I have seen on here topics about whether to use rebar stakes or drags or cable/chain stakes. and how hard/easy either stake is to pull at the end of the season. I was just kinda wondering how many here leave a cable/chain stake in the ground and just quick connect your trap the next year and set in the exact same spot. Over the years I have found many favorite spots for critters and sometimes I use the same indention of the prior year's trap bed to place my new set the following year. I do not leave my chain super stake as all my traps have them welded permanently to the chain with mighty hooks. I have set many traps over the years and used the exact same bed and even found the exact same dirt hole (if it was a dirt hole set) to clean out and use again. Some spots are just killer spots year after year.

My cat cages are set up to be chained to the same location each year, for theft.
Cat traps the anchors are left at the same spots. Usually a chunk of cut log for the drag. Our laws limit some things here.

Osky

Unless there have been drastic changes to the landscape last years locations will be my starting points.

I have a few spots that remain the same, and any anchor is hard to reclaim at these spots, so a cable stake is all right.

ii know its not a problem probably but i have a phobia of using them,cable or chain,after they been in the ground a year.

Maybe stainless cable would fix some of that?

I've used some from the last year without any problems. But then I test them with my cable puller to make sure they are still good to go. If questionable than they get replaced.

Our ground is too acidic to leave a cable stake in all year. I’ve contemplated getting some 1/8 “ stainless for that purpose.

I tried that too and found it weak. Pull wax then reuse do not leave in.

I trapped down South for a dozen plus years and left them in...had that red clay ground and never had any issues. NOW to be clear the disposables were left in the timber and/or field away from farm vehicles, trucks etc.
It was slick to just hook back up with a j-hook.

I've left the Berkshire HD cables in the ground and reused for the next 2 seasons. I tied some marking tape to the end to make it easy to find the next year. After the third year I cut off and put new ones in.

I got a couple spots where I've left cables in the ground. Their out of the way were they'd never get in any farm machinery or anything for that matter. The ones I left were hard to get in and would be harder to pull. So I flagged them with ribbon and kick some leaves over them. One spot I've had traps in that trail for probably 30 years or more now.. cables that are in the ground there now are second set and been in there maybe 10 years.

Mac

I've always felt that way also cables rot from the inside out so I always wondered if they were strong the next year or a year after.

Dis-similarities of metal create corrosion around the contact points. Aluminum is really bad for this process.
Steel on steel....is a way some trappers have used when they put anchors in areas they get stuck yearly on their paths, and have a pivot point to winch on and out.
Who said wolf fangs were made just for one purpose.

I do not know about foot hold traps but last year I caught 2 male bobcats in the same location in snares tied to the same small tree.

This year I caught 2 male bobcats and 1 female coyote at the same location in snares tied to the same small tree.

Again the old saying prevails ----- LOCATION - LOCATION - LOCATION

I kind of figured he was talking about making a set In the same spot year after year. Not about leaving the stake behind to re use. I would never leave any cable behind to re use. But I'm a true disposable man I cut and go.