How does everyone do this? I found a few good spots on sandbars where I am not able to tie off onto a tree or branches. Whats the best way to stake down a coyote or a cat on a sandbar?

Cross stake a disposable anchor is a idea

I use 20" disposable earth anchors is sandy areas

I pretty much hate cable stakes. Yes they hold animals just fine and are light. They are also pricey, a real pain to pull and just dont last long.

A pair of 24 inch rebar stakes, cross staked will hold in sand provided its wet sand a few inches down. (same with disposable stakes. need some moisture) Dry sugar sand you can bury a HEAVY concrete block, or a piece of tree limb about 4 feet long that weighs 20-30 pounds. Bury the tree limb flat not perpendicular like a fence post. Trap chain tied in the middle of it. You need at least 6 feet of chain so the animal will never pull up on it. bury them a foot and a half deep.

I was gfoing to suggest the dead head method but Danny beat me to it. Lol. I have buried two steel t post crossed to make an x and wired together to get a somewhat decent anchor. T post were just what i had. If they happened to pull it out it would have made a really good drag. I was just sitting for coon and it was a blind set but i was worried about a coyote being in the area and strolling down through th ewater to get around. Only caught coon and it worked great for me in that environment. easier to dig a small trench cross ways for a steel post as well. This was when i was younger though. Now I would just use a drag if i could.

Take a One gallon paint can lid drill a hole though It and attach your chain to a eye bolt In the lid. Then bury it would take a John Deer to pull It. It's called a dead man. And It works a lot better then a stick. Just takes a little digging.

I came up with this set up while trying to stake our tent on this sand bar. None of my stakes where going to work So along comes this old timer and asks me If we are having a problem. And he then explained what I needed to do.
Well the In laws lived just up the river so I went and got some lids. Worked like a charm.

Those river sand bars are magnets for coon and fox. All the summer canoer's camp on them and leave lots of garbage In their camp fires.

A drag, like that 1 that I think is called the Sabre Tooth. Most trapping supply stores sell the good drags. Add some chain and swivels. Make it, oh, maybe 8' long. Bury it. Beav's idea sounds simple though, and inexpensive.

if you do your pre season work and just haul a post hole digger around you can make short work out of digging the holes.
I couldn't us a drag because I was working sand bars and large limbs tend to float away with your catch.

Got any farmer buddies around ? In your neck of the woods there’ll be lots of these for cheep . Drill a hole and use a j hook Like a big pogo or two holes and put your cable directly on the sickle . You would still use a pogo type driver and 20” to 24” of cable and now you don’t have to dig a hole .

I don't think they would hold In sugar sand. And you can't be sure If it will turn over when you set It.

They are no different than any other earth anchor , they do have to be set . I sent one of these to a guy in Alaska, maybe he will chime in . He was going to use it in sand also .

I thought we were talking just sand but if its sugar sand Golfball on it. Imo
Golf ball that works very well.
OG takes about old sickle section in sugar sand in a couple articles.
Hoofbeats of wolfer come to mind.
We do not have that problem out here often but works when I need it to.

This works for me, i don't do it alot but some areas can't be passed up.