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Need advice on anchoring my traps #6595877
08/16/19 11:47 AM
08/16/19 11:47 AM
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 81
SW Wisconsin
Motley Row Offline OP
trapper
Motley Row  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 81
SW Wisconsin
Hey guys, I’m pretty pumped on drawing my first bobcat tag in Wisconsin. I’m very green when it comes to trapping, so bare with me.

I ordered 6 new MB-550 traps. I also work in a machine shop, so I have access to welding/fabrication tools. I was thinking about making my own stakes out of rebar, with a washer welded on top. My question is, is that ok? I will be trapping in rocky clay ridges. I was thinking maybe 1/2” x 20” long? Again, I’m only targeting bobcat, but there are coyotes around.

Also, the 550’s come with that short chain on them, and what looks to be a swivel on the end of chain. How do I attach that swivel end to the stake? Do I just take an S hook, and connect one end to the swivel, and other end to a washer of some sort, and then drive stake down through that washer?

Thanks for any info you can give this greenhorn trapper.

Re: Need advice on anchoring my traps [Re: Motley Row] #6595889
08/16/19 12:17 PM
08/16/19 12:17 PM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,336
SE MN
2cylinder Offline
trapper
2cylinder  Offline
trapper

Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,336
SE MN
I run rebar like your talking about doing. I buy the double stake swivels available at any trapping suppliers and attach those right to the chain. And I run 1/2" rebar 24" long with a nut welded to the top

Last edited by 2cylinder; 08/16/19 12:18 PM.

Rebuilding john deere and international/farmall carburetors
Re: Need advice on anchoring my traps [Re: 2cylinder] #6595896
08/16/19 12:28 PM
08/16/19 12:28 PM
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 81
SW Wisconsin
Motley Row Offline OP
trapper
Motley Row  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 81
SW Wisconsin
Originally Posted by 2cylinder
I run rebar like your talking about doing. I buy the double stake swivels available at any trapping suppliers and attach those right to the chain. And I run 1/2" rebar 24" long with a nut welded to the top


ok good, I just found them and bought some of the doubles.... I see some guys weld nuts on top, and some weld washers. Why use nuts vs washers? Do you use the nut to turn the stakes if they get froze in or something?

Last edited by Motley Row; 08/16/19 12:29 PM.
Re: Need advice on anchoring my traps [Re: Motley Row] #6595903
08/16/19 12:41 PM
08/16/19 12:41 PM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,336
SE MN
2cylinder Offline
trapper
2cylinder  Offline
trapper

Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,336
SE MN
Nope... I just use nuts because I feel they are stronger so when I pry them out in the winter the nuts dont bend like the washers , so for me it's just personal preference.

Last edited by 2cylinder; 08/16/19 12:42 PM.

Rebuilding john deere and international/farmall carburetors
Re: Need advice on anchoring my traps [Re: Motley Row] #6595927
08/16/19 01:20 PM
08/16/19 01:20 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,664
Wisconsin
G
Green Bay Offline
trapper
Green Bay  Offline
trapper
G

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,664
Wisconsin
x 2 on the nuts. Easy to get a vice grips on in frozen conditions. Also put them down about a 1/2" from the top so you aren't pounding on the weld. They will mushroom over time.


Author of The Lure Hunter: A Guide to Finding Fishing Lures
Re: Need advice on anchoring my traps [Re: Motley Row] #6595962
08/16/19 02:12 PM
08/16/19 02:12 PM
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 81
SW Wisconsin
Motley Row Offline OP
trapper
Motley Row  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 81
SW Wisconsin
Got it, nuts it is! Thanks guys!

Re: Need advice on anchoring my traps [Re: Motley Row] #6596017
08/16/19 03:25 PM
08/16/19 03:25 PM
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 247
Nova Scotia, Canada
scotiantrapper Offline
trapper
scotiantrapper  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 247
Nova Scotia, Canada
You could always go with ten feet of chain and build yourself some drags. I make my drags heavy enough that the animals don’t go within 20 yards but I do pre hook my drags as well.

