only weigh around two lbs

I think they'd pull the staples out.

If concerned with getting them out of sight, just run a slide wire.

A 2" fence staple into a root will hold I have vever had a coon pull one. I have had coon pull a 18" rebar and clime a tree with trap, rebar, chain, and all.

What Ron said, a 2 inch fence staple in green wood won't be pulled out by thieves or furbearers. You will need a tool to pry them out. I've held coon out of sight right along the road by putting the trap on the back side of a big tree, or giving him a hollow tree to hide in. Put him on a drag and you can bet he tangles right in full view of everyone.

Ok, I guess I wasn't thinking of a 2" long staple.

Yep had a coon drag a cinder block up a bank and onto a flat area for the world to see as they drive by. I anchor or drown all my coon ever since. I didn't think a coon could do that with a big ole heavy block but it happened.
Had a coon took a grapple pretty high up in a tree once too, was awful time to retrieve it. Was last coon Grapple I used too.
Prior to that yes had some real nice hookups and hiding catches with both drags and grapples. These we're probably exceptional cases, but left a permanent impression on me.
Long chains, good bite on grapples, and heavy drags would be my thoughts. I firmly believe that pound for pound in my area, a good sized boar is one of the strongest animals we can trap here. Can grab with all four feet, run right up side of a tall cottonwood, and swim like no other. Tried to release one once out of season by throwing my coat over it and jumped on it. He lifted me up. I let him have my coat while I hiked back to the truck for the catch pole. That is an incredibly strong animal for it's size.
Set for a mouse, but stake for an elephant, that was what my uncle taught me in coon trapping.
Jim

On the Staples too, I have used those long ones with great results. Be sure you are nailing into solid wood though. Cottonwood here has extremely thick bark and unless you can shave that off down to the solid wood beneath to drive in a staple, the 2" wouldn't be long enough to go through both bark and still hit solid wood beneath. Just a thought.
Jim

you're coon are probably half again bigger than mine jab,plus terrain is a huge factor.they also definately aren't hidden a lot of times when its a flat circle ten feet across with a giant black blob in the middle of nowhere.their purpose for me is preserving the original set.

I have gone to longer cables to get them to tie up in brush close to , but not right on, the original set in many cases. Chain is better if you have it.

I run Sabertooth, JC Conner, and Doug66 drags and all work well, but if the coon climbs I can be working to get it down, ESPECIALLY if it is a back foot catch in a coyote set!

For coon specific, I'll stay away from drags, thank you very much.