Why do you use drags. I understand it allows the animal to get away from the set but why do you want this . I have zero experience with them . I thought they would be useful on frozen ground but I am afraid to use them and loose an animal .

To Rocky to use ground anchor

Lots of reason for the use of drags, getting the catch out of view would be one, ground unsuitable to stake, to preserve the set sight, sometimes the circle burn is unwanted. To name a few..

So my set does not get ruined
To hide the catch away from the set.

Preserving the set is a small reason but the biggest is not having to pound in a bunch of earth anchors into this rock hard clay with a four pound hammer, then having to either drill them back out with my earth auger or pull them out with the four wheeler winch when I pull traps.

My main reason I’m going more and more to them is stake driving and pulling. It’s physically so much easier with drags. A bonus is they get out of sight in case of a 70 degree day in Jan. when they get their ATV’s out. I do have spots I will stake but mostly I have drag friendly conditions.

You and me Cheechako 😁

I use drags in situations where it’s too rocky to drive a stake (and Nevada is pretty much either solid rock or sand) or in blind sets where I don’t want the critter tearing up the brush and ruining a perfect natural pinch point.

Also many bobcat trappers use drags as a way to save weight in the pack when you gotta hike up the hill. Most just have traps with long chain and then carry a length of heavy gauge wire and a pair of fencing pliers. When you get to the set site, just grab a juniper bough or a rock or whatever is handy and wrap the wire around it then cinch it down solid with the pliers. No hammer or stakes or drags to carry.