Re: Need advice on anchoring my traps [Re: scotiantrapper] #6596097
08/16/19 04:37 PM
08/16/19 04:37 PM
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 81
SW Wisconsin
Motley Row Offline OP
trapper
Motley Row  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 81
SW Wisconsin
Originally Posted by scotiantrapper
You could always go with ten feet of chain and build yourself some drags. I make my drags heavy enough that the animals don’t go within 20 yards but I do pre hook my drags as well.


I have thought of drags, but I'm a little worried about the cat dragging it onto the neighbors land, and or losing one.

For you guys that anchor, do you drive the stake in directly under the trap, or do you drive it in a little away from the trap? I've seen plenty of video's of where it appears they drove it in right under the trap, but don't you have to worry about the trap then laying on the chain, and not getting a good solid trap bed? Maybe I'm over thinking it.

Re: Need advice on anchoring my traps [Re: Motley Row] #6596490
08/17/19 01:55 AM
08/17/19 01:55 AM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,336
SE MN
2cylinder Offline
trapper
2cylinder  Offline
trapper

Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,336
SE MN
I go right under the trap and I put a little "pocket" in the trap bed for the chain to go.

Last edited by 2cylinder; 08/17/19 01:56 AM.

Rebuilding john deere and international/farmall carburetors
Re: Need advice on anchoring my traps [Re: Motley Row] #6596684
08/17/19 11:02 AM
08/17/19 11:02 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,459
Montana
Taximan Offline
trapper
Taximan  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,459
Montana
With bobcats,you can use log drags with a heavy limb drag.I stake solid due to mountain lions but drags work well on cats,though there is also a chance for them to climb.

A lot of Western trappers use cable extensions to tie off to trees,etc..6' to 10' cables,depending on tree size.Earth anchors work well also.

Re: Need advice on anchoring my traps [Re: Taximan] #6599467
08/21/19 11:05 AM
08/21/19 11:05 AM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 8,231
Misery
Michael Morris Offline
"Hombre que mata demasiadas cosas"
Michael Morris  Offline
"Hombre que mata demasiadas cosas"

Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 8,231
Misery
Originally Posted by scotiantrapper
You could always go with ten feet of chain and build yourself some drags. I make my drags heavy enough that the animals don’t go within 20 yards but I do pre hook my drags as well.


Originally Posted by Taximan
With bobcats,you can use log drags with a heavy limb drag.I stake solid due to mountain lions but drags work well on cats,though there is also a chance for them to climb.

A lot of Western trappers use cable extensions to tie off to trees,etc..6' to 10' cables,depending on tree size.Earth anchors work well also.



x2 to both of these. I very rarely stake a cat trap, most all cat sets are on drags or cable extensions tied off to a nearby tree or log.


Push yourself to be more than you were
Re: Need advice on anchoring my traps [Re: Motley Row] #6599568
08/21/19 02:20 PM
08/21/19 02:20 PM
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 265
Indiana
H
Hunter23 Offline
trapper
Hunter23  Offline
trapper
H

Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 265
Indiana
wolf fangs.

Re: Need advice on anchoring my traps [Re: Motley Row] #6599658
08/21/19 05:23 PM
08/21/19 05:23 PM
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 92
Alabama
T
Tsouth87 Offline
trapper
Tsouth87  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 92
Alabama
I got board and looked pictures up of “disposable stakes” I’m not a fan of cable/ wire rope bc I always seemed to end up with a loop sticking straight up in my trap bed. Second down side was I couldn’t reuse them unless I wanted to shovel (fat guys and shovels don’t mix!). So I build anchors out of 1/2” pipe about 3” long and welded the link of some machine chain to the pipe. On one end I cut the stubs at 45 degree angle. While the other end I cut a split down about 3/4” of an inch, then pounded it closed then sawed of to a point and welded it shut. I know it seems time consuming but I made three in about 10 mins. I had a bent piece of 1/2” rod welded a nut to it for a driving rod. I attach them with a swivel and J hooks. I drive mine in about 12” and if I hit something and can’t get all the chain drove down it lays great under my trap. With these stakes I can made a pulled to pull my stakes and reuse them.

Good luck!

