Alright, I got the privilege to ride around with Rick Olson Thanksgiving weekend and he uses a pick axe. I've always used a heavy hammer with a piece of steel sharpened to dig but I bought a pick axe to try and its okay but not as good as I thought. Ive seen people use masonry hammers and might try that route. Anyone try one compared to a pick axe?

A good axe would work better then a pick axe. And wear eye protection.

I'm with Beav on this, tried the pick ax...wasn't impressed and yes wear eye protection.

I've tried a number of different things and always seem to go back to my trapping hammer. Might be different if I was putting in a hundred or more traps.

I've been using an old brick layers hammer up until today. Everything froze up last night. It's an old Vaughn hammer and I had it re-furbished by them this past summer with an 18" handle instead of the standard shorter handle. I probably won't be putting in any new sets until 2-3 days from now, but I don't think it will have enough weight, its a 2lb hammer, longer claw than the current manufacture. It did work great 'til now.
I'll post back when I give it a try in frozen ground.

Axe

I used my trapping hammer again this year. Not fun but it works. Somebody needs to come up with a auger like for dirt holes but will stand up to the frozen ground.

My biggest goal is to get beds and dirtholes dug and cable stakes set before it freezes. I made some this year that I have not even hooked up to yet, but they are ready when I get there.

MNCedar I have areas like that also. I made some chain stakes that stay in the ground for every year use.

When the ground gets super hard,I use a Dewalt,rotary hammer with chisel.Some think this is heavy.It is not.It allows me to leavebe hind a 4 and 5 lb hammer,and allows me to drill stakes in and saves my shoulder and wrist,also,when digging trap beds.

One of the coolest things about it,is that there are NO chips thrown-None.The frozen chips just slide off the chisel blade.

I also use it with earth augers but the augers I have don't work that great when the ground is flint hard.In those conditions,I use a 1"×10" masonry bit for mouse holes.I can put in more sets in a day with this setup and no wear and tear on my wrist,elbow or shoulder.

I will try to get pictures tomorrow.Thought I had some on this phone.

In my experience grounds vary. But I often have better luck with a sledge (5 or 8 lb). Pound ground down especially near the pines.

I like a mason chisel

I bought one of those but never got the chance to use It In frozen ground. But It worked perfect In regular ground. The trap beds came out perfect with nice straight vertical sides.

Like this, with an impact driver? I saw this at the FTA 2 years ago, where this vendor (Papio Creek) had a booth.

Copy and paste this link into your browser to see what I'm talking about.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/6-X-3-Double-Flight-Trap-Bed-Auger-7-16-Shaft-USA-VETERAN-MADE/251802228610?hash=item3aa0951782:g:kuAAAOSw0e9Uv-di

It might work on your frozen trap line.?

I go to a 7/8" masonry hammer drill bit when the ground gets frozen. I cant imagine the power a drill would need to drill a 2" hole in frozen ground within a couple minutes.

I use a 2lbs grubbing hoe when it freezes up. Hard to find but works for me. Watch farm auctions.