Putting some sets in today and found last years cable stake left in the frozen ground from January . No visible rust and after a hard solid pull from me it didn't even budge. I quick linked my trap to it. Should I have just drove a new one ? was this a bad idea ? -Thanks

I leave cable stakes in the ground sometimes as long as I know nobody will be running a mower there. They are usually good for 3 seasons or so in our soil.

I've reused them one season. Haven't gone more than that buy only because I was able to pull them in year two.
Jim

If I doubt it, I will drive a new one right beside it and hook to both. Most of the time, if I leave them, it’s because they aren’t coming out.

U have used last year's with no problem. I have periods when I can trap, so when I have to pull i leave the anchor, clean out the trap bed and hole. That way when I come back for some late season trapping and the ground is froze i just add waxed dirt,bait, lure and urine and I'm running

As an experiment, I left several cable stakes in the ground and found they kept their integrity for 5 years before failing. Soil type, acidity etc, will vary results. If legal, SS would be a good idea, if you can stand the extra cost, and the landowner doesn't care. Tie a short piece of flagging material to the loop to expedite re locating them.

Surveyors flagging disintegrated on me. I've gone to neon orange 550 cord, about 20 inches long, tied to the chain or loop. I try to cover it in a ball with a small rock over it. Shift a few rocks and I can usually find the 550 cord. And it lasts a few years.

They would be rusted here.

I make all mine out of stainless 1/8" cable these days.I also spray the anchor head with gray primer and tune that up before each season.

If on my own land, 3/32 I put new in every year. 1/8, every other year. Not my land, I pull them after each season. I can't say with any certainty what the max time would be for any cable stake. Too many factors.