For those who use bamboo for staking/flagging whats the life expectancy of the bamboo?

Nobody uses bamboo for staking/flagging at muskrat huts?

I use them for muskrat trapping in marsh areas. Usually one season, if they are still in good shape I’ll store in barn and try to get another season on them. Most times they don’t get through second season.

Thanks rat killer

we have bamboo/river cane stakes that weve used for 10+ years, some longer than that. they have to be stored indoors between seasons for them to last. you have to have the first growth cane, not the following years growth. the first growth will be a different color than the re-growth, and the regrowth will be a brighter green color, and very thin walled.

Same here

I have my first group of 200 3/4 inch by 7 foot that I bought in 2009. I have about 180 left. They hold up well. Almost all I lost was coons in the cattails. The coons got the chains around the cattails and chewed the stakes off above the sliding loop. I have more otter then I wanted with them too. I store mine inside. They stay firm with no rot. They don't take on water weight, their light and straight. I have 200 plus of the 1/2 inch that are of a lower grade and I use those for ice trapping rats. They are not nearly as strong and break more easily. I ordered anoth 100 two years ago. They are 5/8 inch by 7 foot. They are tapered with strong bottoms and thinner tops and really are strong. They came from Home Depot and I will order from them again. They charged about 18 cents more per stake but freight is free if you have them sent to the store. The store is about 25 miles from my house so they wound up being a lot cheaper then paying the freight costs.

Bryce

Thanks for the info. Very helpful.