Re: Need advice on anchoring my traps [Re: Motley Row] #6600121
08/22/19 08:40 AM
08/22/19 08:40 AM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 8,231
Misery
Michael Morris Offline
"Hombre que mata demasiadas cosas"
Michael Morris  Offline
"Hombre que mata demasiadas cosas"

Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 8,231
Misery
You can reuse disposable stakes, they make stake pullers like these, or you can fashion your own, that's what I did.

[Linked Image]

Probably in the minority, but I like the cable stakes better than the chained. Make them myself, I like 1/8" cable, make them about 10-12 inches, super stake ends. I dont have cable sticking up in my trap bed, because I drive the cable all the way down below the surface. The reason I like cable more is that it is easier, cheaper and quicker to repair when you break them, the chains you have to reweld, splice together sometimes, cable repair is just easier imho. There's a lot of different ways to anchor traps, just gotta find the one that fits ya smile


Push yourself to be more than you were
Re: Need advice on anchoring my traps [Re: Motley Row] #6601679
08/23/19 10:18 PM
08/23/19 10:18 PM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 839
McCurtain Co. Oklahoma
O
OKforester Offline
trapper
OKforester  Offline
trapper
O

Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 839
McCurtain Co. Oklahoma
I’ve used the 24” 1/2 inch rebar with nut welded on top, 8-10’ extension cables tied to a tree, and saber tooth drags. All will hold bobcats or coyotes just fine. I’m leaning more and more to the drags. Pounding stakes gets old in a hurry. The cables are great when there is a tree handy but sometimes there’s not one. The drags are quick, easy and dependable. Cats won’t take a saber tooth drag very far in the country I trap in. The coyotes sometimes do wander off 50 yds or so but I have always been able to find them.

Re: Need advice on anchoring my traps [Re: Motley Row] #6601789
08/24/19 05:00 AM
08/24/19 05:00 AM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 570
Communist State Of New York
Archeryguy Offline
trapper
Archeryguy  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 570
Communist State Of New York
I use this punch for dirtholes in our rocky soil. I also use it to punch a hole directly below my trap for for my stake and chain. Serves a double purpose to drain the trap bed when it rains.

[Linked Image]

Re: Need advice on anchoring my traps [Re: Motley Row] #6602210
08/24/19 06:03 PM
08/24/19 06:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,750
williamsburg ks
D
danny clifton Offline
"Grumpy Old Man"
danny clifton  Offline
"Grumpy Old Man"
D

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,750
williamsburg ks
lots of ways to skin or catch a cat. don't get a whole bunch of different equipment right off. go with your rebar plan. they work great. after you trap some you will start getting more of an idea what you prefer or want to experiment with.


Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
Re: Need advice on anchoring my traps [Re: Michael Morris] #6602432
08/24/19 10:29 PM
08/24/19 10:29 PM
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 288
new mexico
B
bmccoyote Offline
trapper
bmccoyote  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 288
new mexico
Originally Posted by Michael Morris
Originally Posted by scotiantrapper
You could always go with ten feet of chain and build yourself some drags. I make my drags heavy enough that the animals don’t go within 20 yards but I do pre hook my drags as well.


Originally Posted by Taximan
With bobcats,you can use log drags with a heavy limb drag.I stake solid due to mountain lions but drags work well on cats,though there is also a chance for them to climb.

A lot of Western trappers use cable extensions to tie off to trees,etc..6' to 10' cables,depending on tree size.Earth anchors work well also.



x2 to both of these. I very rarely stake a cat trap, most all cat sets are on drags or cable extensions tied off to a nearby tree or log.



Rebar, earth anchors or drags all work will on cats, I've used all but prefer drags as it is just a little quicker for me and we have a lot of bursh. Cats on drags will seek the closest cover once cause and definitely don't forget to look up if you have trees around.

Re: Need advice on anchoring my traps [Re: Motley Row] #6602537
08/25/19 12:41 AM
08/25/19 12:41 AM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,073
montana
R
red mt Offline
trapper
red mt  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,073
montana
All I use for cats are drags on 10 of chain. Simple lay them out on ground rarely do the drag move unless in the rocks on steep mountain grades. As so as they find cover away from set they will be there..
Hope you catch your cat,, however you decide.
Red


Kenneth schoening
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