This next season I will be making my own 1/2” rebar stakes. I’m wondering if there is a significant advantage of using a 24” length as opposed to a 18” length. I realize that the 24” will obviously be heavier to lug around. I’m mostly looking to see if anyone has noticed a significance in holding power between the 2 different lengths.

It all depends on your soil type and the target animal. In my soil type one 18" stake works just fine for coon. I can use one 24" for coyote when the ground is frozen. If the ground isn't frozen you cross stake (2 stakes) with 18" for coyotes.

Yep, soil type matters. My 18" double stake in east texas did not work is the rain soaked soils of arkansas. Had to go double stake with 24"

I use 20” stakes. If I question the soil I use double stakes, all my traps are set up with 18-20” of chain and a JC Connor double stake ring.

I guess when in doubt, it needs to be double staked and as long as possible. Thanks fellas.

Mine are 20 - 24 inch. We have mainly sandy soil. I usually use one stake for fox and coon. But with my experience from the past I always double stake my sets if they are for coyote if I am using rebar.

Exactly right.I used to use rebar like everyone else did before the disposable stakes made their appearance,when I wasn't using drags that is.Never again.We have a sandy soil to outright sugar sand up here,I've had fox pump a 24" stake 10-12" out of the ground more than once.The only reason I never lost a coyote on those setups was because mange and distemper had all but eliminated them.When they came back I was big time into drags and disposable stakes. I double staked a lot with Berkshire double stake swivels,they worked great but didn't like carrying around 2 24" stakes for every trap.

Like said depends on your soil type. I have fairly heavy clay and 18” double stake does the job.

If you're making your own, make different lengths. You will use them all. I do...everything from 18" to 4 ft.

One thing to remember, if you keep the stake straight, it's not any harder for us to pull a 30" stake than an 18" stake. Longer is better. I rarely use the 18" anymore.

I did watch an old female coyote pull a 24" stake out of the ground (loam/clay) with her teeth once. She started on the second one when I rolled up. Guessing total fluke but.... I went to 30" where I could after that.

Many years ago, when I learned coyotes were too much work for too little return, I used cross staked 3/8-inch rebar that doubled for fox and coon. Then I got older and coyotes were worth more and I went to disposables. Finally, after getting self conscious over leaving too much cable in the ground, I discovered better sets, closer to the truck, where using rebar cross staking wasn’t a heavy metal carrying issue and use two 18-inch cross stakes for coyotes. We have clay-loam soil. I also inherited a 3-pound maul that makes driving stakes much easier.